Combustor Ignitor Housing Cooling for Liner Heat Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The hot combustion gases in gas turbine engines cause deterioration of the ignitor tip and breakdown of the liner at the ignitor opening, leading to reduced reliability and performance.
Innovation Solution
An ignitor housing with cooling passages within its wall is introduced, providing a flow of cooling air to the downstream side of the ignitor opening, which reduces stress on the liner and improves its durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ignitor is positioned to extend through the liner opening into the combustion chamber, then ignition function is achieved, but the ignitor tip and liner deteriorate due to hot combustion gases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cooling air as an intermediary substance that flows through passages in the ignitor housing and along the liner opening. This cooling air acts as a mediator between the hot combustion gases and the ignitor tip/liner, absorbing heat and reducing thermal exposure to these components, thereby improving their reliability without compromising the ignition function.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cooling passages are added to the ignitor housing, then thermal protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ignitor housing is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support for the ignitor, contains the cooling passages for thermal protection, and directs cooling air flow along the liner opening. By integrating these multiple functions into a single component, the patent reduces overall device complexity compared to having separate structures for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the ignitor housing structure with the cooling system into a single integrated component. The cooling passages are embedded within the housing walls, merging the protective function with the structural function, thereby minimizing additional complexity while achieving effective thermal protection.
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 implementation of the ignitor housing with cooling passages effectively reduces the stress on the ignitor tip and the liner, enhancing the reliability and longevity of these components.
Implementation Method 1
the housing wall including (a) at least one airflow inlet passage on the downstream side of the housing wall and arranged within the outer flow passage, and (b) at least one cooling passage on the downstream side within the housing wall
Implementation Method 2
providing a flow of cooling air to the downstream side of the ignitor opening, which reduces stress on the liner
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor for a gas turbine includes a combustor liner, an outer casing surrounding the combustor liner, an ignitor housing extending through an ignitor opening through the liner, and an ignitor disposed within the ignitor housing. The ignitor housing includes a housing wall including at least one airflow inlet passage on a downstream side of the housing wall and arranged within the outer flow passage, and at least one cooling passage on the downstream side within the housing wall. The at least one cooling passage extends along a length of the ignitor housing from the at least one airflow inlet passage and through the inner end of the ignitor housing, the at least one cooling passage being in fluid communication with the at least one airflow inlet passage.