Fuel Nozzle with Nested Plenums for Combustion Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combustion instability caused by high-frequency resonance in gas turbines using hydrogen as fuel, which affects the efficiency and stability of the combustion process.
Innovation Solution
A fuel nozzle design with multiple fuel plenums and micro-mixers, where the fuel plenums are spaced apart and have different diameters and volumes, allowing for adjustable fuel distribution ratios to mitigate high-frequency resonance by varying the fuel flow rates and mixing paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If hydrogen fuel is used in gas turbine, then energy efficiency is improved, but combustion instability occurs due to high-frequency resonance
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel nozzle is divided into multiple fuel plenums (first fuel plenum, second fuel plenum, third fuel plenum) with different volumes and fuel distribution ratios. This segmentation allows different portions of hydrogen fuel to be injected at different rates, disrupting the uniform high-frequency resonance that causes combustion instability while maintaining high energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Each fuel plenum is designed with distinct local characteristics - different volumes (first fuel plenum has larger volume, second and third have smaller volumes), different fuel distribution ratios (first has higher ratio, second and third have lower ratios), and different injection timings. These localized quality differences create non-uniform fuel injection patterns that mitigate resonance effects throughout the combustion chamber.
2Reliability
If multiple fuel plenums with different volumes and distribution ratios are used, then combustion stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple fuel plenums are nested within a single fuel nozzle body structure. The first fuel plenum, second fuel plenum, and third fuel plenum are arranged in series along the fuel injection axis, with each plenum containing its own micro-mixer and injection holes. This nested configuration achieves complex fuel distribution functions while maintaining a relatively compact and integrated nozzle design.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel nozzle design integrates multiple functions into a single component: fuel storage (multiple plenums), fuel mixing (micro-mixers in each plenum), fuel injection (injection holes in each plenum), and flow control (different distribution ratios). This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components while achieving combustion stability.
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 effectively stabilizes combustion by adjusting the fuel distribution ratio in each fuel nozzle, reducing combustion instability and improving the overall efficiency of the gas turbine operation.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing flow path through which a fluid in which the fuel and compressed air are mixed flows
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel nozzle, a fuel nozzle module having the same, and a combustor having the same, which can solve a problem of combustion instability due to a high-frequency resonance generated by fuel containing hydrogen are provided. The fuel nozzle includes a fuel flow path through which a fuel flows, and a plurality of fuel plenums including a plurality of micro-mixers including a mixing flow path through which a fluid in which the fuel and compressed air are mixed flows and a fuel supply hole for supplying the fuel to the mixing flow path, wherein the plurality of fuel plenums are formed in the fuel flow path to be spaced apart from each other.