Multi-Tube Combustor Nozzle for Hydrogen Fuel Mixing and Tip Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbines using hydrogen fuel face challenges in uniformly mixing fuel and air and efficiently cooling the nozzle tip part, leading to potential reliability issues due to high combustion rates and heat exposure.
Innovation Solution
A combustor nozzle design featuring a multi-tube structure with a fuel tube, dispersion plate, and impact connectors that disperse fuel to cool the tip plate efficiently and uniformly mix air and fuel, including a mixing tube, multi-tube, fuel tube, tip plate, and dispersion plate to facilitate fuel dispersion and cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If hydrogen fuel or fuel containing hydrogen is burned in a gas turbine combustor, then carbon dioxide emission is inhibited, but the flame approaches and heats the combustor structure causing reliability problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful high-temperature flame into a beneficial cooling mechanism by directing the flame to impinge on the tip plate, which then transfers the heat to cooling channels where coolant flows, effectively utilizing the heat that would otherwise damage the combustor structure
Solution Approach 2:
The tip plate serves as an intermediary between the high-temperature flame and the combustor structure, absorbing heat through impingement cooling and transferring it to coolant flowing through integrated cooling channels, thereby protecting the underlying structure
2Shape
If a multi-tube nozzle structure is used, then fuel dispersion is improved, but uniform mixing of fuel and air becomes difficult without a swirler
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into multiple independent tubes, each capable of dispersing fuel in different directions. This segmentation allows fuel to be distributed more widely while maintaining control over the dispersion pattern without requiring complex swirler mechanisms
3Productivity
If the nozzle tip is exposed to high temperature combustion, then combustion efficiency is maintained, but the nozzle tip part deteriorates requiring efficient cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The tip plate is integrated with cooling channels within the same component, merging the structural element that receives thermal load with the cooling system. This allows the tip plate to maintain its position in the high-temperature zone for combustion efficiency while internally managing heat through coolant flow
Solution Approach 2:
Coolant is introduced into the cooling channels before the tip plate becomes excessively hot, pre-cooling the structure and preventing thermal damage. The cooling action is proactive rather than reactive, maintaining the tip plate within safe temperature limits during combustion operation
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 enhances the uniform mixing of fuel and air, effectively cools the nozzle tip, increasing the nozzle's life and durability by managing heat exposure.
Implementation Method 1
a dispersion plate spaced apart from the front plate and connected to the fuel tube, the dispersion plate forming a dispersion space in which fuel discharged from the fuel tube is diffused
Implementation Method 2
the front plate spaced apart from the tip plate, the front plate forming a cooling space
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A combustor nozzle (1400), a combustor including the combustor nozzle (1400), and a gas turbine including the combustor are disclosed. The combustor nozzle (1400) may include a plurality of mixing tubes (1420) through which air and fuel flow, a multi-tube (1410) into which the mixing tubes (1420) are inserted, the multi-tube (1410) supporting the mixing tubes (1420), a fuel tube (1450) formed inside the multi-tube (1410) and through which fuel flows, a tip plate (1415) coupled to a tip of the multi-tube (1410), a front plate (1430) spaced apart from the tip plate (1415), the front plate (1430) forming a cooling space (CP1), and a dispersion plate (1470) spaced apart from the front plate (1430) and connected to the fuel tube (1450), the dispersion plate (1470) forming a dispersion space (DP1) in which fuel discharged from the fuel tube (1450) is diffused.