Conical Diffuser for Gas Turbine Combustor Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coolant flow in gas turbine engines experiences unintended pressure drops when impinging on combustor liners, leading to ineffective cooling of high-temperature parts due to loss of pressure and momentum.
Innovation Solution
A diffuser with a conical shape and curved surface that converges from a circular base to a conical apex, positioned to smoothly diffuse and direct coolant flow radially outward, reducing pressure drops and conserving momentum within a plenum defined by the combustor shell and liner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant is supplied directly to the liner, then cooling is provided at the supply area, but pressure drop occurs and cooling effectiveness is reduced in other areas
Solution Approach 1:
A diffuser body is introduced as an intermediary component between the coolant supply source and the liner. The diffuser receives coolant flow from the supply source and redistributes it across its base surface, preventing direct impingement on the liner while maintaining cooling effectiveness. This mediator resolves the contradiction by eliminating pressure drop without sacrificing cooling performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser transforms the one-dimensional direct flow path (from supply source to liner) into a two-dimensional distribution pattern. The coolant flows along the diffuser body and exits across the entire base surface area, distributing cooling across multiple dimensions rather than concentrating it at a single impingement point, thereby preventing pressure drop.
2Temperature
If coolant flow impinges on the liner, then direct cooling is achieved at the impingement point, but momentum is lost and flow distribution to other areas is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser performs preliminary action by pre-distributing the coolant flow across its base surface before the coolant reaches the liner. This preliminary distribution prevents direct impingement and preserves momentum, allowing the coolant to effectively cool multiple areas of the liner rather than being depleted at a single point.
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 diffuser enhances coolant flow distribution to larger areas of the combustor liner, providing improved cooling efficiency and reducing heat stress on engine parts by minimizing pressure drops and preserving coolant flow momentum.
Implementation Method 1
the body having a surface that converges from the base to the apex in a generally arcuate or concave shape to smoothly diffuse and direct the flow in a radially outward direction
Data Source
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AI summary
A feed diffuser is disclosed. The diffuser may comprise a base disposed orthogonal to a flow, a body extending from the base toward the flow, and an apex provided at a termination of the body in a direction toward the flow. The body may decrease in cross-sectional area from the base to the apex.