Segmented Annular Fuel Injection Module for Gas Turbine Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional axially staged fuel injection combustion systems in gas turbines face challenges in balancing airflow for cooling and maintaining emissions compliance across the full range of operation, leading to inefficiencies and increased air polluting emissions such as NOx and CO.
Innovation Solution
A segmented annular combustion system with a bundled tube fuel nozzle portion and fuel injection lances, featuring a housing body with axial tubes and premixing channels, allows for axial and radial fuel distribution, providing improved airflow balance and emissions control through axially staged fuel injection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional axially staged fuel injection is used, then complete combustion is improved, but airflow balancing and emissions compliance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel injection system is divided into multiple axially staged zones with distinct fuel injectors positioned at different locations along the combustor axis. Each zone can be independently controlled to optimize combustion at different stages, improving complete combustion while allowing flexible airflow balancing across operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel injection system incorporates variable geometry fuel injectors and adjustable airflow control mechanisms that can dynamically adapt to different operating conditions. This allows the system to maintain optimal airflow balance and emissions compliance across the full range of gas turbine operation while preserving complete combustion efficiency.
2Reliability
If conventional axially staged fuel injection is used, then complete combustion is improved, but emissions compliance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mixing of fuel and air in controlled plenums before injection into the combustion zone. This pre-mixing ensures more uniform fuel-air distribution and complete combustion, thereby reducing the formation of air polluting emissions such as NOx and CO while maintaining high combustion efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel injection system incorporates adjustable parameters including fuel injection timing, injection pressure, and air-fuel ratio control. By dynamically changing these parameters across different operating conditions, the system maintains complete combustion for reduced emissions while adapting to varying load requirements.
3Productivity
If fuel distribution is optimized for complete combustion, then combustion efficiency is improved, but airflow balancing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The combustor is segmented into multiple zones with dedicated fuel injectors and airflow control pathways. This segmentation allows independent optimization of fuel distribution for complete combustion in each zone while separately managing airflow requirements, thereby maintaining both high combustion efficiency and ease of airflow balancing.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel injection module incorporates multi-functional components that simultaneously handle fuel distribution, air mixing, and airflow control. This integration allows the system to optimize combustion efficiency while maintaining simplified airflow balancing through unified control mechanisms.
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 system enhances complete fuel combustion, reduces air polluting emissions, and maintains emissions compliance across the operational range by optimizing fuel distribution and combustion dynamics.
Implementation Method 1
fuel ports that permit fuel to flow from the fuel nozzle plenum into the corresponding tube where it mixes with air entering an inlet end of the tube
Implementation Method 2
fuel ports that permit fuel to flow from the fuel nozzle plenum into the corresponding tube where it mixes with air entering an inlet end of the tube
Implementation Method 3
A plurality of fuel injection lances are fluidly coupled to an injector plenum and extend into premixing channels
Implementation Method 4
fuel injection lances extend into premixing channels having outlets that direct a second combustible mixture into the secondary combustion zone
Implementation Method 5
a first combustible mixture is injected and ignited at a first or primary combustion zone of the combustor to produce a main flow of high energy combustion gases
Implementation Method 6
Oxidization of molecular nitrogen in the gas turbine depends upon the temperature of gas located in a combustor
Implementation Method 7
a second fuel-air mixture is injected into and mixed with the main flow of high energy combustion gases
Implementation Method 8
a second fuel-air mixture is injected into and mixed with the main flow of high energy combustion gases via a plurality of radially oriented and circumferentially spaced fuel injectors
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a fuel injection module for a segmented annular combustion system. The fuel injection module includes a housing body, a fuel nozzle portion, and at least one fuel injection lance. The fuel nozzle portion is fluidly coupled to a fuel nozzle plenum within the housing body, and the at least one fuel injection lance is fluidly coupled to an injector fuel plenum within the housing body. In some cases, the fuel nozzle portion is a bundled tube fuel nozzle having one or more subsets of tubes. The fuel injection lances are positioned along a radial side of the housing body or circumferentially between two subsets of tubes. Liquid fuel cartridges extend through the fuel nozzle portion, the fuel injection lances, or both.