Hydrogen Combustion Chamber Fuel Temperature Mixing at Low Power

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Solution Overview

Problem

Turbine engines using hydrogen fuel face issues with fuel spreading and igniting in undesirable regions during low power conditions, leading to potential damage, due to lower momentum of the fuel flow and higher burn temperature and velocity of hydrogen.

Innovation Solution

Feeding fuel to the combustion chamber at varying temperatures to increase the momentum of the fuel flow, particularly using hydrogen fuel, which has a higher tendency to spread and ignite quickly, ensuring it does not reach undesired regions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If hydrogen fuel is used in the combustor, then the burn temperature and velocity increase, but the fuel spreads and ignites in undesirable regions during low power conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveburn temperature and velocityVSAvoidfuel spread and ignition in undesirable regions

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel flow is divided into multiple streams with different temperatures. A first stream of hydrogen fuel at a first temperature is mixed with a second stream of hydrogen fuel at a second temperature, creating a multi-temperature fuel flow that balances momentum and combustion characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature parameter of the fuel flow is changed by mixing fuels at different temperatures. This parameter change increases the momentum of the fuel flow to prevent spreading to undesirable regions while maintaining the high burn temperature and velocity needed for power generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the fuel flow momentum is increased to prevent spreading, then the fuel does not reach undesirable regions, but the burn temperature and velocity may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel spread preventionVSAvoidburn temperature and velocity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature parameter of the fuel flow is optimized by mixing fuels at different temperatures. The cooler fuel stream increases momentum to prevent spreading, while the hotter fuel stream maintains burn temperature and velocity for power generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The fuel flow becomes a composite of hydrogen fuel at different temperatures. This composite fuel flow combines the momentum benefits of cooler fuel with the combustion benefits of hotter fuel, achieving both spread prevention and power generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 approach limits fuel spread and prevents ignition in undesirable areas, enhancing safety and efficiency during low power conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the fuel supply

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchanger: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

the fuel is burned in the presence of the air to produce hot gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS20260022663A1Turbine engine having a fuel supply and combustion section

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

A turbine engine has a fuel supply, a first fuel line, a second fuel line, and a combustion section. The fuel supply has a fuel. The combustion section includes a combustion chamber. The combustion chamber is fluidly coupled to both of the first fuel line and the second fuel line.