Hydrogen Fuel Nozzle Assembly for Flashback-Safe Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engines using hydrogen fuel face challenges with flashback and auto-ignition due to high burn temperature and volatility, leading to undesired flame propagation and potential damage to fuel nozzles.
Innovation Solution
A fuel nozzle assembly with a mixer and channels for gaseous hydrogen fuel, utilizing a swirler and cooled bleed air to control flame propagation and maintain temperature below auto-ignition levels, ensuring safe combustion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If hydrogen fuel is used in the combustor, then energy efficiency is improved, but flashback and auto-ignition risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel nozzle is divided into multiple channels: a first channel for delivering hydrogen fuel and a second channel for delivering cooling air. This segmentation allows independent control of fuel delivery and cooling functions, enabling the cooling air to prevent flashback while the fuel channel maintains efficient hydrogen delivery to the combustor
Solution Approach 2:
Cooling air is delivered through the second channel before the hydrogen fuel exits the first channel. This preliminary cooling action reduces the temperature of the hydrogen fuel below its auto-ignition point and creates a protective cooling zone that prevents flashback, allowing safe subsequent combustion in the combustor
2Power
If hydrogen fuel is used in the combustor, then power output is improved, but temperature control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Cooling air acts as an intermediary substance between the hydrogen fuel source and the combustion zone. The cooling air mediates temperature control by absorbing excess heat and maintaining the hydrogen fuel temperature below auto-ignition levels while allowing controlled combustion to occur in the combustor, thus managing temperature to protect engine components
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel nozzle separates temperature control functions from power generation functions by dividing the nozzle into distinct channels: one for hydrogen delivery and another for cooling air delivery. This segmentation enables independent optimization of both temperature control and power output
3Stability of the object's composition
If hydrocarbon fuels are used in the combustor, then combustion stability is maintained, but environmental pollutants increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fuel parameter from hydrocarbon to hydrogen, which fundamentally alters the combustion chemistry. Hydrogen combustion produces water vapor instead of carbon-containing pollutants like NOx, CO, and UHC. The dual-channel nozzle design ensures this hydrogen fuel is delivered with controlled temperature to maintain stable combustion while achieving cleaner emissions
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
Prevents flashback and auto-ignition, maintaining stable combustion and reducing damage to the fuel nozzle, while enhancing efficiency and safety with hydrogen fuel.
Implementation Method 1
a first channel circumscribed by the second channel, wherein the first channel is fluidly coupled to a gaseous fuel supply and the second channel is fluidly coupled to cooled bleed air
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 combustion liner and dome wall collectively forming at least a portion of a combustion chamber. The dome wall has a fuel nozzle opening. The combustion section has a fuel nozzle assembly extending through the fuel nozzle opening. The fuel nozzle assembly has a gaseous fuel supply, a compressed air supply, a mixer, a fuel nozzle and a first swirler.