Swirler Obstruction Elements Split Airflow for Fuel Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radial swirler combustion systems often fail to achieve full mixing of fuel with air across the full load range, leading to inadequate NOx control, burner wall temperature management, combustion efficiency, and flame stability issues due to incomplete fuel-air mixing profiles.
Innovation Solution
A swirler design featuring a central axis, swirler base with obstruction elements that split airflow into multiple channels, creating regions of high turbulence for improved fuel-air mixing, combined with strategic fuel injector placement to ensure thorough mixing within the swirler slots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional radial swirler design with single flow channel is used, then device complexity is low, but fuel-air mixing quality is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The swirler slot flow channel is divided into multiple separate flow channels (typically two) using obstruction elements. This segmentation creates distinct flow paths that enhance turbulence and mixing quality when the fuel is injected into the combined flow, directly addressing the insufficient mixing quality issue while maintaining reasonable device complexity through modular design
2Manufacturing precision
If obstruction elements are added to split airflow, then fuel-air mixing is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Obstruction elements are strategically positioned at specific locations within the swirler slot (typically at the inlet or intermediate sections) rather than uniformly throughout. This localized placement creates turbulence and enhances mixing uniformity in the critical fuel injection region while minimizing the overall number of components and avoiding excessive device complexity
3Productivity
If fuel is injected into turbulent region created by obstruction elements, then mixing efficiency improves, but device complexity increases due to precise injector placement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The obstruction elements are designed to create the turbulent flow region in advance, before the fuel is injected. This preliminary creation of favorable flow conditions ensures that when fuel is introduced, it immediately enters a pre-turbulated environment that enhances mixing efficiency. The design allows for standard injector placement rather than requiring precise positioning into specific turbulence zones, as the turbulence is generated by the obstruction elements themselves
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
Enhances fuel-air mixing across the swirler length, improving combustion efficiency, NOx control, and flame stability by inducing turbulence and optimizing fuel injection points, thereby addressing the limitations of existing radial swirler systems.
Implementation Method 1
Where these flows meet there will be a region of high turbulence. Fuel injected into this region will be well mixed
Data Source
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AI summary
A swirler (60) for mixing fuel with air in a combustion engine (10) is disclosed. The swirler (60) comprises a central axis (63), a swirler base (61) comprising an upper surface (62), a central portion (64), a number of main swirler elements (65) and a number of obstruction elements (66). The main swirler elements (65) and the obstruction elements (66) are located at the upper surface (62) of the swirler base (61) and are arranged around the central portion (64). The main swirler elements (65) are forming a number of swirler slots (67) configured for directing a fluid towards the central portion (64). Each swirler slot (67) comprises a slot inlet (68) and a slot outlet (69), wherein the slot outlet (69) is located at a smaller radial distance from the central axis (63) than the swirler inlet (68). Each obstruction element (66) is located at a slot inlet (68) and configured for forming a plurality of flow channels (70, 71) into the swirler slot (67).