Gas Turbine Injector Fittings Nested Manifold Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fittings for connecting fuel manifolds to injectors in gas turbine engines are bulky, increasing the weight and size of engine components, which limits fuel efficiency due to added drag.
Innovation Solution
A fluid delivery assembly with a feed arm, inlet fitting, and nozzle body design that includes a receptacle for the fluid supply manifold, a threaded nut for securement, and a flared seal surface for sealing, allowing for reduced size and weight while preventing axial movement, and optionally connected via brazing or additive manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fittings are used to connect fuel manifolds to injectors, then the connection is secure and reliable, but the fittings increase the weight and size of engine components
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet fitting is designed with a receptacle that receives and nests the outlet end of the fluid supply manifold within its structure. The threaded nut secures the manifold outlet end inside the receptacle, creating a nested configuration where one component is housed within another. This nesting arrangement eliminates the need for separate, bulky external fittings while maintaining secure connection, thereby reducing overall weight without compromising connection reliability.
2Reliability
If traditional fittings are used to connect fuel manifolds to injectors, then the connection is secure, but the fittings increase the overall size of engine components and require larger engine cases
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle in the inlet fitting accommodates the manifold outlet end within its internal volume, creating a compact nested arrangement. This eliminates the need for separate external fitting components that would extend outward and increase the overall envelope dimensions. The threaded nut secures the connection within the receptacle space, ensuring that the entire assembly fits within a smaller volume, thereby reducing engine case size requirements while maintaining secure connection.
3Reliability
If larger engine cases are used to accommodate traditional fittings, then the fittings are properly supported, but the increased size adds drag and limits fuel efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting the manifold outlet end within the inlet fitting receptacle and securing it with a threaded nut, the connection assembly achieves a compact profile that requires minimal support structure. This eliminates the need for larger engine cases that would be required to accommodate traditional external fittings. The reduced case size decreases aerodynamic drag on the aircraft, thereby improving fuel efficiency while the threaded nut provides adequate support and securing for the connection.
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 design results in low-profile, lightweight fittings that reduce the overall size and weight of the engine components, enhancing fuel efficiency by minimizing drag and potentially allowing for reduced part counts.
Implementation Method 1
The receptacle can include at least one seal for sealing against an outlet end of a fuel supply manifold in the receptacle. The receptacle can include a flared seal surface, e.g., wherein the flared seal surface flares in at least one direction including radially inward or radially outward.
Implementation Method 2
The receptacle of the feed arm includes internal threads threaded to corresponding external threads of the threaded nut for securing the outlet end of the fluid supply manifold in the receptacle.
Data Source
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AI summary
An injector 100 includes a feed arm 102 extending from an inlet fitting 104 to a nozzle body opposite the inlet fitting 104. The nozzle body includes a spray outlet in fluid communication with the inlet fitting 104 for issuing a spray of fluid supplied at the inlet fitting. The inlet fitting 104 of the feed arm 102 includes a receptacle 110 therein for receiving a fluid supply manifold 112 inside the inlet fitting 104 of the feed arm 102.