Flameholder Turning Vanes for Gas Turbine Augmenter Backflow Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

In known gas turbine engines, the flow restricting structure in flameholders can create downstream flow patterns that lead to fuel and exhaust mixture migration upstream, resulting in spontaneous combustion within the flameholder, which reduces the component's usable life.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of turning vanes between radially outer and inner casings in the flameholder, along with radially extending slots, facilitates a laminar flow of the combustion gas/fuel mixture, preventing backflow and spontaneous combustion by reducing areas of low velocity and turbulence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a flow restricting structure is used to meter air flow entering the flameholder, then air flow control is improved, but the flow pattern extends downstream creating spontaneous combustion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair flow controlVSAvoidspontaneous combustion

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flameholder is divided into multiple sections with separate flow restricting structures positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows independent control of flow patterns in different regions, preventing the extension of harmful flow patterns downstream while maintaining effective air flow metering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A flow restricting structure with specific geometric features acts as an intermediary element between the air inlet and the fuel injectors. This intermediary component modifies the flow pattern to prevent upstream migration of fuel-exhaust mixtures, thereby eliminating spontaneous combustion while maintaining proper air flow control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If turning vanes are added to create laminar flow, then backflow prevention is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackflow preventionVSAvoidflameholder structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using complex active control systems to prevent backflow, the invention uses a simplified geometric arrangement of turning vanes that passively directs flow in the desired direction. The flow restricting structure is designed to naturally prevent upstream migration of mixtures through its geometric configuration, reducing the need for additional complex components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 design enhances the performance and extends the useful life of the augmenter by minimizing the risk of upstream backflow and spontaneous combustion, thereby improving reliability and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

facilitates a laminar flow of the combustion gas/fuel mixture, preventing backflow and spontaneous combustion by reducing areas of low velocity and turbulence

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaminar flow: Laminar Flow

Data Source

PatentUS7568346B2Method and apparatus for assembling a flameholder for an augmenter

Publication Date: 2009.08.04 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine with a flameholder. The method comprises coupling at least one turning vane between a radially outer casing and a radially inner casing to form a flameholder, forming at least two slots that extend substantially radially through the outer and inner casings, coupling at least one fuel injector to the flameholder, and coupling the flameholder within the augmenter.