Gas Turbine Combustor Fuel Flow Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing gas turbine combustor design experiences instability in combustion due to uniform fuel flow rates across all burner sectors, leading to amplified flame fluctuations, which affects combustion stability.
Innovation Solution
A gas turbine combustor design where the controller intentionally introduces a difference in fuel flow rates between at least one burner sector and the others when fuel is supplied to all sectors, using a pilot burner and main burners of different combustion types, to stabilize the combustion process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If uniform fuel flow rates are supplied to all burner sectors, then the control system is simple and easy to operate, but flame fluctuations are amplified and combustion stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the fuel flow rate different for at least one burner sector compared to others. Specifically, the controller is configured to supply a first fuel flow rate to a first burner sector and a second fuel flow rate to a second burner sector, where the first and second fuel flow rates are different. This local differentiation in fuel supply stabilizes combustion by preventing amplified flame fluctuations that occur with uniform distribution.
2Device complexity
If uniform fuel flow rates are supplied to all burner sectors, then the device complexity is low, but flame fluctuations are amplified reducing combustion stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by configuring the controller to provide differentiated fuel flow rates to different burner sectors. The controller supplies a first fuel flow rate to a first burner sector and a second fuel flow rate to a second burner sector, with the first and second fuel flow rates being different. This localized variation in fuel supply improves combustion stability without requiring complex additional hardware.
3Ease of operation
If uniform fuel flow rates are supplied to all burner sectors, then the fuel distribution is homogeneous, but flame fluctuations are amplified leading to local metal temperature rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the fuel flow rate different for at least one burner sector compared to others. The controller supplies a first fuel flow rate to a first burner sector and a second fuel flow rate to a second burner sector, where these rates are different. This local differentiation suppresses flame fluctuations and prevents local metal temperature rises that occur with uniform fuel distribution.
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 approach enhances combustion stability by reducing flame fluctuations and suppressing local metal temperature rises, thereby improving overall combustion efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The pilot burner is of the diffusion combustion type and directly injects fuel into a combustion chamber
Implementation Method 2
The main burner is of the premix combustion type, and mixes fuel and air in a premix flow path and supplies the mixture to the combustion chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a gas turbine combustor that can achieve improvement of the combustion stability. A gas turbine combustor includes a pilot burner of the diffusion combustion type, a pilot flow control valve that regulates a flow rate of fuel to be supplied to the pilot burner, a main burner of the premix combustion type arranged on an outer circumference side of the pilot burner, main flow control valves that regulate flow rates of fuel to be individually supplied to burner sectors into which the main burner is sectioned in a circumferential direction, and a controller configured to control the pilot flow control valve and the main flow control valves. The controller controls the main flow control valves such that, when fuel is to be supplied to all the burner sectors, a difference in fuel flow rate occurs between at least one burner sector and the other burner sectors among the burner sectors.