Retractable Fuel Injector for High-Altitude Fuel Atomization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engines face challenges in efficiently atomizing and igniting fuel, particularly at higher altitudes or with high viscosity fuels, leading to sub-optimal combustion efficiency and increased smoke generation.
Innovation Solution
A fuel injector with a retractable valve body and actuation mechanism that adjusts fuel flow through variable orifices, creating a higher delta pressure for improved atomization and mixing of fuel and air, enhancing ignition capability and combustion efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional fuel injectors are used, then the structure is simple, but fuel atomization is insufficient particularly at higher altitudes or with high viscosity fuels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a retractable valve body that can dynamically adjust its position between retracted and advanced states. This dynamic mechanism allows the injector to change the effective orifice area and fuel flow characteristics based on operating conditions, thereby improving fuel atomization quality without requiring multiple fixed complex injector designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The injector is divided into distinct functional components: an outer valve body, a retractable inner valve body, and multiple channels/orifices. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's function, enabling complex atomization control through coordinated operation of simpler individual parts.
2Manufacturing precision
If higher delta pressure is created for improved atomization, then combustion efficiency improves, but the risk of cavitation and vapor lock increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retractable valve body is positioned in advance to control fuel flow before it enters high-pressure zones. By pre-regulating fuel flow and pressure in a controlled manner, the system achieves high delta pressure for improved atomization while preventing cavitation and vapor lock from occurring in critical flow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable valve body acts as an intermediary element between the fuel supply and the high-pressure injection zones. It mediates the transition from lower pressure fuel storage to high pressure injection, allowing controlled pressure buildup that improves atomization while maintaining fuel flow reliability through gradual pressure regulation.
3Manufacturing precision
If variable orifices are used to adjust fuel flow, then ignition capability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of fuel flow regulation, pressure control, and ignition enhancement into a single integrated retractable valve body mechanism. This merging of functions achieves enhanced ignition capability through variable orifice control while avoiding the complexity of separate control systems for each function.
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 fuel injector improves fuel atomization and mixing, leading to better ignition, reduced smoke generation, and enhanced combustion efficiency across various operating conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The retractable valve body is positioned within the inner passage to move along a reciprocating axis at one or more valve positions including an advanced valve position, a retracted valve position, an open valve position that at least partially aligns at least one of the one or more slots with at least one of the one or more channels
Implementation Method 2
the one or more slots, the one or more channels, or the one or more slots and the one or more channels impart a rotational motion around the reciprocating axis to fluid passing between the one or more channels and the fluid spin chamber
Implementation Method 3
creating a higher delta pressure for improved atomization and mixing of fuel and air
Implementation Method 4
improved atomization and mixing of fuel and air
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine engine including a fuel injector having an outer valve body with an inner passage, a wall at least partially enclosing the inner passage, the wall having an inner surface, an outer surface, and one or more channels passing through the wall between the outer surface of the wall and the inner surface of the wall, and a retractable valve body positioned within the inner passage of the outer valve body. The retractable valve body has one or more slots in fluid communication with the fluid spin chamber. The retractable valve body is positioned within the inner passage to move along a reciprocating axis at one or more valve positions including an advanced valve position, a retracted valve position, an open valve position, and a closed valve position.