Decoupled Combustor Cowl Shielding and Structural Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing combustors in gas turbine engines face issues with wear and limited life due to pressure and vibratory loads on the cowls, which affect the structural integrity and efficiency of the engine.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an annular cowl with openings for fuel and compressed air introduction, an annular deflector with swirlers, and a split frame structure for the cowl arms, which allows for secure attachment and reduced stress on components, decoupling high-stress and high-temperature regions, and eliminating the need for a traditional dome for structural rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the cowls are attached to the dome plate using bolted joints, then the combustor structure can be assembled, but the cowls experience wear and limited life due to pressure and vibratory loads
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the dome plate from the structure, eliminating it entirely. The cowls are no longer attached to a dome plate but are instead supported directly by the combustor hollow body and liner, removing the source of vibratory loads and wear that occurred at the bolted joints between cowls and dome plate
Solution Approach 2:
The structure is segmented by separating the functional roles: the hollow body provides structural support and the liner provides thermal protection, while the cowls are independently positioned. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function without transmitting harmful loads between them
2Strength
If a traditional dome is used to provide structural rigidity, then the combustor can be assembled with all components, but the part count and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dome plate is completely extracted from the design. The structural rigidity previously provided by the dome is redistributed to the hollow body and liner, which are already essential components for combustion containment and thermal management. This eliminates the need for separate dome assembly and reduces overall part count
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow body and liner are given multi-functionality: they provide structural containment, thermal protection, and support for the cowls. This eliminates the need for the dome plate's structural function, as the same support is achieved through the existing combustion chamber components
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
This design enhances durability, reduces part count and assembly complexity, and decreases costs by providing improved structural support and shielding from hot combustion gases, while reducing rotor imbalance and extending the lifespan of engine components.
Implementation Method 1
an annular deflector configured to shield the cowl from hot combustion gases in a combustion chamber defined between the outer liner, the inner liner and the deflector
Implementation Method 2
The deflector includes at least one swirler
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor includes an outer liner, an inner liner, an annular cowl joining upstream ends of the outer and inner liners, and an annular deflector configured to shield the cowl from hot combustion gases in a combustion chamber defined between the outer liner, the inner liner and the deflector. The cowl has at least one opening for introduction of fuel and compressed air. The deflector includes at least one swirler. The cowl defines at least one axial cowl hole, and the deflector defines at least one corresponding axial deflector hole, wherein the corresponding deflector hole and cowl hole are configured to receive a fastener for fastening together the cowl and the deflector.