Gas Turbine Fuel Injector Cover Aperture Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The mixing capability of secondary fuel injectors in turbine assemblies is influenced by the quality of compressed gas flow, which affects the overall operating efficiency of the turbine, as existing designs do not effectively condition or regulate the gas flow for optimal fuel and gas mixing.
Innovation Solution
A secondary fuel injector cover with an array of flow apertures is designed to facilitate enhanced gas flow into the secondary fuel injector, conditioning the compressed gas and improving its mixing with fuel, thereby optimizing the operating efficiency of the turbine assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an array of flow apertures is provided across the entire side walls of the secondary fuel injector cover, then gas flow into the injector is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity and potential leakage paths increase
Solution Approach 1:
The side walls of the cover are segmented into three distinct regions: a first region with no flow apertures, a second intermediate region with an array of flow apertures, and a third region with no flow apertures. This segmentation allows gas flow to be enhanced only where necessary in the intermediate region, while maintaining structural integrity and reducing manufacturing complexity in the first and third regions.
Solution Approach 2:
Flow apertures are provided locally only in the intermediate region of the side walls, rather than uniformly across the entire surface. This local quality approach ensures that gas flow is enhanced precisely where needed for optimal fuel-gas mixing, while avoiding unnecessary complexity and potential leakage paths in regions where flow enhancement is not required.
2Productivity
If flow apertures are distributed uniformly across all side walls, then gas flow is enhanced, but fuel-gas mixing quality may deteriorate due to non-uniform flow distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The cover provides different flow characteristics to different regions: the intermediate region has flow apertures to enhance gas flow, while the first and third regions have no apertures to maintain structural integrity and avoid disrupting flow patterns. This localized approach ensures uniform fuel-gas mixing quality by preventing non-uniform flow distribution that would result from uniform aperture distribution across all side walls.
3Ease of manufacture
If the secondary fuel injector cover is designed without regional differentiation, then manufacturing is simpler, but adaptability to different operating cycles is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is segmented into three functional regions along the side walls, which can be manufactured as integrated parts maintaining relative simplicity. This segmentation provides adaptability to different operating cycles by allowing optimized gas flow characteristics in the intermediate region while maintaining structural integrity in the first and third regions, enabling the injector to function effectively across a broader range of operating conditions.
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 cover enhances the mixing of fuel and compressed gas, improving the operating efficiency of the turbine assembly by ensuring uniform gas flow and allowing the secondary fuel injector to function effectively across a broader range of operating cycles, leading to increased output and reduced operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
an array of flow apertures is formed in the side walls, wherein the array of flow apertures is confined to the intermediate strip segment to facilitate gas flow into the cover through the flow apertures
Data Source
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AI summary
A fuel injector cover 300 is provided. The fuel injector cover includes a top wall 308 and a plurality of side walls 314, 316 projecting from the top wall and partially defining an open bottom 310 opposite the top wall. The open bottom is sized to receive a fuel injector 204 therein. The fuel injector cover also includes an array 354 of flow apertures 356 formed in at least one of the top wall and the side walls to facilitate gas flow into the cover through the flow apertures.