Streamlined Fins in Gas Turbine Combustor Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
In gas turbine combustors, the cooling air introduced into the flow path between the combustor panels experiences a reaction force from the inner wall, leading to a secondary flow that prevents the cooling air from flowing along the inner wall, thereby reducing the expected cooling effect.
Innovation Solution
A combustor panel design featuring a first panel and a second panel with a flow path in between, where streamlined fins are arranged at intervals to increase the width dimension towards the first panel from the second panel, enhancing the cooling air flow and heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling air is introduced into the flow path from the outer wall portion toward the inner wall portion, then the cooling air receives a reaction force from the inner wall portion and a secondary flow is formed, but the cooling air cannot flow along the inner wall portion and the expected cooling effect may not be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into multiple regions by dividing the cooling air introduction into different zones. The first cooling air introduction portion introduces cooling air at a position away from the inner wall portion, while the second cooling air introduction portion introduces cooling air closer to the inner wall portion, creating staged cooling zones that manage the reaction force and secondary flow effects
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling air introduction is extended from a single-point approach to a multi-dimensional approach by introducing cooling air at multiple positions along the flow path. This spatial distribution of cooling air introduction points allows the cooling air to overcome the reaction force and secondary flow effects by entering the flow path at different locations and angles
2Temperature
If heat dissipation pin is provided between the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion to increase heat release area, then the heat transfer is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat dissipation function is extracted from the wall structure itself and implemented through the cooling air flow path design. By optimizing the cooling air introduction positions and the flow path geometry, the patent achieves heat dissipation through convection and forced convection mechanisms rather than adding protruding heat dissipation pins, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining effective heat transfer
3Temperature
If the dimension in width direction of the fin is increased towards the first panel from the second panel, then the heat release area in the flow path is increased and cooling effect is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fin structure implements local quality by varying the dimension in the width direction at different positions along the flow path. The dimension is increased towards the first panel from the second panel, creating a gradient structure that optimizes heat release area where it is most needed while maintaining streamlined geometry to minimize device complexity
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 improved design enhances the cooling effect of the cooling air by suppressing secondary flows and increasing the heat release area, leading to more efficient cooling of the combustor panels.
Implementation Method 1
The heat dissipation pin improves the cooling effect of the cooling air flowing within the flow path by transferring beat from the inner surface of the inner wall portion exposed to high temperatures into the flow path and increasing the heat release area in the flow path
Implementation Method 2
a flow path through which cooling air flows is formed between the outer wall portion and the inner wall portion
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor panel includes: a first panel; a second panel which is facing the first panel to define a flow path, through which cooling air flows, between the first panel and the second panel, a gas path surface which is allowed to be brought into contact with combustion gas is formed on a surface of the second panel opposite to the flow path; and a plurality of streamlined fins which are formed between the first panel and the second panel in the flow path so as to be arranged at intervals from each other, and each of which has a front edge at an upstream side in a flow direction of the cooling air and a rear edge at a downstream side in the flow direction.