Swirl Vane Internal Cooling for Gas Turbine Premixer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas turbine engine combustors face issues with flame holding and flashback, where the flame can damage components due to heat, as it may become located on or near surfaces not designed for combustion, leading to rapid failure and propagation upstream.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a fuel nozzle with internal cooling passages in a swirl vane, where fuel acts as both a coolant and a heat exchanger medium, providing thermal resistance and protection against thermal damage by routing coolant from a downstream end to an upstream end of the swirl vane, and using fuel as a heat exchanger to transfer heat away from the vane before injection into the air stream.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the premixer is placed in close proximity to the combustion zone to improve mixing efficiency, then the premixing performance is improved, but the risk of flame holding and thermal damage to the premixer increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepremoxing efficiencyVSAvoidthermal damage from flame holding

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by routing coolant through internal passages in the premixer body and swirl vanes before the flame can cause damage. The cooling system is pre-configured to deliver coolant to critical areas, providing thermal protection in advance of potential flame holding events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses coolant as an intermediary substance that flows through internal passages to absorb heat from the premixer structure. This intermediary cooling fluid acts as a thermal barrier between the combustion zone and the premixer components, protecting them from direct thermal exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the premixer is placed in close proximity to the combustion zone to improve mixing efficiency, then the premixing performance is improved, but the risk of flashback and upstream propagation of flame increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepremoxing efficiencyVSAvoidprotection against flashback

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is pre-configured with internal passages that deliver coolant to critical areas of the premixer and swirl vanes before flashback can occur. This preliminary cooling action creates a thermal barrier that prevents flame propagation upstream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of close proximity to the combustion zone into a benefit by using the thermal environment to drive convective cooling. The same proximity that increases thermal risk also enhances the cooling effect as hot gases flow over the external surfaces of the premixer, complementing the internal cooling system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If internal cooling passages are added to the premixer to provide thermal protection, then the resistance to thermal damage is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal damage resistanceVSAvoidcooling system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cooling function with the existing premixer structure by integrating internal cooling passages into the premixer body and swirl vanes. The coolant flow path is combined with the fuel and air flow paths, eliminating the need for separate external cooling systems and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coolant serving multiple functions: it cools the premixer internal surfaces, mixes with the fuel stream, and provides thermal protection to critical components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated cooling systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 effectively provides thermal protection for a sufficient duration to detect and correct flame holding or flashback events, reducing the risk of further damage and allowing for adjustments in fuel system pressure drop and convective heat transfer coefficients, while eliminating the fuel-air mixture upstream from thermal damage areas.

Implementation Method 1

fuel acts as both a coolant and a heat exchanger medium, providing thermal resistance and protection against thermal damage by routing coolant from a downstream end to an upstream end of the swirl vane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

using fuel as a heat exchanger to transfer heat away from the vane before injection into the air stream

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2241815B1Gas turbine premixer with internal cooling

Publication Date: 2019.05.29 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

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AI summary

A system that includes a turbine fuel nozzle (144) comprising an air-fuel premixer (170). The air-fuel premixed (170) includes a swirl vane (176) configured to swirl fuel and air in a downstream direction, wherein the swirl vane (176) comprises an internal coolant path (200) from a downstream end portion (177) in an upstream direction through a substantial length of the swirl vane (176).