Gas Turbine Oxygen Sensor Adaptor Housing Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face challenges with sensor longevity due to high temperatures and the need for expensive high-temperature alloys, as well as inefficiencies in air consumption and exhaust gas waste.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an oxygen sensor adaptor housing that maintains the temperature of oxygen sensors below a threshold, allowing for the use of less expensive sensors and optimizing gas turbine operations through stoichiometric combustion and exhaust gas recirculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are placed in high-temperature zones of the gas turbine engine, then measurement capability is improved, but sensor longevity deteriorates due to thermal stress and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the sensor environment from the high-temperature combustion zone by introducing a recirculation stream that creates a localized cooler environment around the sensor, protecting it while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
A recirculation stream acts as an intermediary between the hot combustion products and the oxygen sensor, transferring some of the hot gas for measurement purposes while maintaining a protective cooler environment around the sensor element
2Duration of action of stationary object
If expensive high-temperature alloy sensors are used, then sensor longevity is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables the use of less expensive sensor materials by creating a protected environment that reduces thermal stress, making the sensor more affordable while maintaining adequate longevity through the recirculation cooling mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The local temperature parameter around the sensor is changed from high-temperature combustion conditions to a cooler protected environment through the recirculation stream, allowing standard sensors to operate reliably
3Productivity
If stoichiometric combustion is implemented, then combustion efficiency is improved, but air consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers and recirculates exhaust gases back into the combustion process, reducing the need for fresh air intake while maintaining efficient stoichiometric combustion through controlled recirculation
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 extends sensor longevity, reduces costs by using less expensive sensors, and enhances gas turbine efficiency by minimizing air consumption and exhaust gas waste through effective combustion and recirculation processes.
Implementation Method 1
The oxygen sensor adaptor housing is configured to maintain a temperature of a portion of the oxygen sensor below an upper threshold
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a gas turbine engine that includes a combustor section having a turbine combustor that generates combustion products, a turbine section having one or more turbine stages driven by the combustion products, an exhaust section disposed downstream of the turbine section, an oxygen sensor adaptor housing disposed in at least one of the combustor section, the turbine section, or the exhaust section, or any combination thereof, and an oxygen sensor disposed in the oxygen sensor adaptor housing. The oxygen sensor adaptor housing is configured to maintain a temperature of a portion of the oxygen sensor below an upper threshold.