Gas Turbine Combustor Fuel Cell Integration for Pressure-Driven Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face inefficiencies and hardware life issues due to the lack of robust integration of fuel cell assemblies within the combustion section, leading to suboptimal performance and reduced overall efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a fuel cell assembly within the combustion section, where a fuel cell stack with angled fuel cells leverages pressure differences and cooling features to enhance airflow and power production, while being securely mounted to extend the hardware life and improve turbomachine efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fuel cell assembly is integrated within the combustion section, then the overall efficiency and power production are enhanced, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel cell assembly is integrated within the combustion section by merging two energy conversion systems (fuel cell and combustion) into a single hybrid architecture. The fuel cell stack is positioned within the combustion section housing, allowing both systems to share common structural support, cooling infrastructure, and fuel supply pathways, thereby enhancing power production while managing integration complexity through unified design
Solution Approach 2:
The combustion section is designed to serve multiple functions: it houses the fuel cell assembly for electrochemical energy conversion, provides thermal management through integrated cooling channels, and maintains structural support for the turbine inlet. This multi-functionality allows the same component to achieve enhanced productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Duration of action of moving object
If fuel cells are angled and securely mounted in the combustion section, then hardware life is extended, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel cell assembly incorporates angled mounting surfaces and localized cooling channels that are precisely positioned to optimize airflow distribution and thermal management. This local quality enhancement extends hardware life by ensuring uniform cooling and reducing thermal stress, while the precision requirements are concentrated in specific critical areas rather than the entire assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel cell stack is pre-assembled with integrated cooling manifolds and mounting fixtures before installation into the combustion section. This preliminary action ensures proper alignment and secure mounting, extending hardware life through robust installation while reducing the precision burden on final assembly operations
3Reliability
If cooling features are integrated into the fuel cell assembly, then operational lifespan is extended, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is merged with the fuel cell assembly structure by integrating cooling channels directly into the mounting brackets and housing. This unified cooling architecture extends operational lifespan through effective thermal management while avoiding the added complexity of separate cooling systems by combining functions into existing structural components
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 integration increases the hardware life of the fuel cell assembly and enhances the overall efficiency of the turbomachine by maximizing power production and extending the fuel cell assembly's operational lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
leverages pressure differences and cooling features to enhance airflow and power production
Implementation Method 2
a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells that receive air from the diffusion chamber and fuel from a fuel source and that generate a power output
Implementation Method 3
leverages pressure differences and cooling features to enhance airflow and power production
Data Source
AI summary
A combustion section defines an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The combustion section includes a casing that defines a diffusion chamber. A combustion liner is disposed within the diffusion chamber and defines a combustion chamber. The combustion liner is spaced apart from the casing such that a passageway is defined between the combustion liner and the casing. A fuel cell assembly is disposed in the passageway. The fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell stack that has a plurality of fuel cells each extending between an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end receives a flow of air and fuel and the outlet end provides output products to the combustion chamber. The outlet end of the plurality of fuel cells extends through the combustion liner and partially defines the combustion chamber.