Multi-phase Hydrogen Fuel System for Gas Turbine Flow Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Storing and controlling the flow of hydrogen fuel for gas turbine engines is challenging due to its gaseous nature, requiring complex pressurization and heating, leading to fluctuations and synchronization issues between pumping and metering systems, which affect engine output stability.
Innovation Solution
A multi-phase fuel system incorporating a gaseous hydrogen storage tank that dampens flow and temperature fluctuations, using negative displacement pumps and simplified pressure control, decoupling pumping from metering, and employing programmable circuitry for precise fuel delivery to maintain consistent engine output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If hydrogen fuel is stored and controlled in gaseous phase, then energy density and combustion efficiency are improved, but flow stability and temperature control deteriorate due to fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel system is segmented into multiple storage tanks (gaseous hydrogen storage tank and liquid hydrogen storage tank) and multiple pumps (first pump and second pump). This segmentation allows independent control of each component, enabling the system to maintain high energy density while stabilizing flow through coordinated operation of separate units that can compensate for fluctuations independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control mechanism where the first pump receives control signals based on flow rate measurements from the gaseous storage tank, and the second pump receives control signals based on flow rate measurements from the liquid storage tank. This intermediary control system acts as a mediator between the storage tanks and the combustor, stabilizing flow fluctuations while maintaining high energy density.
2Productivity
If complex pressurization and heating systems are used for hydrogen fuel, then fuel delivery capability is improved, but system complexity and synchronization difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The pressurization and heating system is segmented into separate functional units: a first pump for pressurizing gaseous hydrogen and a second pump for pressurizing liquid hydrogen, with each pump having its own independent control. This segmentation reduces synchronization complexity while maintaining high fuel delivery capability through parallel operation of simplified units.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control where flow rate measurements from the gaseous storage tank and liquid storage tank are used to generate control signals for the first and second pumps respectively. This feedback mechanism simplifies synchronization by allowing each pump to independently adjust its operation based on real-time flow conditions, reducing the complexity of coordinating multiple pressurization and heating components.
3Measurement precision
If pumping and metering systems are synchronized, then fuel delivery precision is improved, but control complexity and synchronization issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The pumping and metering system is segmented into independent control loops: the first pump is controlled based on flow rate measurements from the gaseous storage tank, and the second pump is controlled based on flow rate measurements from the liquid storage tank. This segmentation eliminates synchronization complexity while maintaining fuel delivery precision through independent control of each pump-metering unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback control where flow rate measurements are continuously monitored and used to generate control signals for the pumps. This feedback mechanism simplifies control complexity by allowing each pump to independently adjust its operation based on real-time flow conditions, eliminating the need for complex synchronization between multiple pumping and metering systems while maintaining precise fuel delivery.
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 system stabilizes hydrogen fuel flow and temperature, enabling efficient and consistent engine performance by maintaining constant pressure in the liquid storage tank and reducing fluctuations, thus simplifying control and enhancing engine output stability.
Implementation Method 1
A multi-phase fuel system incorporating a gaseous hydrogen storage tank that dampens flow and temperature fluctuations
Implementation Method 2
dampens flow and temperature fluctuations
Implementation Method 3
maintaining constant pressure in the liquid storage tank
Implementation Method 4
liquid hydrogen storage tank
Implementation Method 5
simplified pressure control
Implementation Method 6
maintaining constant pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Multi-phase fluid fuel systems and related methods are disclosed. An example fuel system includes a liquid hydrogen storage tank to include hydrogen fuel in a liquid phase, and an at least one of gaseous or liquid hydrogen storage tank to include the hydrogen fuel in at least one of a gaseous phase or the liquid phase, a first portion of the hydrogen fuel in at least one of the gaseous phase or the liquid phase to exit the at least one of gaseous or liquid hydrogen storage tank and flow to a combustor of an engine, a second portion of the hydrogen fuel in at least one of the gaseous phase or the liquid phase to exit the at least one of gaseous or liquid hydrogen storage tank and flow to the liquid hydrogen storage tank.