Combustor Liner Cooling Path With Turbulators for Lower Air Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbines face inefficiencies in cooling the combustor liner due to excessive air usage for cooling, leading to reduced power generation and increased nitrogen oxide production.
Innovation Solution
A combustor design with a cooling flow path that forms a turbulent flow using turbulators and swirlers to enhance cooling efficiency, reducing the amount of air needed for cooling and minimizing nitrogen oxide production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If an excessively large amount of air is provided to the cooling flow path, then the liner cooling is improved, but the amount of power generation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow regime parameter from laminar to turbulent flow by introducing turbulators in the cooling flow path. This transformation allows for enhanced heat transfer coefficients, enabling effective liner cooling with reduced air flow rates, thus preserving more air for power generation while maintaining temperature control
2Power
If an excessively large amount of air is introduced into the combustion chamber, then the combustion is improved, but nitrogen oxide production increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the cooling air flow parameters by inducing turbulent flow through turbulators, which enhances heat transfer efficiency. This allows the combustion chamber to operate with optimized air-fuel ratios, achieving complete combustion with reduced excess air, thereby minimizing nitrogen oxide formation while maintaining combustion power
3Loss of energy
If a large amount of air flows through the cooling flow path, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the air available for power generation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the flow regime from laminar to turbulent by incorporating turbulators, which dramatically increases the heat transfer coefficient. This parameter change enables the system to achieve the same or better cooling effect with significantly reduced air flow rates, preserving air quantity for power generation while maintaining energy loss control
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
Improves cooling efficiency of the combustor liner while reducing the amount of air used, thereby enhancing power generation and decreasing nitrogen oxide emissions.
Implementation Method 1
the cooling flow path is formed with a turbulator to allow the air, which flows in the cooling flow path, to flow as a turbulent flow in order to dissipate heat from the liner
Implementation Method 2
a cooling flow path, through which a cooling fluid may flow, may be provided outside the liner in order to cool the liner
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor includes a liner configured to define a combustion chamber and extending in a longitudinal direction, a transition piece configured to overlap an end of the liner while being spaced apart from the end of the liner at a predetermined spacing distance, the transition piece extending in the longitudinal direction of the liner, and a shroud disposed between the liner and the transition piece and coupled to the liner, in which the liner and an inner surface of the shroud define a cooling flow path, and in which the cooling flow path is formed with a turbulator to allow the air, which flows in the cooling flow path, to flow as a turbulent flow in order to dissipate heat from the liner.