Fuel Supply Pipe Flange Layout for High-Flow Gas Turbine Combustors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fuel supply pipe assemblies for gas turbine combustors face challenges in increasing the diameter of the fuel supply pipe to achieve the required fuel flow rate due to size restrictions imposed by the mounting ring and casing, making it difficult to ensure adequate fuel supply to the fuel nozzle.
Innovation Solution
A fuel supply pipe assembly with a first flange portion having protrusions and bolt holes arranged in a specific pattern to allow for a larger diameter fuel supply pipe, coupled with a top hat portion that accommodates these features without increasing the overall size, ensuring the flow rate to the fuel nozzle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the diameter of the fuel supply pipe is increased to ensure adequate fuel flow rate, then the fuel flow rate is improved, but the diameter of the flange portion increases making it difficult to pass through the mounting ring
Solution Approach 1:
The flange portion is segmented into multiple sections with protrusions and recesses, allowing the fuel supply pipe to pass through the mounting ring in a segmented manner rather than as a single large diameter component
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel supply pipe with its flange portion is nested through the mounting ring's through hole, with the protrusions fitting into corresponding recesses of the mounting ring, allowing the assembly to pass through restricted space
2Quantity of substance
If the diameter of the fuel supply pipe is increased to achieve required fuel flow rate, then the fuel supply capability is improved, but the overall size of the assembly increases conflicting with casing and combustion cylinder size restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The design transitions from a simple radial expansion to a multi-dimensional arrangement with axial protrusions and recesses, allowing the fuel supply pipe to maintain adequate diameter while fitting within the constrained volume through vertical stacking of features
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel supply pipe assembly is nested within the mounting ring structure, with the flange portion's protrusions fitting into the mounting ring's recesses, optimizing space utilization within the confined volume
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel supply pipe assembly according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure is a fuel supply pipe assembly for supplying fuel to a fuel nozzle provided on a side portion of a combustion liner of a gas turbine combustor, provided with: a fuel supply pipe for supplying the fuel to the fuel nozzle; a first flange portion capable of coupling with a flange portion of a fuel line for supplying the fuel to the fuel supply pipe; and a second flange portion capable of coupling with a top hat portion of the gas turbine combustor. The first flange portion has a plurality of radially outward protrusions arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, and a plurality of first bolt holes penetrating the first flange portion in the axial direction. The first bolt holes are formed at the same circumferential positions as the protrusions, respectively.