Multi-injector Micromixing System for Gas Turbine Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas turbine systems are expensive to manufacture and difficult to repair, while also facing challenges in achieving efficient combustion.
Innovation Solution
A premixing system for gas turbine engines that includes a plurality of mixing tubes with fuel injectors, where pressurized air is radially introduced into the mixing tubes through apertures and fuel is injected axially, creating a uniform fuel-air mixture for efficient combustion within a combustion chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional gas turbine systems are used, then combustion can be achieved, but manufacturing costs are high and repair difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The combustor is divided into multiple independent mixing tubes, each with its own fuel injector. This segmentation allows individual components to be manufactured separately at lower costs and enables easy replacement of damaged parts without replacing the entire combustor assembly, directly addressing both manufacturing cost and repairability concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel injector is positioned inside the mixing tube, with the fuel injection system nested within the mixing chamber structure. This nested configuration reduces the overall number of external components and simplifies the assembly structure, lowering manufacturing complexity while maintaining reliable fuel delivery.
2Productivity
If conventional mixing systems are used, then fuel combustion can occur, but fuel-air distribution is non-uniform and combustion efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Each mixing tube is equipped with specifically positioned apertures and a centrally located fuel injector, creating localized optimal mixing zones. The apertures are strategically placed around the fuel injector to ensure uniform radial air distribution, while the fuel injector positioning guarantees consistent fuel-air mixing at the center of each tube, significantly improving combustion efficiency and mixture uniformity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex multi-injector systems are used, then fuel injection capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing tube design integrates multiple functions into a single component: it serves as the combustion chamber, the air intake structure (with integrated apertures), and the mixing vessel. The fuel injector, positioned within the mixing tube, handles both fuel delivery and atomization. This multi-functional design achieves versatile fuel injection capability while minimizing the number of separate components, reducing overall system complexity.
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 configuration reduces manufacturing costs, facilitates easier repair, and achieves efficient combustion with lower emissions and more uniform fuel and air distribution.
Implementation Method 1
pressurized air is radially introduced into the mixing tubes through apertures
Implementation Method 2
fuel is injected axially into the mixing chamber through a fuel injector that is axially positioned within the mixing tube
Implementation Method 3
creating a uniform fuel-air mixture for efficient combustion
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a system having components for premixing fuel and air prior to combustion within a combustion chamber. The system includes a plurality of mixing tubes configured to receive and to mix fuel and air. Each mixing tube is paired with a fuel injector, and the fuel injector is positioned axially within a portion of the mixing tube. Fuel is injected from the fuel injector into the respective mixing tube, and air flows radially into each mixing tube through one or more apertures formed on the mixing tube. The fuel and air are mixed within the mixing tube and are deposited into a combustion chamber for combustion.