Spring-Loaded Crossover Tube for Turbine Combustor Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current combustor assemblies in turbine engines face challenges in efficiently interconnecting cans to facilitate the transfer of combustion gases while maintaining structural integrity and minimizing heat exposure and wear, particularly due to limitations in existing crossover tube designs that affect ignition and combustion stability.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a crossover tube assembly with an annular sidewall and flange configuration, utilizing a biasing member such as a wave spring to securely connect cans, allowing for collinear movement and accommodating high thrust loads within a compact design, thereby reducing heat exposure and wear, and enhancing ignition and combustion efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid crossover tubes are used to interconnect cans, then structural integrity is maintained, but heat exposure and wear increase, affecting ignition and combustion stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a biasing member that changes the mechanical parameter of the crossover tube assembly by providing a spring force. This allows the assembly to move from a rigid state to a compliant state, reducing heat exposure and wear while maintaining structural integrity through the elastic properties of the biasing member.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member acts as a cushioning element positioned beforehand in the crossover tube assembly. It absorbs and mitigates the harmful effects of heat exposure and mechanical wear before they can affect the ignition and combustion stability, thereby protecting the system in advance.
2Reliability
If crossover tubes are designed with flanges and biasing members, then cans are securely connected with accommodation for movement, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the crossover tube assembly into distinct functional components: the crossover tube, the flange for connection, and the biasing member for securing and allowing movement. This segmentation enables each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall reliability of the interconnection.
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
This design improves the interconnection of cans, enhances ignition and combustion stability, reduces wear and heat exposure, and minimizes airflow leakage, leading to improved performance and longevity of turbine engine components.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member positioned around a portion the crossover tube and adapted to engage the annular flange... the inner member is configured to move collinearly with respect to the outer member and the biasing member may be adapted to bias the flanges away from each other
Data Source
AI summary
Crossover tubes for use with cans of a turbine engine. The crossover tubes include an outer member, an inner member that is adapted to move collinearly with the outer member. The crossover tubes also include a pair of flanges and a biasing member positioned between the flanges.