Combustor Deflector Assembly With Bolt Cooling Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bolted deflector assemblies in gas turbine engines experience thermal distress due to proximity to hot combustion gases, leading to fatigue, failure, or wear, which reduces their durability and life cycle.
Innovation Solution
A cooling arrangement is implemented on both the cold and hot sides of the deflector assembly, featuring cooling holes that direct cooling air radially or tangentially towards the bolt heads, and structural support pins that enhance heat dissipation and turbulence, along with recessed bolts and semi-circular slits to provide additional cooling curtains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If deflector assembly is positioned close to hot combustion gases to perform its shielding function, then its ability to protect the combustor section is improved, but thermal distress on bolts increases leading to reduced durability
Solution Approach 1:
Cooling air acts as an intermediary substance between the hot combustion gases and the bolted deflector assembly. The cooling air flows through cooling holes in the deflector assembly and along the bolt shanks, creating a protective thermal barrier that mediates heat transfer and reduces thermal distress on the bolts while maintaining the assembly's proximity to the combustion gases for effective shielding
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic cooling by introducing compressed cooling air through cooling holes in the deflector assembly and along the bolt shanks. This pneumatic system creates a pressurized cooling flow that effectively removes heat from the bolts, allowing the deflector assembly to maintain its protective position close to the combustion gases without suffering from thermal distress
2Duration of action of stationary object
If cooling air is introduced to reduce thermal distress on bolts, then durability of bolts is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional cooling arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is merged with the existing structural components of the deflector assembly. Cooling holes are integrated directly into the deflector assembly panels and bolt shanks, combining the structural and cooling functions into single elements. This integration reduces overall system complexity by eliminating separate cooling components while still providing effective thermal protection
Solution Approach 2:
The bolts serve multiple functions: they provide mechanical fastening and simultaneously act as cooling conduits through which cooling air flows along their shanks. The deflector assembly panels also serve dual purposes as structural components and as carriers for cooling holes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated cooling components, thereby reducing 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
The cooling arrangement significantly reduces thermal distress on bolts, enhancing the durability and life cycle of the deflector assembly by providing effective heat dissipation and insulation.
Implementation Method 1
cooling holes that direct cooling air radially or tangentially towards the bolt heads
Implementation Method 2
enhancing the durability and life cycle of the deflector assembly by providing effective heat dissipation
Implementation Method 3
structural support pins that enhance heat dissipation and turbulence
Implementation Method 4
recessed bolts and semi-circular slits to provide additional cooling curtains
Data Source
AI summary
A deflector assembly for a combustor defining an operational fluid flow. The deflector assembly includes an upstream surface and a downstream surface opposite the upstream surface. One or more fastening mechanisms each extends through the deflector assembly. One or more cooling holes extend through the deflector assembly from the upstream surface to the downstream surface. The one or more cooling holes are located about the one or more fastening mechanisms to operably direct cooling air about the one or more fastening mechanisms at the downstream surface.