Dual Fuel Injection Combustor for Waterless Turbine Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engines require water to prevent flashback and reduce NOx emissions, but water is expensive in some areas, making the engines cost-ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A dual fuel injection system is implemented, where a primary fuel injection creates a primary combustion zone, and a secondary fuel injection system, equipped with an air scoop, injects fuel downstream to create a secondary combustion zone without water mixing, reducing flame temperature and residence time to minimize flashback and NOx production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If water is used in the fuel injection system to prevent flashback and reduce NOx emissions, then flashback prevention and NOx reduction are improved, but operational costs increase due to water expenses
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel injection system is divided into multiple zones: a primary combustion zone with water-fuel mixture injection for flashback prevention, and a secondary combustion zone with pure fuel injection for additional combustion. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without requiring water throughout the entire combustion process, thereby reducing water consumption and operational costs while maintaining flashback prevention and NOx reduction benefits.
2Temperature
If water is mixed with fuel to reduce flame temperature and residence time, then flashback and NOx production are reduced, but water consumption increases leading to higher costs
Solution Approach 1:
Water is injected only in the primary combustion zone where it is needed for temperature control and flashback prevention, while the secondary combustion zone uses pure fuel injection. This local application of water ensures that flame temperature and residence time are controlled where most critical, while minimizing overall water consumption and associated costs.
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 approach reduces the need for water, lowering operational costs while effectively preventing flashback and NOx emissions, as the secondary combustion zone controls flame temperature and residence times.
Implementation Method 1
The combustors combine the compressed air with a fuel and ignite the mixture creating combustion products
Implementation Method 2
the secondary fuel injection system injects the fuel downstream from where the primary fuel injection system injected the fuel and upstream of an exit from the transition system, wherein the injection of the fuel by the secondary fuel injection system creates a secondary combustion zone
Implementation Method 3
The combustion that occurs can result in the formation of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) which is not desirable
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine engine has two combustion zones so as to operate in conditions where water scarcity is an issue. The secondary combustion zone is located downstream of the primary combustion zone. Fuel can be fed into an air scoop having air from a shell surrounding the primary and secondary combustion zone. The feeding of the fuel through the air scoop allows atomization of the fuel. The mixture can then enter the secondary combustion zone and mix with the products from the first combustion zone.