Hydrogen Fuel Supply Assembly for Flashback and NOx Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engines using hydrocarbon fuels produce environmentally harmful byproducts such as NOx, CO, UHC, and sulfur oxides, and the use of hydrogen fuel poses challenges like flashback, auto-ignition, and high flame velocity, which can lead to inefficiencies and damage to engine components.
Innovation Solution
A fuel supply assembly with a monolithic body and concentric fuel/air circuits, including swirlers and flame shaping features, is designed to manage hydrogen fuel, controlling flame propagation and temperature to reduce NOx emissions and protect engine components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If hydrogen fuel is used in the combustor, then environmental emissions are reduced, but flashback and auto-ignition risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
A coaxal injection arrangement is employed where air is injected through an inner nozzle and hydrogen fuel through an outer nozzle, creating an intermediate mixing zone. This controlled mixing approach prevents direct contact of pure hydrogen with ignition sources, thereby reducing flashback and auto-ignition risks while maintaining emission benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The injection system controls the equivalence ratio and mixing parameters of hydrogen and air before combustion. By adjusting fuel-to-air ratio and injection timing, the system optimizes combustion stability while preventing premature ignition and flashback conditions
2Use of energy by moving object
If hydrogen fuel is used in the combustor, then energy efficiency is improved, but flame velocity increases causing damage to engine components
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion process is divided into staged combustion zones using multiple injection nozzles and mixing sections. This segmentation allows controlled progression of combustion, reducing peak flame velocities and preventing thermal damage to turbine components while maintaining overall energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The coaxal injection geometry creates radial and axial flow dimensions for fuel-air mixing. This multi-dimensional mixing approach distributes combustion energy more evenly, reducing localized high-velocity flame fronts that could damage engine components
3Manufacturing precision
If fuel injection pressure is increased, then atomization quality is improved, but risk of flashback into the nozzle increases
Solution Approach 1:
Air is introduced as an intermediary substance through the inner nozzle to mix with hydrogen fuel before injection into the combustion chamber. This pre-mixing approach improves atomization quality without requiring excessive injection pressure, thereby preventing flashback while achieving fine fuel distribution
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 assembly ensures stable combustion with reduced NOx emissions and extended engine lifespan by managing hydrogen fuel's high burn temperature and velocity, promoting uniform flame distribution and temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
air and fuel are mixed, and then the fuel is burned in the presence of the air to produce hot gas
Implementation Method 2
swirlers and flame shaping features
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine engine has a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow arrangement. The combustion section has a combustor liner and dome wall collectively forming at least a portion of a combustion chamber. The dome wall has an opening. The combustion section has a fuel supply assembly extending through the opening. The fuel supply assembly includes a fuel nozzle and a series of air injectors.