Constant Volume Combustor With Opposing Pistons for Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing turbine engines face challenges in efficiently generating high-energy exhaust gas flow while minimizing vibration and optimizing combustion efficiency, particularly in constant volume combustors.
Innovation Solution
A combustor assembly with movable pistons within a constant volume combustion chamber, featuring multiple combustion spaces and controlled fuel injection, air intake, and exhaust outlets, managed by a controller to synchronize piston movement and combustion events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If free pistons are used to compress inlet air for ignition, then combustion efficiency is improved, but vibration is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion chamber is divided into multiple combustion spaces (first, second, and center combustion spaces) separated by pistons. This segmentation allows independent combustion events in each space, improving overall combustion efficiency while the distributed arrangement helps balance vibrational forces.
Solution Approach 2:
Opposing pistons are positioned to move in opposite directions within the combustion chamber. The vibrational forces generated by each piston are counterbalanced by the opposing piston, effectively reducing net vibration while maintaining the compression-ignition mechanism.
2Power
If multiple combustion spaces are used, then energy generation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple combustion spaces and their associated pistons are integrated into a single combustion chamber structure that shares common components such as the inlet assembly, outlet assembly, and control system. This merging approach increases energy generation through parallel combustion while avoiding the complexity of completely separate combustion systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The combustion chamber structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it contains multiple combustion spaces, provides mounting for pistons and injectors, facilitates air intake and exhaust, and enables vibration reduction through opposing piston arrangement. This multi-functionality increases power output without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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
Enhances combustion efficiency and reduces vibration by optimizing piston movement and fuel ignition timing, resulting in a stable high-energy exhaust gas flow for turbine operation.
Implementation Method 1
compressing the core airflow within the combustion chamber in a center combustion space between the first piston and the second piston
Implementation Method 2
compressing the core airflow within the combustion chamber... to ignite the fuel
Implementation Method 3
injecting fuel into the center combustion space at a predefined time to ignite the fuel and generate a first exhaust gas flow
Implementation Method 4
Opposing movement of the pistons reduces or eliminates vibration while providing the desired gas flow to drive the turbine section
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor assembly for a turbine engine includes a combustor assembly where a first combustion space is defined between a first closed end of a combustion chamber and a first piston, a second combustion space is defined between a second closed end of the combustion chamber and a second piston and a center combustion space is defined between the first piston and the second piston. An air inlet assembly provides for communication of inlet air to the first combustion space, the second combustion space and the center combustion space. First, second and center injectors are provided to inject fuel into a corresponding one of the first combustion space, the second combustion space, and the center combustion space. An exhaust outlet communicates an exhaust gas flow generated in each of the first combustion space, the second combustion space and the center combustion space to a turbine section.