Dome Deflector Cavity Airflow Swirl Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

In gas turbine engines, particulate build-up in the dome-deflector cavity reduces the efficiency of impingement and film cooling, leading to increased maintenance frequency due to restricted airflow and reduced cooling efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The dome structure incorporates multiple groups of dome-side cooling airflow passages arranged in different swirl directions, enhancing airflow circulation and turbulence within the dome-deflector cavity to mitigate particulate accumulation and maintain cooling efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single swirl direction is used in cooling airflow passages, then the structure is simpler, but particulate build-up occurs in the cavity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling airflow passage arrangementVSAvoidparticulate build-up

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling airflow passages are segmented into multiple groups, with each group oriented to provide airflow in a different swirl direction. This segmentation allows the system to handle particulate matter more effectively by preventing accumulation through varied flow patterns, while maintaining manageable structural complexity through organized grouping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the dome structure receive cooling airflow with different swirl directions tailored to their specific needs. This local differentiation optimizes particulate removal in each cavity region while maintaining overall system efficiency, rather than applying a uniform swirl direction throughout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If cooling airflow passages are added to prevent particulate build-up, then cooling efficiency is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidcooling airflow passage arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling airflow passages are divided into multiple groups with different swirl directions, allowing the system to maintain cooling efficiency through varied flow patterns that prevent particulate accumulation, while keeping the structural complexity manageable through organized segmentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-directional swirl airflow passages serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide cooling to the dome structure, prevent particulate build-up through varied flow patterns, and maintain airflow circulation. This multi-functionality justifies the increased complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single structural arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Temperature

If impingement cooling is provided to the deflector, then protection from heat is improved, but particulate accumulation restricts airflow and reduces cooling efficiency over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeflector coolingVSAvoidcooling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a single swirl direction that allows particulates to accumulate in predictable patterns, the invention uses multiple swirl directions that invert the expected accumulation patterns, preventing build-up by varying the airflow paths in opposite and different directions across different passage groups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-directional swirl airflow passages ensure continuous and effective cooling of the deflector by maintaining uninterrupted airflow circulation. The varied swirl directions prevent particulate accumulation that would otherwise restrict airflow over time, ensuring the cooling action remains continuous and effective throughout the component's operational life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 arrangement reduces dust and dirt build-up, maintains airflow, and extends the life of the deflector by ensuring consistent cooling efficiency and reduced maintenance needs.

Implementation Method 1

each group of dome-side cooling airflow passages being arranged to provide a flow of air therethrough in a respective group swirl direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSwirl flow: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 2

enhancing airflow circulation and turbulence within the dome-deflector cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 3

The dome structure may include a cavity between the dome and the deflector to provide impingement cooling to the deflector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpingement cooling: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11739935B1Dome structure providing a dome-deflector cavity with counter-swirled airflow

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

A dome-deflector structure for a combustor of a gas turbine includes a dome portion and a deflector portion, the dome portion and the deflector portion being connected together to form a dome-deflector cavity therebetween. The dome portion includes a plurality of dome-side cooling airflow passages therethrough arranged in a plurality of groups of dome-side cooling airflow passages, each group of dome-side cooling airflow passages being arranged to provide a flow of air therethrough in a respective group swirl direction, and adjacent groups of the dome-side cooling airflow passages providing the flow of air in a different group swirl direction with respect to one another.