Hydrogen Injection Combustor for Gas Turbine Emission Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas turbine engines face challenges in reducing NOX emissions while maintaining a compact combustor size, especially at varying power output levels, and are burdened by the weight and bulk of catalytic structures used to mitigate emissions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating hydrogen injection into the combustor during low power operations to accelerate combustion kinetics, allowing for a smaller combustor size without increasing emissions, and controlling hydrogen flow based on power output levels to minimize NOX formation at high power conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If catalytic structures are used to mitigate emissions, then NOX emissions are reduced, but the device becomes heavier and bulkier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the catalytic structure from the combustor system entirely, replacing it with a hydrogen injection system that achieves emission reduction without the weight and bulk of catalytic converters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the combustion mixture by injecting hydrogen, which alters the combustion characteristics to reduce NOX emissions without requiring additional heavy equipment
2Weight of stationary object
If combustor size is reduced, then device complexity and weight are decreased, but emissions control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By injecting hydrogen into the combustor, the patent changes the combustion parameters (temperature, reaction rate, fuel composition) to enable a smaller combustor to maintain effective emissions control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite fuel system combining hydrocarbon fuel and hydrogen, where hydrogen acts as a combustion accelerator that enables compact combustor design while controlling emissions
3Speed
If hydrogen is injected during high power operations, then combustion kinetics are accelerated, but hydrogen consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic hydrogen injection strategy where the injection rate is adjusted based on operating conditions - higher injection during low power operations to enable compact combustor design, and reduced or no injection during high power operations to minimize hydrogen consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the hydrogen injection parameter (flow rate) dynamically based on power output level, optimizing the balance between combustion performance and fuel consumption
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 reduces NOX emissions and allows for a smaller, lighter combustor without compromising performance, achieving lower emissions across a wide power range while optimizing hydrogen consumption.
Implementation Method 1
at least one combustor disposed therebetween for receiving compressed air from said compressor and fuel for providing combustion gas to be discharged to said turbine
Implementation Method 2
injecting hydrogen into said combustor in response to a gas turbine power output level
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply device or system for aeronautics, having a hydrocarbon supply for supplying an engine with hydrocarbon fuel and a hydrogen supply having a fuel reformer for producing hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuel from said hydrocarbon supply. The hydrogen supply is connected to a hydrogen-powered fuel cell for producing electric power and to a hydrogen injecting system for injection of hydrogen into a combustion chamber of the engine. Further, the invention relates to an aircraft having an engine that can be supplied by that power supplying device or system, and to a method for operating said engine.