Gas Turbine Supply Nozzle with Prefilming for Stable Atomization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The interaction of liquid fuels with the nozzle wall in existing burner systems results in enriched fuel reaching the combustion chamber as ligate or poorly atomized large droplets, affecting stability, operating range, and emissions.

Innovation Solution

A feed device with a film laying device radially surrounding the injector element, dividing the oxidizer stream into external and internal streams, utilizing high oxidizer momentum for atomization, and ensuring symmetrical flow to avoid wall interaction and enhance atomization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a conventional supply device with a single liquid supply port is used, then the structure is simple, but the liquid supply uniformity deteriorates due to varying distances from different burner positions to the supply port

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid supply uniformityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid supply system is segmented into multiple independent liquid supply ports (first, second, third liquid supply ports) positioned at different locations. Each port supplies liquid to specific burner groups, ensuring uniform distribution across the burner array by eliminating the distance variation problem of a single supply port.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The supply device is designed with multiple liquid supply ports that can simultaneously serve different burner groups. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain liquid supply uniformity across all burners while managing complexity through a standardized multi-port architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If the liquid supply pressure is increased to improve atomization effect, then the atomization quality improves, but the liquid supply system stability deteriorates due to pressure fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveatomization qualityVSAvoidliquid supply system stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates a pressure regulating valve that dynamically adjusts liquid supply pressure based on system conditions. This dynamic pressure regulation maintains stable atomization quality while preventing pressure fluctuations that would compromise system stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure regulating valve changes the liquid supply pressure parameter to an optimal stable value, ensuring consistent atomization effect without the instability caused by excessive or fluctuating pressure. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between atomization quality and system stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Achieves stable, low-emission operation with improved atomization and combustion stability, allowing for compact burner systems suitable for high-power applications.

Implementation Method 1

a first liquid supply port supplies liquid to a first group of the burners, a second liquid supply port supplies liquid to a second group of the burners, and a third liquid supply port supplies liquid to a third group of the burners

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAtomization:

Data Source

PatentEP4487059B1Supply device, burner system, and method
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FÜR LUFT UND RAUMFAHRT E V
  • EP4487059B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4487059B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4487059B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

The invention relates to a supply device (1), in particular for use in a gas turbine, for supplying an oxidizing agent (38) and fuel (27) to a combustion chamber (3) without a swirling flow, comprising a supply nozzle (10) with a nozzle channel (14), in particular a cylindrical nozzle channel, which is delimited by a nozzle wall (16) and is oriented along a longitudinal axis (L) and which leads to a fuel chamber-side outlet opening (12) so as to adjoin the combustion chamber (3), and an injector element (24) for adding the fuel (27) into the nozzle channel (14) at an injection point (26). A stable operation using the supply device is achieved in that the injector element (24) is designed to supply liquid fuel (27), and a prefilming device (18), in particular a cylindrical prefilming device, which surrounds the injector element (24) is arranged radially between the injector element (24) and the nozzle wall (16), wherein an outer channel (30) is formed between the nozzle wall (16) and the radial exterior of the prefilming device (18), and an inner channel (34) is formed radially within the prefilming device (18), in particular between the radial interior of the prefilming device (18) and the injector element (24).