Staged Blade Fuel Injector for Gas Turbine NOx Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face challenges in achieving a lean combustion process while reducing NOx emissions, as existing devices struggle to efficiently premix fuel and air downstream of the combustor head-end/dome.
Innovation Solution
A blade fuel injector system is introduced, comprising a mixer with specific openings and a blade injector with atomizers, designed to premix fuel and air effectively by aligning certain openings with the atomizers, thereby enhancing fuel-air mixing and reducing NOx emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If existing devices are used to premix fuel and air downstream of the combustor head-end, then the combustion process can be staged, but the devices fail to achieve efficient premixing and lean combustion while reducing NOx emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The injector is segmented into multiple functional zones: a pilot section with first openings for initial fuel injection, and a main section with second openings for subsequent fuel injection. This segmentation allows staged combustion where the pilot section initiates combustion and the main section completes the mixing process, achieving both efficient premixing and NOx reduction through controlled sequential fuel delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot section performs preliminary fuel injection and combustion initiation before the main section operates. By pre-establishing a pilot flame and preliminary fuel-air mixture in the first openings, the system creates favorable conditions for the subsequent main fuel injection, enabling efficient premixing while maintaining lean combustion conditions that reduce NOx emissions
2Object-generated harmful factors
If devices are configured to enable lean combustion process, then NOx emissions can be reduced, but the premixing efficiency and combustion performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The injector divides fuel delivery into pilot and main sections with different opening configurations. The pilot section ensures reliable ignition and stable flame establishment, while the main section optimizes fuel-air mixing for lean combustion. This segmentation maintains combustion reliability through staged fuel delivery while achieving the low NOx emissions associated with lean burn operation
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the injector are designed with locally optimized characteristics: the pilot section has specific opening geometries suited for initial fuel injection and flame stabilization, while the main section has openings optimized for efficient fuel-air mixing. This local quality differentiation ensures each zone performs its specific function optimally, maintaining overall combustion reliability while enabling lean operation
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 blade fuel injector system achieves improved fuel-air mixing, enabling a lean combustion process and reducing NOx emissions, while maintaining or improving the performance and durability of gas turbine engines.
Implementation Method 1
a blade injector, the blade injector having a plurality of atomizers
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of devices are used to premix fuel and air downstream of a combustor head-end/dome
Implementation Method 3
air is mixed with fuel and burned in the combustor section
Data Source
AI summary
A blade fuel injector for a gas turbine engine, including: a mixer, the mixer having a first set of openings located on opposite sides of the mixer and a second set of openings located below the first set of openings; and a blade injector, the blade injector having a plurality of atomizers, wherein some of the first set of openings align with the plurality of atomizers.