Nested Conduit Assembly for Axial Fuel Staging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel supply conduits in axial fuel staging systems for turbine combustors are susceptible to damage or dislocation during installation or maintenance, leading to potential fuel leaks and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A conduit assembly with a first conduit for fuel supply and a second protective conduit that circumscribes the first conduit, providing a channel for fuel and compressed gas flow, and includes a conduit housing to shield the assembly from damage and facilitate leak containment and purging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the fuel supply conduit is positioned on the outer surface of the combustion can, then the conduit is accessible for fuel supply, but the conduit is susceptible to damage or dislocation during installation or maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The first conduit is nested within the second conduit, with the second conduit acting as a protective sheath. This nested configuration allows the fuel supply conduit to remain accessible while being protected by the outer conduit, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The second conduit and conduit housing act as intermediary protective structures between the fuel supply conduit and external damage sources. These intermediary elements shield the inner conduit during installation and maintenance operations.
2Ease of operation
If the fuel supply conduit is positioned on the outer surface of the combustion can, then the conduit is accessible for fuel supply, but the conduit may start leaking fuel if damaged or dislocated
Solution Approach 1:
The protective second conduit and conduit housing are installed beforehand to cushion and protect the fuel supply conduit from damage. This preventive protection eliminates the risk of fuel leakage before it can occur during installation or maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested configuration with the inner conduit surrounded by the protective outer conduit creates a containment structure that prevents fuel leakage even if the inner conduit is damaged, while maintaining accessibility for fuel supply operations.
3Reliability
If a protective conduit structure is added around the fuel supply conduit, then the conduit is protected from damage, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second conduit serves multiple functions: it protects the first conduit from damage, provides structural support, and acts as a containment barrier. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate protective components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective conduit is merged with the fuel supply conduit into a single integrated assembly, where the outer conduit and inner conduit work together as a unified protective structure, simplifying the overall design compared to separate protective components.
Data Source
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AI summary
An axial fuel staging (AFS) system 122 for a gas turbine combustor 104 is provided. The AFS system includes a secondary fuel injector 130, an injector housing 318 surrounding the secondary fuel injector, and a conduit assembly 136 in flow communication with the secondary fuel injector. The conduit assembly includes a first conduit 304 for conveying fuel to the secondary fuel injector, and a second conduit 320 circumscribing the first conduit such that a channel 338 is defined between the first conduit and the second conduit. The first conduit and the second conduit terminate within the injector housing.