Combustor Dilution Passage Geometry for Reduced Flow Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engines produce environmentally harmful by-products such as NOx, CO, UHC, and SOx due to the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels, and there is a need to improve airflow control to reduce flow separation and enhance combustion efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of radiused inlets and channels in dilution passages within the combustor to control airflow, reducing flow separation and enhancing combustion efficiency, particularly suitable for hydrogen-containing fuels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional combustor design is used, then combustion process is simple, but flow separation occurs reducing combustion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved inlet passages instead of straight passages in the dilution air system. The curved geometry smooths airflow transitions and reduces flow separation, thereby improving combustion efficiency without adding complex mechanical components. This embodies the spheroidality principle by using curved surfaces to optimize fluid flow.
2Power
If hydrocarbon fuels are burned, then energy production is achieved, but harmful emissions (NOx, CO, UHC, SOx) are produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of air-fuel mixing by introducing dilution air through curved passages at optimized locations and flow rates. This modifies the combustion parameters (temperature distribution, mixing quality) to reduce the formation of harmful emissions while maintaining energy production. The parameter changes approach is applied by controlling flow rate, pressure, and temperature characteristics of the dilution air.
3Productivity
If airflow control is improved with radiused inlets, then flow separation is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radiused inlet passages use curved geometry to improve airflow control and reduce flow separation. While curved passages are more complex than straight passages, the curvature can be implemented using standard machining operations, balancing manufacturing feasibility with performance improvement.
4Productivity
If dilution passages are added to control airflow, then combustion efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dilution passages serve multiple functions: they introduce cooling air, control mixing quality, regulate temperature distribution, and reduce emissions. By combining these functions into a single integrated component system, the patent avoids adding multiple separate devices, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved combustion efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The radiused inlets and channels minimize flow separation, improving combustion efficiency and reducing harmful emissions, while being adaptable to both hydrogen and traditional hydrocarbon fuels.
Implementation Method 1
The radiused inlet is coupled to a passageway... reducing flow separation... The passageway fluidly couples compressed air from outside the combustor to inside the combustor
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor comprising a dome wall, a combustor liner extending from the dome wall, and a combustion chamber at least partially defined by the dome wall and the combustor liner. A set of fuel cups are arranged along the dome wall. A set of dilution passages extend through the dome wall or the combustor liner to direct air into the combustion chamber, wherein a dilution passage of the set of dilution passages includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passageway.