Gas Turbine Combustor Flow Distribution Member for Uniform Air Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing gas turbine combustors face inefficiencies due to strong swirls generated when air flow direction changes at the nozzle head plate, leading to non-uniform air supply, decreased combustion efficiency, and increased nitrogen oxides.
Innovation Solution
A combustor design featuring a flow distribution member with a curved guide surface and multiple channels to distribute air flow uniformly, including a first and second distribution channel with varying volumes and angles, and guide plates to direct air towards the burner center, reducing swirl generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air flow direction is changed rapidly at the nozzle head plate to supply air to the burner, then air can be supplied to the combustion zone, but strong swirls are generated causing pressure loss and decreased air flow efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A curved guide surface is installed at the corner where the nozzle casing meets the head plate to gradually change the air flow direction. This curved surface replaces the sharp angular transition, reducing flow separation and swirl generation while maintaining effective air supply to the burner.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow distribution member is positioned upstream to pre-distribute air flow before it enters the outer nozzles. This preliminary distribution prevents the formation of strong swirls by evenly guiding air toward the burner centers, thereby reducing pressure loss and improving air flow efficiency.
2Productivity
If air flow direction is changed at the nozzle head plate, then air can reach the combustion zone, but air is not uniformly supplied to the burners causing decreased combustion efficiency and increased nitrogen oxides
Solution Approach 1:
The flow distribution member creates different flow conditions in different regions by providing a first distribution channel with larger volume for outer areas and a second distribution channel with smaller volume for inner areas. This local differentiation ensures uniform air supply to all burners, improving combustion efficiency and reducing nitrogen oxide emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow distribution member divides the air flow into multiple channels (first and second distribution channels) with different volumes and flow patterns. This segmentation allows precise control of air distribution to different burner zones, ensuring uniform combustion and reducing harmful emissions.
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 ensures uniform air supply to the burner, enhancing combustion efficiency and reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by stabilizing air flow and minimizing swirls.
Implementation Method 1
a flow distribution member installed between the head plate and the nozzle shroud to distribute a flow rate of air introduced into the outer nozzle
Implementation Method 2
The strong swirl has multiple velocity components that are oriented in the direction different from or opposite to the actual direction of flow of air, which in turn causes a loss of pressure and decreases the efficiency of air flow
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor and a gas turbine capable of uniformly supplying air into a burner are provided. The combustor may include a burner including a tubular nozzle casing, a head plate coupled to an end of the nozzle casing, and a plurality of nozzles to inject fuel and air, and a duct assembly coupled to the burner, a mixture of the fuel and the air being burned in the duct assembly to produce combustion gas. Each of the nozzles may include outer nozzles and an inner nozzle installed inside the outer nozzles, each of the outer nozzles may include a nozzle tube configured to provide a channel through which air and fuel flow and a nozzle shroud configured to surround the nozzle tube, and a flow distribution member may be installed between the head plate and the nozzle shroud to distribute a flow rate of air introduced into the outer nozzle.