Emulsion Fuel Supply System with Turbulator for Combustor Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In combustors, uneven mixing of liquid and gaseous fuels with compressed air leads to localized hot spots, increased production of undesirable emissions, and flame instability, as emulsion fuels tend to separate quickly, causing inefficiencies and damage.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a turbulator and distributor that mixes and distributes emulsion fuel evenly to combustor nozzles, using a fuel manifold, water manifold, and fluid junction to create an emulsion fuel, which is then enhanced by a turbulator to prevent separation and a distributor to ensure equal delivery to each nozzle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If water is added to fuel to produce emulsion fuel, then combustion efficiency is enhanced and peak flame temperature is reduced, but the emulsion fuel quickly separates back into constituent elements causing flame instabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mixing of fuel and water in a mixing chamber before delivery to nozzles, creating the emulsion fuel in advance. This preliminary action ensures the emulsion is formed with proper composition before combustion, addressing both the temperature reduction benefit and the stability challenge by preparing the mixture under controlled conditions upstream.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (surfactant or emulsifier) to stabilize the emulsion fuel mixture. This intermediary prevents the fuel and water from quickly separating, maintaining composition stability while still allowing the water content to reduce peak flame temperature and improve combustion efficiency.
2Productivity
If emulsion fuel is supplied to nozzles, then combustion efficiency improves, but uneven distribution causes localized hot spots and increased emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the emulsion fuel delivery by providing individual supply lines and nozzles for each combustion zone. This segmentation allows precise control and uniform distribution of emulsion fuel to multiple nozzles simultaneously, ensuring even combustion across all zones while maintaining high combustion efficiency through consistent fuel-air mixing at each nozzle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality control by allowing individual adjustment of fuel supply to each nozzle based on specific zone requirements. Each nozzle can be optimized for its local combustion conditions, ensuring uniform distribution and preventing localized hot spots while maintaining overall high combustion efficiency through tailored local fuel delivery.
3Speed
If high reactive fuels like hydrogen are used, then burning rate increases, but flame flash back and flame holding occur more readily
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical parameters of the fuel by using emulsion form (liquid-liquid mixture) instead of pure high-reactivity fuel. This parameter change reduces the burning rate compared to pure hydrogen while maintaining high combustion efficiency, and simultaneously improves flame stability by preventing flash back and flame holding through the moderated reactivity of the emulsion formulation.
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 system improves combustion efficiency, stabilizes flames between nozzles, and reduces undesirable emissions by ensuring consistent emulsion fuel delivery to each nozzle, enhancing overall combustor performance.
Implementation Method 1
A system and method for supplying an emulsion fuel to a combustor are provided. The emulsion fuel may be mixed and delivered to a combustor through a turbulator
Implementation Method 2
water may be added to the fuel to produce an emulsion fuel that enhances combustion efficiency and reduces the peak flame temperature
Data Source
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AI summary
A system (10) for supplying fuel includes a fuel manifold (16), a water manifold (18), and a fluid junction (20) between the fuel manifold (16) and the water manifold (18). A turbulator (30) downstream from the fluid junction (20) receives a fluid flow from the fluid junction (20). A method for supplying fuel includes flowing fuel through a fuel manifold (16), flowing water through a water manifold (18), and combining a portion of the water from the water manifold (18) with the fuel from the fuel manifold (16) to create emulsion fuel (12). The method further includes flowing the emulsion fuel (12) through a turbulator (30).