Gas Turbine Fuel Nozzle Swirl Creator with Nested Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel nozzles with swirl generators in gas turbines are limited in air supply due to the radial expansion of air guiding elements, which restricts airflow and requires larger installation spaces and increased weight to accommodate more air, making them inflexible for higher airflow demands, such as reducing soot emissions.
Innovation Solution
The fuel nozzle incorporates concentric outer and inner ring elements with increased radial height at the inflow area of the ring channels, allowing a larger flow area without altering the nozzle itself, enabling twice the air volume or more to be supplied while maintaining the same external dimensions or reducing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the radial height of the annular channel is increased to supply more air to the combustion chamber, then the air volume increases, but the installation space and overall weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing an inner annular channel inside an outer annular channel within the same radial space. The inner ring element creates an additional flow path that is nested within the existing outer channel structure, allowing doubled air volume without increasing the external dimensions or weight of the fuel nozzle assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single radial dimension to a multi-dimensional arrangement by creating concentric annular channels at different radial positions. This dimensional expansion allows the system to increase air capacity by utilizing the radial dimension more efficiently, fitting multiple flow paths within the same overall radial envelope.
2Quantity of substance
If the radial height of the annular channel is increased to supply more air, then the air volume increases, but the installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner annular channel is nested within the outer annular channel, both sharing the same axial and radial envelope. This nesting arrangement allows the system to accommodate twice the air volume without increasing the external installation footprint, as both channels occupy the same spatial boundary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the radial dimension by creating concentric channels at different radial positions (inner and outer rings). This dimensional strategy allows increased air capacity without expanding the axial or circumferential installation space, effectively packing more flow capacity into the same installation envelope.
3Stability of the object's composition
If air guide elements are added to generate swirl, then air mixing improves, but the blocking effect reduces the flow area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air flow path into multiple independent annular channels (inner and outer channels), each equipped with its own air guide elements. This segmentation allows the system to maintain swirl generation capabilities in each channel while the cumulative effect of multiple channels provides sufficient total flow area, overcoming the blocking effect of individual guide elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent compensates for the flow area reduction caused by air guide elements by adding another dimensional layer - the inner annular channel - alongside the outer channel. This multi-channel approach in the radial dimension provides sufficient total flow capacity while maintaining the swirl-generating function of the guide elements in each channel.
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
This design significantly increases airflow without structural changes to the combustion chamber, allowing for sufficient air twisting and reducing the overall weight of the fuel nozzle, effectively addressing the limitations of prior art by doubling or tripling the air supply while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
Air guide elements are distributed around the circumference of each annular channel, causing the incoming air to swirl
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a swirl generator of a fuel nozzle of a gas turbine, comprising an inner 22 and an outer 21 ring element, wherein the ring elements 21, 22 are arranged concentrically to one another and an outer annular channel 18a is formed between the inner ring element 22 and the outer ring element 21, which has a radial height of h in its axial central region, characterized in that the outer annular channel 18a has a radial height of H at its inlet region 23 and is provided with air guide elements 11 in the inlet region 23, wherein H > h, wherein an inner annular channel (18b) is formed on the radially inner side of the inner ring element (22), the inlet region (23) of which, provided with air guide elements (11), has a greater radial height than a central region of the inner annular channel (18b), wherein the outer annular channel (18a) has an effective flow area (A) in the region of the guide elements (11).which is larger than the effective flow area in the axial central region of the outer annular channel (18a) without guide elements and the cross-section of the outer annular channel (18a) tapers from the inflow region (23) to an outflow region (24).