Gas Turbine Combustor Insertion Hole Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing gas turbine assembly and disassembly processes are hindered by the wide lateral width of the combustor outlet, requiring rotation or inclination to avoid interference with the combustor insertion hole, which increases operational burden and reduces efficiency due to the need for increased combustor casing strength to maintain distance between adjacent holes.

Innovation Solution

The combustor insertion hole is formed by combining circular holes with different centers, allowing the combustor and attached members to be inserted or removed without rotation or inclination, while maintaining the strength of the combustor casing by ensuring a larger orthogonal size, thus preventing interference and reducing processing complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the diameter of the combustor insertion hole is increased to avoid interference during assembly and disassembly, then the ease of operation is improved, but the strength of the combustor casing decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of combustor assembly and disassemblyVSAvoidstrength of combustor casing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The combustor insertion hole is divided into multiple segments (first insertion hole and second insertion hole) arranged in a circumferential direction. This segmentation allows each hole to have a smaller diameter, maintaining the strength of the combustor casing while still providing sufficient clearance for combustor assembly and disassembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions from a single large-diameter hole to multiple smaller holes arranged in a circumferential pattern. This dimensional arrangement in the circumferential direction provides the necessary operational clearance without increasing the diameter of individual holes, thereby preserving the structural strength of the casing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If a single large combustor insertion hole is used to facilitate combustor removal, then the ease of operation is improved, but the number of holes decreases which may compromise structural integrity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of combustor removalVSAvoidstructural integrity of combustor casing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The single large insertion hole is segmented into multiple smaller holes (first and second insertion holes) positioned at different circumferential locations. This segmentation maintains structural integrity by distributing the opening areas while still providing adequate clearance for combustor removal operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple insertion holes are combined to form a composite insertion system that collectively provides the necessary clearance for combustor operations. The combined effect of multiple holes achieves the functional requirement of a single large hole while maintaining better structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2261567B1Gas turbine and method of forming insertion hole for combustor of gas turbine
Publication Date: 2016.08.17 MITSUBISHI HITACHIPOWER SYST LTD
  • EP2261567B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2261567B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2261567B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A gas turbine 1 includes a combustor 39, a combustor casing 31 formed in a cylindrical shape to house the combustor 39 therein, and a combustor insertion hole 31a, which is a hole formed on a side periphery of the combustor casing 31, where a size thereof in a direction orthogonal to a circumferential direction of the combustor casing 31 is formed larger than that in the circumferential direction of the combustor casing 31, and when the combustor 39 inserted into the hole, a member moved together with the combustor 39, and the hole are viewed from a moving direction of the combustor 39, the hole includes an entire external form of the combustor 39 and the member moved together with the combustor 39.