Segmented Combustor Liner Bolted Architecture

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Combustor liners in gas turbine engines face high thermal stress, leading to uneven wear and requiring complete replacement when any portion fails, resulting in increased maintenance costs and reduced lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A segmented combustor liner design with interchangeable segments, where the outer and inner walls are composed of multiple segments coupled by fasteners, allowing for easy replacement of worn areas while maintaining structural integrity and reducing the number of parts and weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complete combustor liner is replaced when any portion fails, then the structural integrity and reliability are maintained, but the maintenance costs increase and the lifespan is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The combustor liner is divided into multiple replaceable segments (first outer wall segment, second outer wall segment, first inner wall segment, second inner wall segment) that can be independently replaced. This segmentation allows only the damaged segment to be replaced rather than the entire liner, reducing maintenance costs while maintaining structural integrity through the bolted connection of segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a complete combustor liner is replaced when any portion fails, then the reliability is maintained, but the time and resources for replacement increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidreplacement time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The liner is segmented into modular sections that can be independently accessed and replaced. This allows for faster replacement of only the damaged segment rather than removing and replacing the entire liner assembly, significantly reducing maintenance downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The damaged segment is extracted and removed from the assembly, allowing for selective replacement of only the worn or failed portion while leaving the remaining functional segments in place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Strength

If the combustor liner is designed as a single integrated piece, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the adaptability and ease of repair are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehoop integrityVSAvoidrepairability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The liner is divided into segments connected by bolted joints with hoops that maintain circumferential integrity. This segmentation enables easy repair by replacing individual segments while the bolted connections preserve the structural strength and hoop integrity of the complete assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11015812B2Combustor bolted segmented architecture

Publication Date: 2021.05.25 ROLLS ROYCE CORP

AI summary

A combustor liner assembly is provided including an inlet wall, an inner wall, an outer wall, and a plurality of fasteners. The inlet wall has an opening into a combustion chamber. The inner wall is coupled to the inlet wall at a first end of the combustor liner. The inner wall defines a radially inner end of the combustion chamber. The outer wall includes a plurality of segments. The plurality of segments define a radially outer end of the combustion chamber. A first portion of the plurality of fasteners couples each of the plurality of segments to another of the plurality of segments. A second portion of the plurality of fasteners couples at least one of the plurality of segments to the inlet wall at the first end of the combustor liner.