Combustor Liner Mesh Structure for Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current combustor liners face challenges in durability under harsh heat and stress environments, with issues of air leakage and weight, which affect aerodynamics and thermal performance, and are difficult to manufacture and maintain.
Innovation Solution
The use of a skeleton mesh structure with ceramic or metal-coated hot side planks and cold side planks, coupled via thermally expansion-tolerant clips and bolts, reduces air leakage, minimizes hoop stress, and provides a lightweight, modular design for improved durability and ease of maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If traditional combustor liners are used, then structural strength is maintained, but weight is excessive and air leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The combustor liner is divided into multiple discrete panels (hot side panels and cold side panels) that are assembled together to form the complete liner structure. This segmentation allows for reduced material usage and weight while maintaining structural integrity through the modular configuration and connection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The combustor liner employs composite construction with hot side panels made of heat-resistant materials (such as ceramic matrix composites or coated metals) and cold side panels made of different materials, creating a composite structure that optimizes both weight and thermal/structural performance.
2Reliability
If solid combustor liner structure is used, then structural integrity is maintained, but air leakage occurs and aerodynamic performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection mechanism between panels uses flexible elements (such as spring-loaded clips or elastic connection features) that can accommodate thermal expansion and contraction while maintaining a sealed interface, preventing air leakage without requiring rigid, heavy structural connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The liner structure implements different properties at different locations: hot side panels use heat-resistant materials and connection methods suitable for high-temperature zones, while cold side panels use different materials and connection methods appropriate for lower-temperature zones, optimizing both sealing and structural performance locally.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional monolithic combustor liner is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but maintenance and inspection are difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The combustor liner is constructed from multiple detachable panels that can be independently removed, inspected, and replaced. This modular segmentation makes maintenance and inspection significantly easier compared to monolithic liners, as damaged panels can be accessed and replaced without disassembling the entire liner structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection mechanism between panels incorporates dynamic elements (such as spring-loaded clips or movable connection features) that allow for easy assembly and disassembly during maintenance operations, facilitating rapid panel removal and replacement while maintaining structural integrity during operation.
4Stability of the object's composition
If rigid connection method is used for combustor panels, then structural stability is maintained, but thermal expansion stress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection mechanism between panels is specifically designed to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the panels during operation. Spring-loaded clips, elastic elements, or movable connection features allow panels to expand and contract freely in response to temperature changes, reducing thermal stress and hoop stress while maintaining structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system transitions from a static, rigid connection to a dynamic connection that can adapt to changing thermal conditions. Movable or elastic connection features allow the structure to dynamically adjust to thermal expansion and contraction, maintaining stability while reducing stress concentrations.
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor includes an inner liner and an outer liner defining a combustion chamber. The inner liner includes an inner mesh structure, a plurality of hot side planks mounted to a hot side of the inner mesh structure, and a plurality of cold side planks mounted to a cold side of the inner mesh structure. The outer liner includes an outer mesh structure, a plurality of hot side planks mounted to a hot side of the outer mesh structure, and a plurality of cold side planks mounted to a cold side of the outer mesh structure. The combustor further includes a plurality of clips configured to couple the plurality of hot side planks and the plurality of cold side planks to a plurality of structural elements of the inner mesh structure and the outer mesh structure.