Concentric Annular Fuel Manifold for Gas Turbine Staging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fuel manifolds in gas turbine engines are complex and bulky, especially when routing multiple fuels while maintaining fluid isolation, and do not efficiently support staged fuel injection for improved turn down ratios.
Innovation Solution
A compact fluid manifold design with concentric annular passages and cylindrical dividing portions, allowing for fluid isolation and independent control of each fuel stage, and incorporating a seal groove and seal ring for secure integration with the combustor case.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional fuel manifolds are used to route multiple fuels while maintaining fluid isolation, then fuel distribution function is achieved, but the manifold becomes complicated and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested annular passages where inner passages are positioned within outer passages, allowing multiple fuel types to be routed through concentric rings. This nesting arrangement enables multi-fuel capability while maintaining a compact, integrated manifold structure rather than requiring separate routing systems for each fuel type.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold is segmented into multiple annular passages separated by cylindrical dividing portions, with each passage dedicated to a specific fuel type. This segmentation allows independent control and isolation of different fuels while maintaining a unified manifold body, reducing overall complexity compared to traditional multi-component systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional fuel manifolds are used to route multiple fuels, then fuel distribution is achieved, but the manifold size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Concentric annular passages are nested within each other, with inner passages positioned inside outer passages. This nesting configuration allows multiple fuel routing paths to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, dramatically reducing the overall manifold volume compared to traditional side-by-side or stacked arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional planar routing to three-dimensional concentric routing by utilizing radial positioning of passages. Multiple fuel paths are arranged in the radial dimension rather than requiring additional lateral space, enabling compact packaging of multi-fuel capability.
3Productivity
If staged fuel injection is implemented to improve turn down ratios, then combustion control is improved, but the manifold complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold is segmented into multiple annular passages, each capable of independently supplying fuel at different flow rates. This segmentation enables staged fuel injection by controlling the flow through each annular passage separately, achieving improved turn down ratios while maintaining a relatively simple integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Each annular passage is designed with adjustable flow characteristics, allowing dynamic control of fuel delivery rates. This enables the manifold to adaptively stage fuel injection across different operating conditions, improving turn down ratio performance without requiring complex external control mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
A fluid manifold (100) includes a manifold body (102), a first annular passage (104a) and a second annular passage (104b). The first annular passage (104a) is defined within the manifold body (102) between a first passage inlet (106a) and a first passage outlet (108a) downstream from the first passage inlet (106a). The second annular passage (104b) is defined within the manifold body (102) nested radially outward from the first annular passage (104a), and between a second passage inlet (106b) and a second passage outlet (108b) downstream from the second passage inlet (106b). The first (104a) and second (104b) annular passages are concentric about a manifold axis (A). The first passage outlet (108a) and the second passage outlet (108b) are positioned at the same axial position relative to the manifold axis (A).