Combustor Liner Panel Structure for Stud Heat Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combustor liner panels in gas turbine engines face issues with stud burn-through and damage due to misaligned effusion apertures disrupting cooling layers, leading to potential stud liberation and engine damage.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates support members with angled first and second portions forming partially enclosed spaces to house fasteners, shielding them from hot gas flow, and uses thermal expansion compensation features like slots and Belleville washer stacks to manage thermal mismatch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If effusion cooling apertures are positioned around the stud, then cooling of the liner panel surface is improved, but the stud area becomes vulnerable to hot gas intrusion and burning
Solution Approach 1:
The liner panel surface is segmented into two distinct zones: an effusion cooling zone with apertures for cooling the panel surface, and a stud protection zone where the cooling apertures are deliberately excluded to protect the stud fasteners from hot gas intrusion. This spatial segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the liner panel are assigned different functional qualities: the area around the stud is designed with no effusion apertures to provide protection and reliability, while the surrounding areas have effusion apertures for cooling. This local differentiation of functional properties resolves the contradiction by allowing the stud area to have protective qualities while the rest of the panel has cooling qualities.
2Temperature
If effusion apertures are aligned with mainstream combustion flow, then cooling layer formation is improved, but misalignment disrupts cooling and causes burning around the stud
Solution Approach 1:
The effusion apertures are extracted from the stud area and positioned only in the surrounding regions. This extraction eliminates the source of cooling layer disruption in the stud area, preventing hot gas intrusion and burning that would otherwise occur when apertures are misaligned with the combustion flow.
Solution Approach 2:
A stud protection zone acts as an intermediary region between the effusion cooling apertures and the stud fastener. This intermediate zone, characterized by the absence of effusion apertures, mediates the interaction between the cooling flow and the stud, preventing the harmful effects of flow misalignment while allowing efficient cooling in the surrounding areas.
3Ease of manufacture
If studs are positioned at the hot flow path surface for mounting, then ease of attachment is improved, but the studs are directly exposed to hot gases causing burn-through
Solution Approach 1:
The liner panel is segmented into a stud protection zone and an effusion cooling zone. The stud protection zone provides a safe mounting area free from hot gas intrusion, while the effusion cooling zone handles the thermal management. This segmentation allows studs to be easily mounted on the panel surface while protecting them from the harmful effects of hot gas exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stud protection zone serves as an intermediary barrier between the hot combustion gases and the stud fasteners. This intermediate region, defined by the absence of effusion apertures in the stud area, mediates the interaction by preventing direct hot gas contact with the studs while allowing the studs to remain accessible for mounting operations.
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
The solution effectively isolates fasteners from hot gases, reducing the risk of panel burning and stud liberation, enhancing structural integrity and durability of combustor liner panels.
Implementation Method 1
an array of effusion cooling apertures around the stud
Implementation Method 2
the cooling layer can be disrupted leading to burning around the stud
Implementation Method 3
thermal expansion compensation features like slots and Belleville washer stacks to manage thermal mismatch
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor liner segment which includes base having an inner surface, an outer surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges. The liner segment further includes a front wall extending from the front edge of the base, and a rear wall extending from the rear edge of the base. The combustor liner segment also includes at least one support member having a first portion and second portion. The combination of the first portion, the second portion, the outer surface, the front wall, and the rear wall form a partially enclosed space.