Compressor Water Wash Nozzle With Multiple Outlets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine systems face inefficiencies due to impurities on compressor blades, which existing technologies fail to effectively address through fluid injection methods, leading to reduced performance and output.
Innovation Solution
A fluid distribution system with circumferentially disposed, retractable water wash nozzles and multiple outlets is implemented, spraying fluid into the compressor intake to increase blade coverage and efficiency, mitigating gravitational and centrifugal forces to enhance wash effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluid injection is used to clean compressor blades, then impurities are removed and efficiency is improved, but the coverage and effectiveness of the washing is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into multiple outlet ports (first outlet at the tip, second outlet along the body, third outlet at the end opposite the inlet end) that spray fluid in different directions. This segmentation allows comprehensive coverage of compressor blades from multiple angles simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and device complexity by achieving thorough coverage through functional division rather than multiple separate nozzles
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the nozzle body have different outlet configurations optimized for specific washing zones. The tip outlet targets the leading edge, the body outlet targets mid-section blades, and the end outlet targets the rear sections. This local quality approach ensures each region of the compressor intake receives optimized fluid spray, improving overall cleaning effectiveness without requiring a complex array of separate nozzles
2Area of stationary object
If multiple nozzles are used to increase blade coverage, then washing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple outlet ports that would traditionally require separate nozzles are merged into a single integrated nozzle body. The first outlet at the tip, second outlet along the body, and third outlet at the end all function from one consolidated component, reducing the number of separate devices while maintaining comprehensive blade coverage across the entire compressor intake area
Solution Approach 2:
The single nozzle structure performs multiple washing functions simultaneously through its different outlets. It cleans the leading edge, mid-section, and rear sections of compressor blades all at once, making the nozzle a universal cleaning device that replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized nozzles, thereby increasing coverage area without proportionally increasing device complexity
3Quantity of substance
If nozzles are positioned to maximize fluid distribution, then washing coverage is improved, but obstruction of intake airflow increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle incorporates a retractable mechanism that allows it to dynamically change position between extended and retracted states. During water wash operations, the nozzle extends to maximize fluid distribution quantity and coverage. During normal operation, it retracts to minimize obstruction of intake airflow, thus dynamically adapting to different operational requirements and resolving the contradiction between fluid distribution and airflow efficiency
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 system increases the portion of compressor blades washed by fluid, leading to improved power recovery and efficiency in gas turbine systems by ensuring a greater distribution of fluid droplets across the blades, particularly during water wash procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a first water wash nozzle configured to spray a wash fluid into an intake flow received through a bell mouth of a compressor
Implementation Method 2
mitigating gravitational and centrifugal forces to enhance wash effectiveness
Implementation Method 3
mitigating gravitational and centrifugal forces to enhance wash effectiveness
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a fluid distribution system. The fluid distribution system includes a first water wash nozzle configured to spray a wash fluid into an intake flow received through a bell mouth of a compressor during operation of the compressor in a water wash mode. The first water wash nozzle includes a first inlet end coupled to the bell mouth of the compressor, a first tip disposed opposite the first inlet end, and a first body of the first water wash nozzle extending from the first inlet end to the first tip toward an axis of the compressor. The first water was nozzle further includes a first outlet disposed at the first tip and configured to spray a first portion of the wash fluid into the intake flow during operation of the compressor in the water wash mode and a second outlet disposed along the first body and configured to spray a second portion of the wash fluid into the intake flow during operation of the compressor in the water wash mode.