Removable Combustor Cap Assembly for Gas Turbine Fuel Nozzle
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design and construction of fuel nozzle assemblies in gas turbine engines affect mixing and combustion efficiency, leading to high emissions and increased costs due to complex installation, maintenance, and servicing processes.
Innovation Solution
A combustor cap assembly with a support structure, mixing tubes, an air distributor, and a removable combustor cap that improves air flow distribution and fuel-air mixing, allowing for easier maintenance and reduced emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a complex fuel nozzle assembly design is used to improve mixing and combustion efficiency, then emissions are reduced, but installation, maintenance, and servicing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel nozzle assembly is divided into modular components: a removable cap assembly, multiple mixing tubes, and a support structure. This segmentation allows individual components to be accessed, inspected, and serviced independently, reducing overall maintenance time while maintaining the complex internal mixing structure needed for low emissions
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing tubes are nested within the cap assembly, which itself is attached to the support structure. This nested configuration allows the entire cap assembly to be removed as a single unit for servicing, providing easy access to the complex mixing tubes without disassembling the entire fuel nozzle system
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a complex fuel nozzle assembly design is used to improve mixing and combustion efficiency, then emissions are reduced, but manufacturing and servicing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the fuel nozzle into modular components (cap assembly, mixing tubes, support structure), each component can be manufactured independently using standardized processes, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the sophisticated mixing capability required for low emissions
Solution Approach 2:
The cap assembly serves multiple functions: it houses the mixing tubes, provides structural support, and facilitates easy removal for servicing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs while maintaining effective mixing for emission control
3Object-generated harmful factors
If air flow distribution is improved to enhance combustion efficiency, then emissions are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air distributor plate features locally optimized aperture patterns and passage configurations tailored to specific regions, providing precise air distribution control where needed. This localized approach achieves uniform mixing for low emissions without requiring a completely complex system-wide redesign
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 solution enhances combustion efficiency, reduces emissions, and lowers manufacturing and maintenance costs by improving air distribution and fuel-air mixing, while enabling easier servicing of the fuel nozzle assembly.
Implementation Method 1
an air distributor disposed within the interior volume and configured to distribute the air flow received by the interior volume to each of the plurality of mixing tubes
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of mixing tubes disposed within the interior volume, wherein each of the plurality of mixing tubes comprises a respective fuel injector
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a combustor cap assembly for a multi-tube fuel nozzle. The combustor cap assembly includes a support structure defining an interior volume configured to receive an air flow, a plurality of mixing tubes disposed within the interior volume, wherein each of the plurality of mixing tubes comprises a respective fuel injector and is individually removable from the combustor cap assembly, an air distributor disposed within the interior volume and configured to distribute the air flow received by the interior volume to each of the plurality of mixing tubes, and a combustor cap removably coupled to the support structure.