Fuel Sweep System for Gas Turbine Combustor Leak Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine systems face unscheduled downtime due to fuel leaks from joints in fuel injection systems, which are not effectively addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A fuel sweep system is implemented, featuring sweep openings and louvers along fuel conduits in the combustor, directing leaked fuel into a passage between the liner and flow sleeve, and guiding it into the combustion chamber, thereby preventing accumulation in the compressor discharge chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fuel injection joints are sealed to prevent leaks, then fuel leakage is reduced, but system complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fuel leak cleanup function from the joint sealing system by introducing a separate sweeping mechanism. Instead of relying solely on perfect sealing at joints, the system provides a backup pathway (sweeping passage) that actively removes leaked fuel, thereby maintaining reliability without increasing sealing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The sweeping passage acts as an intermediary element between the compressor discharge chamber and combustion chamber. It provides a controlled pathway for leaked fuel to be redirected away from harmful accumulation zones and into the combustion process, mediating the fuel leak issue without modifying the joint sealing structures
2Device complexity
If fuel leaks are allowed to accumulate in the compressor discharge chamber, then system simplicity is maintained, but unscheduled downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sweeping passage is pre-configured and always available to intercept and redirect leaked fuel before it can accumulate in the compressor discharge chamber. This preliminary action prevents the condition that would lead to unscheduled downtime, maintaining system simplicity while avoiding operational disruptions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of fuel leaks into a beneficial outcome by redirecting leaked fuel through the sweeping passage into the combustion chamber where it is burned. This transforms potential system failures into controlled combustion, eliminating unscheduled downtime without adding operational complexity
3Reliability
If traditional sealing methods are used at fuel conduit joints, then manufacturing is simpler, but fuel leakage reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sweeping passage system is self-activating and requires no additional control mechanisms. Leaked fuel automatically enters the sweeping passage and is redirected to the combustion chamber through pressure differentials and flow dynamics, providing reliable leak prevention that manufactures easily using standard passage fabrication techniques
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 fuel sweep system effectively directs leaked fuel into the combustion chamber, preventing unscheduled downtime and ensuring continuous operation of the gas turbine system.
Implementation Method 1
directing a leaked fuel from a first fuel conduit through a first fuel sweep opening of a fuel sweep system into a passage between a liner and a flow sleeve
Implementation Method 2
directing the leaked fuel from the first fuel sweep opening in a flow direction along the passage
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided with a fuel sweep system configured to couple to a flow sleeve of a combustor along a first fuel conduit. The flow sleeve is configured to be disposed about a liner of the combustor, and the first fuel conduit is configured to extend along the flow sleeve in a compressor discharge chamber disposed about the flow sleeve. The fuel sweep system includes a first fuel sweep louver adjacent a first fuel sweep opening defined through the flow sleeve.