Gas Turbine Combustion Section With Dual-Mode Steam Augmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face challenges in reducing carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions during high-power operations, and the effectiveness of steam injection is limited by the functionality of the steam generating system.
Innovation Solution
A second combustor is provided in parallel with the first combustor, allowing steam or fuel and compressor bleed air to be used in the second combustor to augment thrust when the steam generating system is functional or non-functional, respectively, ensuring continuous power augmentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If steam is injected into the combustor to reduce CO and NOx emissions, then emissions are reduced, but the effectiveness is limited by steam generating system functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The combustor is divided into two separate combustors: a first combustor for normal operation and a second combustor for power augmentation. This segmentation allows the engine to switch between different operating modes, ensuring that power augmentation capability is maintained even when the steam generating system is non-functional. The second combustor can operate with fuel and compressor bleed air alone, providing redundancy against steam system failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between steam injection mode (when steam generating system is functional) and fuel-only combustion mode (when steam system is non-functional). This parameter change allows the engine to adapt to different system states while maintaining emission reduction benefits and power augmentation capability.
2Power
If a second combustor is added for power augmentation, then thrust augmentation capability is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second combustor is designed with multi-functionality: it can receive steam when the steam generating system is operational for emission reduction, and it can receive fuel and compressor bleed air when the steam system is non-functional for power augmentation. This universal design allows a single component to serve multiple purposes, reducing the need for additional separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the power augmentation function and emission reduction function into a single integrated combustor system. The second combustor merges both capabilities by accepting different input materials (steam or fuel-air mixture) based on system conditions, thereby achieving multiple objectives without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If steam is provided to the second combustor plenum, then emission reduction is enhanced, but steam consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial steam injection into the second combustor plenum rather than full steam injection into the main combustor. This partial action is sufficient to achieve emission reduction benefits while consuming less steam, especially when operating in the power augmentation mode where complete steam injection is not required.
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 maintains power augmentation by utilizing steam or fuel combustion products to enhance thrust, effectively reducing emissions and ensuring consistent engine performance regardless of steam generation capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a steam generating system arranged to provide a flow of steam to the second combustor plenum and to the steam turbine
Implementation Method 2
the second combustor being arranged to burn fuel and mix the fuel with the compressor bleed air to generate combustion products
Implementation Method 3
a compressor bleed air system arranged to provide a flow of compressor bleed air to the second combustor plenum
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine engine includes a steam generating system, and a combustion section having a first combustor and a second combustor in fluid communication with a secondary combustion zone of the first combustor. The second combustor is operable to receive compressor bleed air and fuel, along with steam from the steam generating system. During a non-idle operating state and a power-augmentation operating state, when the steam system is operable, steam is provided to the second combustor and then to the secondary combustion zone of the first combustor. When the steam generating system is inoperable, the fuel and bleed air are provided to the second combustor and combusted, and combustion products are provided to the first combustor. When the steam generating system is partially operable, the steam, the bleed air, and the fuel are provided to the second combustor, and combustion products are provided to the first combustor.