Hydrogen Fuel Injector Assembly for Flashback-Resistant Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional gas turbine engines struggle with burning high levels of hydrogen, as they can cause flashback or flame holding conditions, leading to potential damage to the fuel injectors.
Innovation Solution
A fuel injection assembly with a housing having multiple fuel and fluid channels, spaced apart along its length, to deliver hydrogen and air to a secondary combustion zone without causing flame holding or flashback issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If traditional combustion systems burn high levels of hydrogen or pure hydrogen, then CO2 emissions are significantly reduced or eliminated, but flashback or flame holding conditions occur causing severe damage to the injector
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel injection assembly is divided into multiple separate fuel channels (first plurality, second plurality, third plurality) spaced apart along the housing length, with each channel delivering fuel to different locations in the secondary combustion zone. This segmentation prevents flame migration along a single continuous path, eliminating flashback and flame holding conditions while maintaining reliable hydrogen combustion
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel channels are arranged in multiple dimensions - spaced along the length of the housing and at different radial positions - to create a distributed injection pattern. This multi-dimensional arrangement disrupts the continuous flow path that would allow flame propagation, preventing injector damage while enabling high-level hydrogen combustion
2Productivity
If traditional AFS fuel injectors deliver fuel and air into the combustion zone, then combustion occurs, but flashback or flame holding conditions migrate towards the fuel supply causing injector damage
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel is injected as a cross-flow perpendicular to the axial combustion products flow direction, creating a preliminary mixing zone that stabilizes the flame front. This preliminary action prevents the flame from migrating upstream towards the fuel supply by establishing a controlled combustion pattern in the secondary combustion zone
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple spaced fuel channels act as intermediaries that distribute fuel and air mixing throughout the secondary combustion zone. This intermediary distribution system controls the combustion process, preventing direct flame contact with the fuel supply lines and protecting the injector from damage
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 solution effectively delivers hydrogen and air to a secondary combustion zone, reducing emissions and preventing damage to the injector, aligning with stringent emission regulations.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of fuel channels extending along a central axis between the first housing portion and the second housing portion. The plurality of fuel channels is in fluid communication with the at least one fuel chamber and the at least one mixing chamber
Implementation Method 2
The compressed working fluid and a fuel (e.g., natural gas) mix within the combustion section and burn in a combustion chamber to generate high pressure and high temperature combustion gases
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel injection assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a housing having a first housing portion adjacent a first end and a second housing portion adjacent a second end opposite the first end. The first housing portion defines at least one fuel chamber, and the second housing portion defines at least one mixing chamber. The fuel injection assembly includes fuel channels extending along a central axis between the first housing portion and the second housing portion. The fuel channels are spaced apart along a length of the housing and are in fluid communication with the at least one fuel chamber and the at least one mixing chamber. Fluid channels are disposed in the second housing portion and in fluid communication with the at least one mixing chamber to promote mixing of fuel and air. A combustor having the fuel injection assembly is also provided.