Sieve Injector Valve for Variable Combustor Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotating detonation engines require improved structures and wall configurations to promote fuel-oxidant mixing and maintain a consistent combustor pressure drop across varying operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
A combustor design featuring an inner and outer wall with fuel and oxidant ports, a movable valve element, and a controller to adjust the oxidant inlet area, allowing for variable pressure drop and flow rate control through translational movement of the valve element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the oxidant inlet area is fixed, then the combustor structure is simpler, but the pressure drop cannot be maintained across varying operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by implementing a movable valve element that can translate between different positions to dynamically adjust the oxidant inlet area. This allows the combustor to adapt to varying operating conditions and maintain consistent pressure drop, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the oxidant inlet area through valve element translation. This enables the system to maintain optimal pressure drop across different operating conditions by adjusting the flow parameters, thereby achieving adaptability without requiring complete structural redesign.
2Stress or pressure
If the valve element translates to overlap oxidant openings, then the pressure drop increases, but the oxidant flow rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable valve element enables dynamic control of the oxidant inlet area, allowing the system to adjust the balance between pressure drop and oxidant flow rate based on operating conditions. This resolves the contradiction by providing continuous adjustability rather than fixed parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
By translating the valve element to different positions, the system changes the oxidant inlet area parameter to achieve the desired pressure drop while maintaining adequate oxidant flow rate. This parameter adjustment capability resolves the contradiction between increasing pressure drop and maintaining flow rate.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple oxidant openings are provided, then the oxidant distribution is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by providing multiple oxidant openings distributed across different walls (inner wall, outer wall, and/or end wall). This segmentation of oxidant delivery paths improves fuel-oxidant mixing quality by creating multiple injection points, while the modular nature of the openings keeps the implementation manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve element serves multiple functions by controlling oxidant flow through multiple openings simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows a single component to manage complex oxidant distribution across multiple locations, improving mixing quality without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A combustor (10) and a combustor assembly includes an inner wall (12), an outer wall (14), an end wall (16), and a valve element (20). The outer wall (14) and the inner wall (12) are spaced to form a combustion chamber (24), and the end wall (16) joins the inner wall (12) to the outer wall (14). A plurality of fuel ports (38) extends through one of the inner wall (12) and the outer wall (14). A plurality of oxidant openings (40) extends through one or more of the inner wall (12), the outer wall (14), and the end wall (16). The valve element (20) is arranged concentrically with one or more of the inner wall (12) and the outer wall (14) and is translatable from a first position towards a second position and from the second position towards the first position. The valve element (20) overlaps at least one oxidant opening (40) as the valve element (20) translates towards the second position.