Gas Turbine Combustor Manifold with Layered Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-stage combustors for gas turbines, the complexity and length of fuel lines result in increased waste heat loss due to inefficient arrangement of cavities and manifold spaces, leading to larger and more complicated piping systems.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage combustor design featuring a combustor liner with a central-axis manifold that includes partitions to create layered cavities, reducing the need for lengthy fuel lines and optimizing fuel distribution to fuel nozzles, thereby minimizing waste heat loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a multi-stage combustion type is adopted with separate cavities for each fuel line, then fuel distribution capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to larger and more complicated piping systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate cavity systems into a single integrated manifold structure. The manifold combines multiple fuel line cavities into one unified component with internal partitioning, eliminating the need for separate external piping systems for each fuel line while maintaining the ability to distribute fuel to multiple nozzles.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a fuel distribution hub, contains internal cavities for multiple fuel lines, provides mounting structure for fuel nozzles, and integrates the entire fuel delivery system into a single multi-functional component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate cavities are used for each fuel line, then fuel distribution control is improved, but pipe path length increases resulting in greater waste heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests multiple fuel line cavities within the single manifold structure. Each fuel line has its own internal cavity space nested within the manifold body, allowing separate fuel distribution control while minimizing external pipe path length and reducing waste heat loss.
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 design reduces fuel waste heat loss, simplifies the piping system, enhances combustion stability, and improves efficiency by shortening fuel paths and reducing thermal stress, contributing to more reliable low NOx combustion.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of fuel nozzles configured to inject a fuel into the combustion chamber
Implementation Method 2
a combustor liner configured to define a combustion chamber therein
Data Source
AI summary
To achieve a reduction in waste heat loss of a fuel with improved efficiency in arrangement of a plurality of cavities, or manifold spaces. A multi-stage combustor includes a combustor liner configured to define a combustion chamber therein, a plurality of fuel nozzles configured to inject a fuel, and a manifold configured to distribute the fuel to the plurality of fuel nozzles. The manifold is disposed on a central axis of the combustor liner in a central axis extending direction. The manifold includes a casing and a plurality of partitions inserted in the casing so as to be arranged in a central axis direction of the combustor liner to define a plurality of cavities divided by the partitions. The plurality of cavities are layered in the central axis direction of the combustor liner inside of the casing, and are connected to the corresponding fuel nozzles.