Cooled Support Boss for Gas Turbine Combustor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional support bosses in gas turbine combustors create local hot spots due to the absence of cooling orifices, leading to temperature gradients and stress on the heat shields, which are not adequately cooled when no cooling air is provided.
Innovation Solution
A support boss design with a side wall and bottom wall that defines an internal space, featuring air inlet and outlet orifices to circulate cooling air, reducing temperature gradients and stress on the heat shield by allowing air to enter and escape, thereby cooling the support boss and surrounding components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional support bosses are used without cooling orifices, then the structure is simpler, but local hot spots are created causing temperature gradients and stress
Solution Approach 1:
The support boss incorporates cooling orifices specifically in the regions that generate hot spots, applying cooling locally rather than uniformly throughout the entire structure. This targeted approach addresses temperature gradients at critical locations while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support boss is divided into multiple functional zones with cooling orifices segmented at specific locations. The side wall and bottom wall are segmented to create multiple cooling channels that distribute coolant flow throughout the support boss structure, effectively managing heat distribution.
2Temperature
If cooling orifices are added to the support boss, then temperature gradients and hot spots are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is merged with the existing support boss structure by integrating cooling orifices directly into the side wall and bottom wall. This combination allows the support boss to simultaneously serve its structural purpose and provide cooling, eliminating the need for separate cooling components.
Solution Approach 2:
The support boss is designed to cool itself through the integrated cooling orifices in its side wall and bottom wall. The structure uses its own geometry and internal space to facilitate cooling air flow, eliminating the need for external cooling systems or additional components.
3Device complexity
If no cooling air is provided to the heat shield, then the structure remains simpler, but the heat shield is subjected to higher temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The support boss acts as an intermediary cooling structure between the hot combustion gases and the heat shield. By positioning cooling orifices in the support boss, it creates a cooling pathway that indirectly cools the heat shield through convection and conduction, protecting it from direct thermal exposure.
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 design effectively mitigates hot spots and temperature-related stresses by creating a cooling path within the support boss, maintaining efficient cooling of the combustor walls and heat shields, even when no external cooling air is available.
Implementation Method 1
Air surrounding the combustor is then forced into these orifices, thereby maintaining a lower temperature at the walls of the combustor
Implementation Method 2
means for providing air inside the internal space; and means for retrieving air from inside the internal space
Data Source
AI summary
The support boss is used in a combustor of a gas turbine engine. It comprises a side wall defining an internal space. The side wall has at least one air inlet orifice. It also comprises a bottom wall closing one end of the internal space. The bottom wall has at least one air outlet orifice.