Turbine Fuel Injector Guide Cooling Ribs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fuel injector guides in turbine engines face operational and service life issues due to high thermal loads and stresses from combusting gases, leading to thermal deformation and reduced performance.

Innovation Solution

A fuel injector guide design featuring a tubular base, annular flange, and flow turbulators with ribs, which includes radially extending flow channels and turbulators to enhance cooling and structural rigidity, directing air to impinge on the flange and reduce thermal deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the fuel injector guide flange is exposed to high temperature combusting gases, then the combustor can operate at high temperatures for efficient combustion, but the flange experiences high thermal loads and stresses causing thermal deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustor operating temperatureVSAvoidflange dimensional stability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A cooling air flow is introduced as an intermediary medium between the hot combusting gases and the flange. The cooling air absorbs thermal energy from the combusting gases before contacting the flange, reducing thermal loads and preventing excessive thermal deformation while maintaining efficient combustor operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

A pneumatic cooling system is implemented where compressed cooling air is directed through passages and impingement holes onto the flange surface. This high-velocity air flow creates forced convection cooling, significantly reducing thermal stresses and deformation in the flange under high temperature combustion conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Stability of the object's composition

If cooling air is directed to impinge on the flange, then thermal deformation is reduced, but the flow structure becomes more complex requiring ribs and turbulators

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflange thermal deformationVSAvoidflow channel structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling flow path is segmented into multiple distinct zones: inlet passages, distribution channels, impingement holes, and secondary flow regions. Ribs divide the cooling air flow into multiple streams that distribute heat more uniformly across the flange surface, reducing hot spots and improving overall cooling efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Flow turbulators replace complex mechanical cooling systems by using passive geometric features to generate turbulence and enhance heat transfer. The turbulators create chaotic flow patterns that increase convective heat transfer coefficients without requiring active control mechanisms or additional moving parts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Strength

If ribs are added to the fuel injector guide, then structural rigidity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel injector guide rigidityVSAvoidguide manufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The ribs are merged with the fuel injector guide body as integral features rather than separate components. This integration provides structural reinforcement while eliminating the need for additional manufacturing steps such as separate rib attachment, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the added structural feature

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The ribs serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural reinforcement to increase rigidity, act as flow distributors to enhance cooling air distribution, and serve as attachment features for sealing elements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 improves the operational reliability and service life of fuel injector guides by increasing convective heat transfer and structural rigidity, mitigating thermal deformation and maintaining proper alignment and sealing.

Implementation Method 1

The design improves the operational reliability and service life of fuel injector guides by increasing convective heat transfer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

The assembly may be configured to impinge air against or otherwise direct air onto the flange radially between the base and the flow turbulator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 3

The assembly may be configured to impinge air against or otherwise direct air onto the flange radially between the base and the flow turbulator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpingement cooling:

Data Source

PatentUS10670272B2Fuel injector guide(s) for a turbine engine combustor

Publication Date: 2020.06.02 RTX CORP

AI summary

A fuel injector guide is provided for a turbine engine combustor. The fuel injector guide includes a tubular base, an annular flange, a plurality of ribs and a flow turbulator. The base extends along an axis between first and second ends. The flange extends radially out from the base at the second end. The ribs are disposed around the base and extend axially out from the flange towards the first end. The flow turbulator is disposed between an adjacent pair of the ribs.