Nozzle Assembly with Varying Fuel Channel Cross Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nozzle assemblies for gas turbine engines suffer from significant soot emissions and thermoacoustic oscillations, particularly in low-load operating ranges, due to uniform nozzle designs that fail to adjust air-fuel ratios effectively.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of at least two different types of nozzles with varying fuel channel cross sections allows for distinct fuel flow rates, enabling operation at different air-fuel ratios while maintaining a constant total air-to-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber, thereby reducing soot emissions and thermoacoustic oscillations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If uniform nozzle designs are used in nozzle assemblies, then manufacturing simplicity and component standardization are improved, but soot emissions increase and thermoacoustic oscillations occur in low-load operating ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating nozzle characteristics within the assembly. Specifically, nozzles are categorized into types with different fuel channel cross-sectional areas, allowing each nozzle type to have optimized local properties for specific operating conditions. This enables reduced soot emissions by ensuring proper air-fuel mixing ratios across different operating ranges while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through standardized nozzle types.
2Device complexity
If uniform nozzle designs are used in nozzle assemblies, then device complexity is reduced, but thermoacoustic oscillations are generated in low-load operating ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different fuel channel cross-sectional areas to different nozzle types based on their operational requirements. This differentiation allows specific nozzles to be optimized for low-load conditions, preventing thermoacoustic oscillations through proper fuel-air ratio control, while the overall assembly remains relatively simple through the use of standardized nozzle types.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If fuel channel cross sections are varied to reduce soot emissions, then air-fuel ratio control is improved, but nozzle design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality in a controlled manner - differentiating nozzles into discrete types with specific fuel channel cross-sectional areas rather than continuous variation. This approach improves air-fuel ratio control to reduce soot emissions while limiting design complexity through standardization of nozzle types and their corresponding geometric parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by systematically varying the fuel channel cross-sectional area as a key geometric parameter across different nozzle types. This controlled parameter variation enables optimization of fuel flow rates and air-fuel ratios for different operating conditions, reducing soot emissions while maintaining manageable design complexity through standardized parameter sets.
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 solution effectively reduces soot emissions and minimizes thermoacoustic oscillations by allowing nozzles to operate at optimized air-fuel ratios, maintaining engine thrust and improving combustion efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The fuel channel runs inside the nozzle in the direction of the nozzle outlet opening. The fuel channel has a cross section that specifies the maximum amount of fuel that can be conveyed in the direction of the nozzle outlet opening.
Implementation Method 2
The nozzles also serve to twist the supplied air, which, mixed with the supplied fuel, is then conveyed into the combustion chamber at a nozzle outlet opening of the nozzle.
Implementation Method 3
a combustion chamber of an engine, in particular for an annular combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a nozzle assembly for a combustion chamber (3) of an engine (T), with several nozzles (2A, 2B, 2C) arranged side by side for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber (3), wherein each nozzle (2A, 2B, 2C) has a nozzle outlet opening (210) and a fuel channel (220) for conveying fuel in the direction of the nozzle outlet opening (210). According to the invention, at least two different types of nozzles (2A, 2B, 2C) are provided, wherein - the nozzles (2A, 2B, 2C) of different types have nozzle outlet openings (210) with identical cross-section, and - to specify different flow rates of fuel through the fuel channels of the nozzles (2A, 2B, 2C) of different types, a cross-section of a fuel channel (220) of one type of nozzle (2A, 2B, 2C) differs from a cross-section of a fuel channel (220) of another type of nozzle (2B, 2C, 2B).