Combustion Chamber Fuel Injector Seal Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing impingement cooling method for combustion chamber fuel injector seals is not effective in reducing the temperature of the third portion of the seal sufficiently, leading to melting and material deposition on downstream components, which blocks cooling holes and increases the temperature of combustion chamber components, reducing their working life.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a combustion chamber design with radially extending flanges featuring axially extending thermal conductors and angled coolant apertures that direct coolant to the seal's upstream surface, providing additional cooling and preventing melting, along with thermal conductors that enhance heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If impingement cooling is used to cool the third portion of the seal, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but the temperature reduction is insufficient to prevent melting
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple portions (first, second, and third portions) with different cooling requirements. The first portion has coolant apertures for impingement cooling, while the second portion has a different structure. This segmentation allows targeted cooling approaches for different sections, improving overall cooling effectiveness while preventing melting.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling approach transitions from single-direction impingement cooling to multi-dimensional heat dissipation. The third portion features an increased diameter creating a downstream expansion space that enables radial and axial heat dissipation pathways, complementing the axial impingement cooling from the first portion.
2Temperature
If the third portion of the seal melts, then material is released and deposited on downstream components, but this blocks cooling holes and increases temperature of combustion chamber components
Solution Approach 1:
The seal design incorporates preventive measures before melting occurs. The third portion's increased diameter creates additional thermal mass and heat dissipation capacity in advance, while the coolant apertures in the first portion deliver cooling proactively. This preliminary anti-action prevents material release and subsequent harmful deposition on downstream components.
Solution Approach 2:
The design converts the potential harmful effect of heat accumulation into beneficial cooling mechanisms. The high-temperature environment that could cause melting is instead utilized to drive efficient heat transfer through the coolant apertures, with the temperature differential enabling effective impingement cooling and preventing material failure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the third portion of the seal melts, then local mixing and stoichiometry change, but this increases temperature of surrounding combustion chamber components
Solution Approach 1:
The seal structure is designed with preliminary geometric features that maintain stable mixing and stoichiometry. The third portion's increased diameter and the positioning of coolant apertures are configured in advance to preserve proper flow patterns and mixture composition, preventing the destabilizing effects that would lead to temperature increases in surrounding components.
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 solution effectively reduces the temperature of the seal, preventing melting and material deposition, and maintaining the working life of combustion chamber components by efficiently cooling the seal and preventing hot gas ingress.
Implementation Method 1
The coolant apertures in the first portion of each seal direct the coolant there-through with axial and radial velocity components towards the third portion of the seal. The coolant impinges on the upstream surface, or cold surface, of the third portion of the seal to provide impingement cooling
Implementation Method 2
Each seal has a plurality of thermal conductors extending axially from the radially extending flange to the downstream end of the seal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A combustion chamber (15) comprising an upstream end wall (44), at least one annular wall (40, 42), at least one fuel injector (56) and at least one seal (58). The at least one annular wall (40, 42) being secured to the upstream end wall (44). The upstream end wall (44) having at least one aperture (54). Each fuel injector (56) being arranged in a corresponding one of the apertures (54) in the upstream end wall (44) and each seal (58) being arranged in a corresponding one of the apertures (54) in the upstream end wall (44) and around the corresponding one of the fuel injectors (56). Each seal (58) having an inner surface (60) facing the corresponding one of the fuel injectors (56) and an outer surface (62) facing away from the corresponding one of the fuel injectors (56). Each seal (58) abutting the corresponding one of the fuel injectors. The downstream end (68) of each seal (58) increasing in diameter in a downstream direction and the upstream end (64) of each seal (58) having a radially extending flange (72). Each seal (58, 258) having a plurality of coolant apertures (74) extending axially through the radially extending flange (72) and/or each seal (158, 258) having a plurality of thermal conductors (174) extending axially from the radially extending flange (72) to the downstream end (68) of the seal (158, 258).