Multi-Passage Fuel Nozzle and Swirler for Flashback Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combustors face durability risks and flame control challenges due to the use of fuels that burn hotter and faster, leading to increased flame holding and flashback, which are not adequately addressed by current engine designs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a fuel nozzle and swirler architecture that utilizes multiple fuel supplies and swirling airflow configurations to enhance mixing and control flame position, reducing flame holding and flashback by maintaining sufficient axial momentum and promoting uniform fuel distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If fuels with higher burn temperatures are used to reduce carbon emissions, then environmental performance is improved, but flame holding and flashback increase causing durability risks
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel supply is divided into multiple independent channels (first fuel supply and second fuel supply) with different injection characteristics. The first fuel supply provides base fuel flow while the second fuel supply provides additional fuel through angled injection, segmenting the combustion process to control flame position and prevent flashback while maintaining high-temperature combustion for emission reduction
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the combustor receive different fuel injection characteristics. The first fuel supply injects fuel at a first angle to the axial direction, while the second fuel supply injects fuel at a second angle different from the first angle, creating locally optimized combustion zones that control flame holding while enabling high-temperature burning for reduced carbon emissions
2Reliability
If multiple fuel supplies with different injection angles are used to control flame position, then flame holding and flashback are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fuel supply functions are merged into a single integrated fuel nozzle structure. The first fuel supply and second fuel supply channels are combined within one nozzle body, with both injection systems mounted on the same component, reducing the number of separate parts while achieving complex flame control through multi-angle injection
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel nozzle structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides primary fuel injection through the first fuel supply, secondary fuel injection through the second fuel supply, and structural support for both injection systems. This multi-functional design achieves superior flame control without proportionally increasing device complexity
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 solution effectively reduces flame holding and flashback, improving combustor durability and efficiency while utilizing fuels with higher burn temperatures and reducing carbon emissions.
Implementation Method 1
A swirler provides for mixing the fuel with air in order to achieve efficient combustion
Implementation Method 2
The engine utilizes a fuel nozzle to inject the combustible fuel into the combustor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An engine (10) can utilize a combustor (36) to combust fuel to drive the engine (10). A fuel nozzle assembly (100) can supply fuel to the combustor (36) for combustion or ignition of the fuel. The fuel nozzle assembly (100) can include a swirler (104) and a fuel nozzle (102) to supply a mixture of fuel and air for combustion. The fuel nozzle can include both a primary fuel passage (108) and secondary fuel passage (110), and an additional air passage (106) to provide for greater flame control, fuel provision, or local fuel and air mixing prior to combustion.