Fuel Injector Variable Orifice for High-Viscosity Fuel Atomization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engines face challenges in efficiently atomizing and igniting fuel, particularly at high altitudes or with high viscosity fuels, leading to sub-optimal combustion efficiency and increased smoke generation.
Innovation Solution
A fuel injector with a retractable valve body and actuation mechanism that adjusts fuel flow through variable orifices, creating a higher delta pressure for improved atomization and mixing of fuel and air, enhancing ignition capability and combustion efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional fuel injectors are used, then the structure is simple, but fuel atomization is insufficient especially at high altitudes or with high viscosity fuels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic valve body that can move between retracted and advanced positions to vary the fuel flow area. This dynamic adjustment allows the injector to adapt to different operating conditions (high altitude, high viscosity fuels) by changing the effective orifice size, thereby improving fuel atomization quality without requiring multiple fixed injectors for different conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel injector is divided into distinct functional components: a stationary outer valve body with fixed orifices, and a movable inner valve body with variable flow areas. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component - the outer body provides structural stability while the inner body enables dynamic flow control, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and atomization quality.
2Productivity
If fixed orifices are used, then the structure is simple, but combustion efficiency is sub-optimal under varying operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The movable valve body dynamically adjusts the fuel flow area in response to varying operating conditions such as altitude and fuel viscosity. By changing the effective orifice size, the system maintains optimal combustion efficiency across different conditions without requiring manual intervention or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow parameters (fuel flow area, delta pressure) by moving the valve body between positions. This parameter adjustment allows the injector to optimize fuel atomization and combustion efficiency for different operating conditions, directly addressing the need for adaptability while maintaining combustion productivity.
3Reliability
If high viscosity fuels are used, then fuel storage and transport are simplified, but atomization and ignition become difficult especially at high altitudes
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic valve body compensates for the harmful effects of high viscosity and altitude by adjusting the fuel flow area to maintain optimal delta pressure. This dynamic adjustment ensures reliable ignition and combustion even when using high viscosity fuels at high altitudes, where conventional fixed orifices would fail to provide sufficient atomization.
Solution Approach 2:
The injector design anticipates the problems caused by high viscosity fuels and altitude by pre-configuring a variable flow area mechanism. This preliminary anti-action allows the system to counteract the harmful effects before they manifest, ensuring reliable ignition by maintaining proper fuel atomization under challenging 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 fuel injector improves ignition and combustion efficiency, reduces smoke generation, and enhances low power operation by increasing atomization and mixing of fuels, especially in challenging conditions.
Implementation Method 1
creating a higher delta pressure for improved atomization and mixing of fuel and air
Implementation Method 2
improved atomization and mixing of fuels
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A gas turbine engine (10) including a fuel injector having an outer valve body (110) with an inner passage (118), a wall (116) at least partially enclosing the inner passage (118), the wall (116) having an inner surface (112), an outer surface (114), and one or more channels (128) passing through the wall (116) between the outer surface (114) of the wall (116) and the inner surface (112) of the wall (116), and a retractable valve body (108) positioned within the inner passage (118) of the outer valve body (110). The retractable valve body (108) has one or more slots (130) in fluid communication with the fluid spin chamber (122). The retractable valve body (108) is positioned within the inner passage (118) to move along a reciprocating axis (101) at one or more valve positions including an advanced valve position, a retracted valve position, an open valve position, and a closed valve position.