Fuel Nozzle Guide Plate Mounting for Axial Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel nozzle guide plates in gas turbine engines lack a secure and fool-proof mounting mechanism that allows for axial restraint while permitting radial movement, which can lead to misalignment and instability during operation.
Innovation Solution
A fuel nozzle mounting assembly featuring a fuel nozzle guide plate with a central aperture, a collar, and a circular flange that attaches to an air swirler, allowing for non-binding engagement and featuring chamfers and a convex surface for secure positioning, along with a retainer plate forming an annular track that restricts axial movement but allows radial movement, and includes a tab for anti-rotation prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed rigid mounting mechanism is used for the fuel nozzle guide plate, then alignment precision is improved, but operational flexibility and thermal expansion accommodation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting mechanism transitions from a fixed rigid connection to a dynamic floating connection that allows controlled movement. The guide plate is mounted on the air swirler in a floating manner, enabling radial movement to accommodate thermal expansion and operational flexibility while maintaining axial restraint for proper positioning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a loose mounting mechanism is used for the fuel nozzle guide plate, then operational flexibility is improved, but alignment precision and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the mounting interface have different degrees of freedom. The floating connection allows radial movement for flexibility, while the axial restraint maintains positioning precision. The chamfered collar provides localized guidance and restraint in specific directions while permitting movement in other directions.
3Reliability
If a complex retention system is used to prevent rotation and ensure positioning, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar features asymmetric chamfers (upstream and downstream) that provide directional guidance and prevent rotation. This asymmetric geometry inherently ensures proper orientation of the guide plate relative to the air swirler without requiring additional retention components, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing complexity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a non-binding engagement is used for the fuel nozzle, then operational stability is improved, but positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel nozzle engagement transitions from a fixed binding connection to a dynamic non-binding engagement. The collar provides a floating, non-binding engagement that allows the fuel nozzle to move freely radially for operational stability, while the chamfered surfaces maintain proper positioning and orientation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A fuel nozzle guide plate (34) has mirror symmetry about a first plane (A) perpendicular to the fuel nozzle guide plate and mirror symmetry about a second plane (B) parallel to the fuel nozzle guide plate. The fuel nozzle guide plate is attached to an air swirler (32), which is mounted in an opening (28) of a bulkhead (20) for mixing air and fuel at an upstream side of a combustor (16).