Flat Spray Fuel Injector Tip for Uniform Combustor Fuel Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved fuel injectors that can efficiently cover various combustor geometries and provide targeted fuel placement in gas turbine engines, addressing issues such as carbon growth, durability, and non-uniform spray patterns in traditional systems.
Innovation Solution
A fuel injector assembly with a radial feed arm and a nozzle portion featuring a distal spray tip with primary and secondary flat spray slots, along with a primary pressure atomizer and an air swirler, allowing for independent fuel supply circuits to each spray slot, enabling precise fuel placement and uniformity across different combustor geometries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional jet and prefilmer style injectors are used, then fuel injection is achieved, but carbon growth on external faces and within outlet features occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel injection system is divided into multiple independent circuits (first circuit with prefilmer injector, second circuit with flat spray injector), allowing different injection styles to be used simultaneously. This segmentation enables optimization of each circuit for specific functions while avoiding carbon growth issues in critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Different injection styles are applied to different locations based on local requirements. The prefilmer injector is used where continuous fuel film is needed, while the flat spray injector is used in areas prone to carbon growth. The fuel passages in the flat spray injector are designed with specific thermal characteristics to prevent coking in high-temperature zones.
2Reliability
If prefilmer style injectors are used, then fuel injection is achieved, but the design is complex and requires high air velocity for atomization
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the atomization function into two different injector types. The prefilmer injector handles continuous fuel film formation, while the flat spray injector handles droplet atomization. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function with simpler design.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-circuit injector combines multiple injection styles in a single device, providing universal fuel injection capabilities for different operating conditions and combustor geometries. This eliminates the need for separate injectors for different functions.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional injectors are used, then fuel injection is achieved, but spray patterns are streaky and non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel injection is segmented into multiple circuits with different injection patterns. The first circuit provides a prefilmer spray pattern while the second circuit provides a flat spray pattern. This segmentation creates a more uniform overall fuel distribution by combining different spray characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies injection parameters (flow rate, pressure, geometry) across different circuits to optimize spray patterns. The independent metering of each circuit allows adjustment of fuel flow rates and pressure to achieve uniform spray patterns across different operating conditions.
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
The solution provides efficient fuel distribution, minimizes carbon growth, and ensures uniform spray patterns, enhancing durability and performance in diverse combustor configurations.
Implementation Method 1
A primary pressure atomizer port is centrally provided in the planar front surface of the distal spray tip... The primary pressure atomizer includes an atomizing tip portion which the primary pressure atomizer port extends through
Implementation Method 2
The fuel swirler has a plurality of offset slots and a main swirler. The fuel exits the plurality of offset slots and is directed into the main swirler by the inner wall of the primary pressure atomizer
Implementation Method 3
a set of circumferentially spaced apart secondary flat spray slots are provided in the frusto-conical outer surface of the distal spray tip. The secondary flat spray slots have non-uniform flow rates
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
A fuel injector assembly (100) has a fuel nozzle (102) including a radial feed arm with an elongated axially extending nozzle portion (106) having a central axis (X) extending therethrough, the elongated nozzle portion has a distal spray tip (108) with a frusto-conical outer surface (110) and a planar front surface (112), wherein a primary pressure atomizer port (114) is centrally provided in the planar front surface of the distal spray tip and a set of circumferentially spaced apart secondary flat spray slots (116) are provided in the frusto-conical outer surface of the distal spray tip.