Gas Turbine Fuel Nozzle Distal Tip for Flame Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel nozzle designs in gas turbine engines face challenges in maintaining stable flame shape and position, leading to increased noxious emissions, acoustic pressure dynamics, and lean blowout risks, as well as thermal instability.
Innovation Solution
A fuel injector design featuring a centerbody with a distal tip projecting beyond the premix chamber, combined with an outer sleeve and a premix chamber, ensures stable flame shape and position through aerodynamic mixing and controlled fuel delivery, using additional fluid conduits for further control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional fuel nozzle designs are used, then the structure is simpler, but flame shape and position stability deteriorates leading to increased emissions and acoustic pressure dynamics
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel nozzle is segmented into distinct functional zones: a premixing chamber for fuel-air mixing, a stabilization zone with the distal tip for flame anchoring, and separate fluid conduits for controlled delivery. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its function, improving flame stability while reducing harmful emissions and acoustic dynamics.
Solution Approach 2:
The distal tip of the centerbody acts as an intermediary element that projects into the combustion chamber to stabilize the flame. It serves as a physical mediator that anchors the flame in a controlled position, preventing flame instability and associated harmful effects without requiring complex external control systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional fluid conduits are added to the centerbody, then control over fuel delivery is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The additional fluid conduits within the centerbody serve multiple functions: they can deliver fuel, air, or a mixture depending on operating conditions. This multi-functionality provides adaptability in fuel delivery control while keeping the overall structure integrated within the existing centerbody, minimizing the increase in device complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the distal tip projects beyond the premix chamber, then flame stabilization is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distal tip is designed with a rounded, spheroidal geometry that projects beyond the premix chamber. This curved shape improves flame stabilization by providing a stable anchoring point while being more amenable to standard manufacturing processes like machining or casting compared to sharp or complex geometries, thus balancing flame stabilization with ease of manufacture.
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 stable flame shape and position under varying conditions, reducing noxious emissions, combustion noise, and thermal stress, while enhancing combustion efficiency and durability.
Implementation Method 1
ensures stable flame shape and position through aerodynamic mixing and controlled fuel delivery
Implementation Method 2
The centerbody includes a distal tip ending at the distal end of the centerbody and projecting outside the premix chamber, beyond the distal end of the outer sleeve, inside the combustion chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel injector comprises a fuel infeed chamber and a centerbody extending along a longitudinal axis from the fuel infeed chamber to a distal end of the centerbody. An outer sleeve surrounds the centerbody and forms an annular premix chamber between the outer sleeve and the centerbody. The centerbody comprises a distal tip projecting outside the annular premix chamber, beyond the distal end of the outer sleeve.