Impingement Panel Cooling for Turbomachine Combustor Liner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face durability issues due to high combustion gas temperatures, leading to erosion, creep, and low cycle fatigue in combustor components, which necessitate cooling but can reduce operating efficiency by using compressed working fluid from the compressor section.
Innovation Solution
An integrated combustion nozzle system with an impingement panel that directs coolant in discrete jets towards the exterior surface of the combustion liner, creating a cooling flow gap and utilizing a collection duct for efficient coolant management, allowing the coolant to also contribute to combustion in the turbine section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a large portion of compressed working fluid is routed to cooling components, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but operating efficiency deteriorates due to decreased working fluid for turbine section
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling fluid serves dual purposes: it cools the combustor components through the impingement panel and then continues to contribute to combustion in the turbine section. This multi-functional approach allows the same fluid to perform both cooling and energy production functions, resolving the contradiction between cooling effectiveness and operating efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the cooling fluid after it cools the combustor components, the system recovers it and routes it to the turbine section where it continues to contribute to combustion. This recovery and reuse of the cooling fluid maximizes its utility and prevents loss of working fluid
2Power
If high combustion gas temperatures are maintained, then thermal energy transfer to turbine is enhanced, but durability deteriorates due to erosion, creep, and low cycle fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The combustor is divided into distinct thermal zones: a hot gas path section that maintains high temperatures for power generation, and a cooled section with the impingement panel that protects components from thermal damage. This segmentation allows different parts to operate at different temperatures suitable for their respective functions
Solution Approach 2:
The impingement panel acts as an intermediary between the hot combustion gases and the combustor components. It receives direct impingement from the high-temperature gases while protecting the underlying components through cooling, thus mediating the thermal interaction
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 solution effectively cools the combustor components while minimizing the impact on turbine efficiency by ensuring that the cooling fluid is used for both cooling and energy production, enhancing the overall power output and durability of the gas turbine engine.
Implementation Method 1
an impingement plate disposed along an exterior surface of one of the inner liner segment or the outer liner segment. The impingement plate defines a plurality of impingement holes that direct coolant in discrete jets towards the exterior surface of the one of the inner liner segment or the outer liner segment
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated combustor nozzle includes a combustion liner that extends radially between an inner liner segment and an outer liner segment. The combustion liner includes a forward end portion, an aft end portion, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The aft end portion of the combustion liner defines a turbine nozzle. The integrated combustor nozzle further includes an impingement panel having an impingement plate disposed along an exterior surface of one of the inner liner segment or the outer liner segment. The impingement plate defines a plurality of impingement holes that direct coolant in discrete jets towards the exterior surface of the inner liner segment or the outer liner segment. The impingement panel is radially spaced from the exterior surface to form a cooling flow gap therebetween. The impingement panel includes a collection duct that extends from the impingement panel and defines a collection passage.