Fuel Transfer Apparatus with Swirler and Curved Diffuser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel transfer apparatuses in boiler facilities face issues with fuel settling and stagnation on pipe surfaces due to gravity and uneven distribution, leading to reduced combustion efficiency in combustors.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a main body with an obliquely extending inner surface and an ejection portion with an inwardly curved design, along with a swirler and diffuser/guide configurations that create a swirling flow and evenly disperse fuel, preventing settling and ensuring uniform distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fuel is transferred through a long horizontal pipe, then fuel can be transported to the combustor, but fuel settles and stagnates on the inner surface of the pipe due to gravity, resulting in uneven distribution and reduced combustion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by installing a swirler that generates rotational flow and a diffuser with curved inner surfaces. The swirler creates a vortex that prevents fuel particles from settling on the pipe bottom, while the curved diffuser surfaces guide fuel flow evenly throughout the pipe cross-section, eliminating stagnation zones and ensuring uniform fuel distribution to the combustor.
Solution Approach 2:
The swirler introduces rotational motion and dynamic flow patterns into the fuel stream. This mechanical movement prevents fuel particles from remaining stationary on the pipe inner surface, continuously resuspends them through rotational flow, and maintains uniform distribution throughout the pipe length, thereby preventing settling and stagnation.
2Productivity
If fuel is transferred through a long pipe, then fuel can reach the combustor, but fuel is locally concentrated on the inner surface due to gravity or bent portions, causing severe wear at stagnation regions
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser component features curved inner surfaces that redirect fuel flow away from the pipe bottom and bent portions. This curved geometry prevents fuel concentration at specific locations by continuously moving fuel particles along the flow path, thereby eliminating stagnation zones that would otherwise cause severe wear on the pipe inner surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The swirler generates continuous rotational motion in the fuel stream, creating dynamic flow patterns that prevent fuel particles from settling on the pipe inner surface. This mechanical movement distributes fuel uniformly along the entire pipe length, preventing localized concentration and the resulting severe wear at stagnation regions.
3Device complexity
If conventional pipe geometry is used, then the structure is simple, but fuel distribution is uneven due to gravity and low velocity, reducing combustion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel transfer system is segmented into functional components: a swirler section that generates rotational flow, a diffuser section with curved surfaces that distributes fuel evenly, and a connection to the combustor. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the swirler prevents settling, the diffuser ensures uniform distribution, and together they maintain high combustion efficiency while adding manageable structural complexity.
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 effectively prevents fuel stagnation and ensures even distribution within the pipe, enhancing combustion efficiency and reducing wear on pipe surfaces by uniformly mixing fuel and minimizing vortex formation.
Implementation Method 1
a swirler installed in the main body and configured to create a swirling flow of the fuel flowing through the main body
Implementation Method 2
there is a possibility that fuel settles and stagnates on the inner surface of the pipe due to gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A boiler facility includes first and second fuel transfer apparatuses for transporting fine particulate fuel to a combustor. A first fuel transfer apparatus includes a main body and a diffuser. The main body has a flow space through which fuel is transferred and an inner surface that defines the flow space of the main body and includes a lower inner surface that extends obliquely downward. The diffuser is installed at a downstream end of the main body, the diffuser having a flow space through which fuel is transferred and an inner surface that defines the flow space of the first diffuser and includes a lower inner surface that extends obliquely upward. A second fuel transfer apparatus includes a transfer pipe having a flow channel, a second diffuser installed along the inner circumferential surface of the transfer pipe, and a guide installed in the second diffuser and inclined downward.