Flexible Combustor Fuel Nozzle for Syngas and Natural Gas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern gas turbine engines face challenges in accommodating the significant differences between natural gas and syngas fuels, particularly in terms of volumetric flow rate and reactivity, which can lead to flame holding and nozzle damage, requiring a fuel nozzle design that ensures durability and efficiency for various fuel types.
Innovation Solution
A flexible combustor fuel nozzle design featuring a main passage for natural gas, secondary and tertiary passages for low BTU fuel and purge air/nitrogen, and diluent, allowing for controlled flow and pressure ratios to manage combustion dynamics and reduce flame holding risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single passage fuel nozzle design is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate both natural gas and syngas with different volumetric flow rates and reactivity characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel nozzle is divided into multiple separate passages (first passage for natural gas, second passage for syngas) that can independently control flow rates for different fuel types. This segmentation allows each passage to be optimized for its specific fuel, enabling the nozzle to accommodate both natural gas and syngas with different volumetric flow rates and reactivity characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel nozzle design incorporates multiple passages that can handle different fuel types (natural gas and syngas) through a single nozzle body. The system includes control means that can adjust the operation of each passage based on the selected fuel type, making the nozzle universally applicable to multiple fuel sources while maintaining optimal performance for each.
2Quantity of substance
If high syngas fuel pressure ratios are used to achieve required volumetric flow rate, then the flow rate requirement is met, but flame holding and nozzle damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle separates syngas flow into a dedicated second passage with independent control, allowing the system to achieve required volumetric flow rates without subjecting the entire nozzle to extreme pressure ratios. The segmented design enables better distribution and control of high-volume syngas flow, reducing localized stress and flame holding risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The control means acts as an intermediary that regulates the pressure and flow of syngas through the second passage, preventing excessive pressure ratios that would cause flame holding and nozzle damage while still achieving the required volumetric flow rate for syngas combustion.
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 design achieves comparable performance for syngas and natural gas combustion, enhancing durability, efficiency, and emission control, while allowing for turndown extensions with low and ultra-low BTU fuels, and reducing inert purge flow requirements.
Implementation Method 1
A flexible combustor fuel nozzle may include a main passage in communication with a source of natural gas and a source of low BTU fuel, one or more secondary passages surrounding the main passage and in communication with the source of low BTU fuel, a source of purge air, and/or a source of nitrogen, and a tertiary passage surrounding the secondary passages and in communication with the source of low BTU fuel, the source of purge air, the source of nitrogen, and a source of diluent
Implementation Method 2
The combustor fuel nozzle should be able to accommodate both natural gas and syngas without limiting durability or efficiency. The combustor fuel nozzle preferably provides syngas combustion with comparable performance to natural gas combustion in terms of flow, mixing, dynamics, and emission patterns
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a flexible combustor fuel nozzle. The flexible combustor fuel nozzle may include a main passage in communication with a source of natural gas and a source of low BTU fuel, a secondary passage surrounding the main passage and in communication with the source of low BTU fuel and a source of purge air, and a tertiary passage surrounding the secondary passage and in communication with the source of low BTU fuel, the source of purge air, and a source of diluent.