Combustor Cooling via Flow Sleeve and Turbulators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional combustor cooling techniques are inadequate for withstanding high temperatures exceeding 1500° F, as they are limited by the materials used in combustion chambers and transition pieces, which can lead to thermal damage.
Innovation Solution
The use of a flow sleeve and turbulators arranged on the exterior surface of the combustor to enhance heat transfer, with the flow sleeve directing fluid flow preferentially across turbulators to increase turbulence and surface area, thereby improving cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling techniques are used with standard materials, then the combustor can withstand moderate temperatures (up to 1500° F), but it cannot withstand high temperatures exceeding 1500° F without thermal damage
Solution Approach 1:
The combustor is divided into multiple cooling zones with turbulators positioned at specific locations to create segmented cooling patterns. This allows different regions to be cooled according to their specific thermal requirements, enabling the structure to withstand higher overall temperatures while maintaining reliability in critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses fluid flow (pneumatics) through the sleeve and across the turbulators to provide cooling. The fluid flow pattern is optimized to maximize heat transfer from the combustor walls, allowing the structure to dissipate thermal energy effectively and withstand temperatures exceeding the material's normal tolerance limits.
2Reliability
If a flow sleeve and turbulators are added to enhance heat transfer, then cooling efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow sleeve is positioned within the combustor structure, and the turbulators are mounted on the sleeve or combustor wall. This nested arrangement allows the cooling components to be integrated into the existing combustor geometry rather than adding external complexity, achieving enhanced cooling while maintaining a compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The turbulators modify the flow parameters (creating turbulence, changing flow direction, increasing surface area exposure) to enhance heat transfer coefficients. By optimizing these flow parameters rather than simply increasing cooling fluid flow rate, the system achieves better cooling efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity.
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
This solution effectively increases the heat transfer coefficient and enhances combustion efficiency by disrupting laminar flow and inducing swirling, which protects the combustor components from thermal damage and improves fuel mixing.
Implementation Method 1
disrupting laminar flow and inducing swirling
Implementation Method 2
enhance heat transfer from the combustor
Implementation Method 3
cooling fluid flow across a predetermined position
Implementation Method 4
protects the combustor components from thermal damage
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor includes a combustion chamber and an interior wall circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the combustion chamber and defining an exterior surface. A plurality of turbulators are on the exterior surface. The combustor further includes means for preferentially directing fluid flow across a predetermined position of the turbulators. A method for cooling a combustion chamber includes locating a plurality of turbulators to an exterior surface of the combustion chamber and preferentially directing fluid flow across a predetermined position of the plurality of turbulators.