Fuel Nozzle Movable Valve for Secondary Fuel Atomization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fuel nozzles for combustors have low spray penetration, mixing, and atomization due to large flow divider valves, leading to high emissions and low efficiency, as they lack control over the secondary fuel flow.
Innovation Solution
A fuel nozzle with a movable valve within the secondary fuel passage, featuring a stationary hub with angled surfaces and a movable sleeve, allowing for variable positioning to control the flow through a slot, thereby adjusting the secondary fuel passage's flow area and enhancing atomization and mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If large flow divider valves are used in current fuel nozzles, then the nozzle structure is simplified, but spray penetration, mixing, and atomization are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel nozzle is divided into separate primary and secondary fuel passages with independent control mechanisms. The secondary fuel passage includes a movable valve assembly with a hub and sleeve that can be independently positioned to control secondary fuel flow, separating the control functions and enabling optimized spray characteristics for each passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary fuel passage incorporates a movable valve assembly where the sleeve can be positioned at different locations (first, second, and third positions) to dynamically adjust the flow area. This dynamic control allows optimization of spray penetration, mixing, and atomization across varying operating conditions, replacing the static large flow divider valve approach.
2Volume of moving object
If large flow divider valves are used, then the valve size is reduced for compactness, but emissions increase and efficiency decreases due to poor atomization
Solution Approach 1:
The movable sleeve valve allows dynamic adjustment of the secondary fuel passage flow area to optimize atomization quality across different power conditions. By controlling the sleeve position, the system achieves efficient fuel-air mixing and complete combustion, reducing harmful emissions while maintaining a compact valve design.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly changes the flow area parameter by moving the sleeve between different positions, which optimizes fuel flow rates and spray characteristics. This parameter adjustment enables efficient atomization and combustion across varying operating conditions, reducing emissions without requiring a large valve body.
3Productivity
If flow divider valves are made large to improve secondary fuel flow control, then atomization improves, but the nozzle becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is segmented into a hub and a movable sleeve, allowing compact packaging within the secondary fuel passage. This segmented design enables effective flow control and atomization optimization without requiring a large overall valve size, maintaining nozzle compactness while improving atomization quality.
4Device complexity
If conventional flow divider valves are used, then the nozzle design is simpler, but fuel efficiency is reduced due to low mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The movable sleeve valve provides dynamic control over secondary fuel flow, enabling optimization of fuel-air mixing ratios across different operating conditions. This dynamic adjustment improves combustion efficiency and reduces fuel waste, overcoming the limitations of simpler static valve designs.
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel nozzle for a combustor may include a primary fuel passage having a primary fuel outlet. A secondary fuel passage having a secondary fuel outlet. A valve located within the secondary fuel passage. The valve may include a stationary hub having a plurality of first angled surfaces. The valve may include a movable sleeve having a plurality of second angled surfaces. Each of the plurality of first angled surfaces aligns axially with a respective one of the plurality of second angled surfaces to define a slot therebetween. The valve is movable between a plurality of positions to open, to close, or to partially open the slots.