Gas Turbine Combustor Vortex Cooling Pressure Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas turbine combustors face challenges in maintaining efficiency while suppressing pressure loss and improving product reliability, as existing methods like impingement jet cooling and fin cooling often increase pressure loss and manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A gas turbine combustor design featuring vortex generating devices on the inner surface of the air transfer casing and turbulent-flow enhancement devices on the outer surface of the combustor liner, with impingement jet cooling holes added downstream of the vortex generating devices, to enhance heat transfer without significantly increasing pressure loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If impingement jet cooling and fin cooling are used, then cooling performance is improved, but pressure loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into two distinct functional components: vortex generating devices for bulk flow mixing and impingement jet cooling holes for localized spot cooling. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific cooling function efficiently without the drawbacks of conventional combined systems, maintaining cooling performance while reducing pressure loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using conventional impingement jet cooling that directs jets perpendicular to the wall surface (which causes high pressure loss), the invention inverts the approach by using vortex generating devices to create rotational flow that enhances heat transfer through a different mechanism, thereby reducing pressure loss while maintaining cooling effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Temperature

If multiple components and welding are used to enhance heat transfer, then cooling performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and reliability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vortex generating devices and impingement jet cooling holes are merged into a single integrated structure formed from one piece of metal material. This merging eliminates the need for separate components and welding operations, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the enhanced cooling performance provided by both cooling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single-piece structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, generates vortices for heat transfer enhancement, and contains impingement jet cooling holes for localized cooling. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components, reducing manufacturing complexity and improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Temperature

If multiple components and welding are used to enhance heat transfer, then cooling performance is improved, but product reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidproduct reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vortex generating devices and impingement jet cooling holes are merged into a single integrated structure formed from one piece of metal material. This merging eliminates the need for separate components and welding operations, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the enhanced cooling performance provided by both cooling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

By forming the entire cooling structure as a single piece before installation, the invention eliminates welding operations that would create potential failure points. This beforehand cushioning against potential welding-related failures ensures higher product reliability while maintaining the enhanced cooling performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Temperature

If conventional cooling methods are used, then cooling performance is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The vortex generating devices and impingement jet cooling holes are merged into a single integrated structure formed from one piece of metal material. This merging eliminates the need for separate components and welding operations, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the enhanced cooling performance provided by both cooling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 effectively suppresses pressure loss, improves cooling performance, and enhances product reliability by reducing the number of components and welding points, thereby minimizing deformation and maintaining high efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

vortex generating devices disposed on an inside surface of the air transfer casing, the vortex generating devices each generating vortices or longitudinal vortices each having a rotational axis extending in a flow direction of the heat-transfer medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVortex generation: Vortex Generator

Implementation Method 2

impingement jet cooling holes are added on the air transfer casing provided with the vortex generating devices at a position downstream of the vortex generating devices

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpingement jet cooling: Jet

Data Source

PatentEP2770258B1Gas turbine combustor equipped with heat-transfer devices
Publication Date: 2018.12.26 MITSUBISHI HITACHIPOWER SYST LTD
  • EP2770258B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2770258B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2770258B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a gas turbine combustor that can suppress an increase in pressure loss while improving product reliability. The gas turbine combustor includes a combustor liner (1), an air transfer casing (2) installed on the outer circumference of the combustor liner (1), the combustor liner (1) and the air transfer casing (2) defining an annular passage therebetween adapted to allow a heattransfer medium to flow therethrough, and a plurality of vortex generating devices (10) disposed on an inside surface of the air transfer casing, the vortex generating devices (10) generating longitudinal vortices each having a rotational axis extending in a flow direction of a heattransfer medium. The plurality of vortex generating devices (10) are arranged in paired manner, each pair of devices generating vortices having rotational directions opposed to each other.