Reverse-Flow Annular Combustor Dome Bifurcation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face challenges in reducing NOx emissions and managing temperature characteristics during combustion, particularly in rich burn, quick quench, lean burn (RQL) reverse-flow annular combustors, where high temperatures can cause thermal stresses and interfere with stoichiometry.
Innovation Solution
A reverse-flow annular combustor design with a combustor dome that bifurcates combustion gases into inner and outer streams, featuring tangential fuel injection, interleaved over-penetrating quench jets, and dilution air admission holes to maintain desired stoichiometry and temperature distribution, reducing NOx emissions and improving temperature management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If increased cooling flows are used to manage temperature, then temperature control is improved, but stoichiometry of the RQL combustion process is interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion process is segmented into three distinct zones (rich burn zone, quench zone, lean burn zone) with separate air and fuel injection systems for each zone, allowing independent control of stoichiometry and temperature in each region
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the combustor are given different local properties: the rich burn zone has fuel-rich mixture for low NOx, the quench zone has high cooling air flow for temperature control, and the lean burn zone has excess air for complete combustion, with each zone optimized for its specific function
2Object-generated harmful factors
If RQL combustion is implemented to reduce NOx emissions, then emissions are reduced, but temperature management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Cooling air is introduced in advance through the quench zone before the combustion gases reach the turbine, pre-cooling the high-temperature gases to prevent excessive thermal stresses while maintaining the RQL combustion benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The quench zone acts as an intermediary region between the rich burn zone and lean burn zone, introducing cooling air to moderate temperatures while allowing the combustion process to continue in controlled stages
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 design achieves improved NOx emission and temperature characteristics, enhancing combustion efficiency and durability by minimizing thermal stresses and maintaining predictable combustion processes.
Implementation Method 1
a combustor dome configured to bifurcate the combustion gases into a first combustion stream towards the inner liner and a second combustion stream toward the outer liner
Implementation Method 2
a quench zone downstream of the rich burn zone, and a lean burn zone downstream of the quench zone
Implementation Method 3
A reverse-flow annular combustor design with a combustor dome that bifurcates combustion gases into inner and outer streams, featuring tangential fuel injection
Implementation Method 4
a combustor in which the compressed gas is mixed with fuel and burned to produce high-pressure, high-velocity exhaust gas
Data Source
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AI summary
A combustor for a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustor includes an inner liner; an outer liner circumscribing the inner liner; and a combustor dome having a first edge coupled to the inner liner and a second edge coupled to the outer liner. The combustor dome forms a combustion chamber with the inner liner and the outer liner. The combustion chamber receives air flow through the inner and outer liners, and the combustor dome is configured to bifurcate the air flow at the combustor dome into a first stream directed to the inner liner and a second stream directed to the outer liner.