Fuel Distribution Plate Flow Management for Gas Turbine Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine efficiency is hindered by non-uniform fuel/air mixture distribution due to inadequate control of fuel flow through the distribution plate, leading to inefficiencies and increased nitrogen oxide production.
Innovation Solution
A flow management device is integrated near the annulus area between the mixing tubes and distribution plate to control fuel flow, utilizing sealing or metering elements to adjust the size of annulus areas and ensure uniform distribution of fuel to the mixing tubes, thereby maintaining a consistent fuel/air mixture composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fuel flow through the distribution plate is not effectively controlled, then the device structure remains simple, but the fuel/air mixture distribution becomes non-uniform leading to reduced turbine efficiency and increased nitrogen oxide production
Solution Approach 1:
A flow management device is introduced as an intermediary component between the distribution plate and mixing tubes. This device includes a flow management plate with flow management holes that work in conjunction with the distribution plate holes to control fuel flow distribution. The intermediary structure enables precise fuel/air mixture distribution control without requiring complex control systems, thereby improving turbine efficiency while maintaining reasonable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel flow control system is segmented into multiple functional components: the distribution plate with distribution holes, the flow management plate with flow management holes, and the mixing tubes. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the distribution plate provides initial fuel distribution, the flow management plate refines the distribution through its holes that interact with the distribution holes, and the mixing tubes complete the mixing process. This modular segmentation achieves uniform fuel/air mixture distribution while keeping each individual component relatively simple
2Manufacturing precision
If the annulus areas between the distribution plate and mixing tubes are not controlled, then the device structure remains simple, but fuel flow distribution becomes non-uniform causing inefficiencies and thermal stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The flow management plate serves as an intermediary that controls the annulus areas between the distribution plate and mixing tubes. The flow management holes in the flow management plate are positioned to interact with the distribution plate holes, and together they define and control the effective annulus areas. This intermediary approach enables precise control of fuel flow distribution through the annulus areas without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, achieving uniform fuel/air mixture while maintaining simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention controls the annulus area parameters by designing specific geometric relationships between the distribution plate holes, flow management holes, and mixing tubes. By carefully selecting and positioning these holes with specific dimensions, the effective annulus area is controlled to achieve uniform fuel flow distribution. This parameter-based control approach enables precise fuel/air mixture uniformity without requiring complex active control systems
3Object-generated harmful factors
If fuel flow distribution is not optimized, then the device structure remains simple, but nitrogen oxide production increases and turbine efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow management device acts as an intermediary control system that optimizes fuel flow distribution to minimize nitrogen oxide production. The flow management plate with its specifically positioned holes works in conjunction with the distribution plate to ensure uniform fuel/air mixture composition before combustion. This uniform distribution prevents localized rich or lean conditions that would generate excessive nitrogen oxides, achieving emission reduction without requiring complex active control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes fuel flow distribution parameters through the geometric design of the distribution plate holes and flow management holes. By controlling the size, position, and arrangement of these holes, the system achieves uniform fuel/air mixture composition that minimizes nitrogen oxide formation during combustion. This parameter optimization approach reduces harmful emissions while maintaining simple device structure without requiring complex control mechanisms
Data Source
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AI summary
A fuel flow passes through a micromixer 60 section of a gas turbine that includes a plurality of mixing tubes 130 for transporting a fuel/air mixture and a distribution plate 140 including a plurality of distribution holes 142 and a plurality of tube holes 144 for accommodating the mixing tubes 130. Each of the mixing tubes 130 includes a plurality of fuel holes 132 through which fuel enters the mixing tubes 130. The tube holes 144 and the mixing tubes 130 form a plurality of annulus areas 146 between the distribution plate 140 and the mixing tubes 130. The distribution holes 142 and the annulus areas 146 are configured to pass the fuel flow through the distribution plate toward the fuel holes. A flow management device modifies an effective size of the annulus areas to control a distribution of the fuel flow through the distribution holes and the annulus areas of the distribution plate to provide a uniform fuel/air composition in each of the mixing tubes.