Combustor Panel Bolted Assembly to Eliminate Stud Hot Spots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current combustor panels in gas turbine engines experience localized hot spots and dirt accumulation around mounting studs, leading to unscheduled engine removals, which hinder efficient operation at higher temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A combustor panel assembly with a shell and combustor panels attached via bolted attachments, utilizing T-head bolts or flanged bushings, which eliminate studs and incorporate fluid flow paths and debris traps to prevent hot spots and dirt accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mounting studs are used to attach combustor panels to the shell, then the panels can be securely mounted, but localized hot spots and dirt accumulation occur around the mounting studs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mounting studs entirely from the combustor panel assembly. Instead of using traditional stud-based attachment, the panels are mounted directly to the shell using alternative fastening methods that do not create localized hot spots or dirt accumulation zones, thereby eliminating the harmful effects while maintaining secure mounting
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mounting mechanism that replaces the direct stud-to-panel attachment. This intermediary system distributes the mounting function across a broader area rather than concentrating it at discrete stud locations, preventing localized thermal and contamination issues while maintaining structural integrity
2Productivity
If combustor inlet and exit temperatures are increased to improve engine efficiency, then engine efficiency improves, but cooling components and insulating other components from combustion gases becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The combustor is divided into multiple panels that can be independently designed and optimized for thermal management. This segmentation allows for targeted insulation and cooling strategies on different sections, enabling the system to handle higher temperatures more effectively while maintaining component protection
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the combustor assembly are given different thermal properties and insulation characteristics. Areas experiencing higher thermal loads receive enhanced insulation or cooling features, while other areas use simpler designs, allowing the system to operate at higher temperatures without compromising component safety
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A gas turbine engine combustor panel assembly (110) includes a shell (112) defining an outer periphery of a combustion chamber (114) with an outer skin (116) with a first plurality of holes (118), a combustor panel (120) including a first end (122), a second plurality of holes (124) extending through an inner face (126) to an inner void (130), to an outer face (128) with a third plurality of holes (125) to allow fluid flow from the first plurality of holes (118) to the combustion chamber (114), a plurality of bolt holes, a second end (132) with an internal combustion chamber section (134) extending axially from a central axis and from a panel wall (136) of the combustor panel (120). The assembly (110) includes a sheet metal seal plate abutting the plurality of bolt holes and the interface, and a plurality of bolts (138) extending along a central axis and interfacing with the plurality of bolt holes to connect the combustor panel (120) and shell (112).