Integrated Gas Turbine Burner Assembly Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing burner assemblies for gas turbine power plants have complex structures requiring multiple assembly steps, leading to high costs and time consumption, and are prone to thermal expansion issues due to the need for coupling with fixed structures.

Innovation Solution

A simplified burner assembly design where the premix burner and pilot burner are integrated as a monolithic body or fixed together with a reduced axial length, allowing only attachment to the combustor wall, and featuring extendible conduits to compensate for thermal expansions, thereby reducing assembly complexity and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the burner assembly uses a complex structure with multiple component parts coupled to fixed structures of the combustor and gas turbine plant, then the structural stability is improved, but the assembly complexity and manufacturing costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the pilot burner and premix burner into a single integrated burner assembly that functions as one unit. This assembly is coupled to the combustor wall at only one location rather than requiring multiple separate couplings to the combustor and gas turbine plant. The merging reduces the number of component parts and coupling points while maintaining structural stability through the unified design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the pilot burner has a long axial length to ensure proper fuel injection and flame stability, then the combustion reliability is improved, but the thermal expansion displacement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion reliabilityVSAvoidpilot burner axial length

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamics by making the pilot burner axially displaceable relative to the premix burner through a sliding coupling. This allows the pilot burner to move dynamically in the axial direction to compensate for thermal expansion while maintaining its functional length for reliable combustion. The sliding interface enables controlled movement without compromising the combustion reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple component parts are assembled together to form the burner assembly, then the functional requirements are met, but the assembly time and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional capabilityVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple burner components into a single integrated assembly that can be installed as one unit. The pilot burner and premix burner are merged into a single structure with a unified coupling to the combustor wall, eliminating the need for multiple separate assembly steps. This significantly reduces assembly time while maintaining all necessary functional capabilities for fuel injection, mixing, and combustion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Strength

If the burner assembly is coupled to multiple fixed structures (combustor and gas turbine plant), then the structural support is improved, but the thermal expansion displacement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidthermal expansion displacement

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the coupling from multiple fixed structures and consolidates it to a single coupling point on the combustor wall. By removing the unnecessary coupling to the gas turbine plant structure, the design reduces the constraints on thermal expansion while maintaining adequate structural support through the single robust coupling. This extraction of redundant couplings allows for better thermal expansion management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 design significantly reduces assembly time and costs while ensuring reliable operation by minimizing thermal expansion displacements and eliminating the need for multiple fixed structures, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective burner assembly.

Implementation Method 1

at least one of the conduits being provided with an extendible portion... the fact that the burner assembly can be fixed only to the combustor wall greatly simplifies the assembly operation with evident advantages in terms of saving costs and time

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP3361161B1Burner assembly for a combustor of a gas turbine power plant and combustor comprising said burner assembly

Publication Date: 2023.06.07 ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG

Figure 1
Figure 2

AI summary

A burner assembly for a combustor is provided with a pilot burner (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) and a premix burner (3) surrounding the pilot burner; the pilot burner (2) being integral with the premix burner (3).