Tangential-Feed Hydrogen Injector for Gas Turbine Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face challenges in handling and efficiently combusting hydrogen fuel due to its different flammability and combustion properties compared to liquid hydrocarbon fuels, requiring new injector designs to facilitate uniform mixing and prevent flame propagation.
Innovation Solution
The injector design incorporates a convergent-divergent nozzle head with tangentially oriented first and second feed conduits for hydrogen and gas, featuring a mixing chamber and open-cell metallic foam to enhance mixing and prevent flame propagation, along with surface treatments to induce turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hydrogen is used as fuel instead of liquid hydrocarbon fuel, then combustion efficiency and environmental performance are improved, but handling and combustion control become more difficult due to different flammability properties
Solution Approach 1:
The injector is divided into multiple functional components: a body, a convergent-divergent nozzle head, and a hydrogen/gas feed nozzle with separate feed conduits for hydrogen and gas. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, managing hydrogen's unique combustion properties through specialized design elements
Solution Approach 2:
The feed conduits are tangentially oriented to the mixing chamber to create swirling flow patterns. This parameter change in flow direction and velocity distribution enhances mixing efficiency while controlling combustion characteristics, addressing hydrogen's high flammability through optimized flow parameters
2Productivity
If hydrogen and gas are mixed in a combustion chamber, then combustion efficiency is improved, but flame propagation control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The convergent-divergent nozzle head is positioned to control and direct the hydrogen-gas mixture flow before it enters the combustion chamber. This preliminary control of flow direction and velocity prevents uncontrolled flame propagation while maintaining efficient combustion in the chamber
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing chamber serves as an intermediary component between the feed conduits and the combustion chamber. It provides a controlled environment for hydrogen and gas to mix thoroughly before entering the combustion zone, ensuring stable combustion and preventing erratic flame propagation
3Productivity
If tangential feed conduits are used for hydrogen and gas, then mixing efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen feed conduit and gas feed conduit are merged into a common mixing chamber with tangential orientations. This combining of separate feed streams into a single mixing zone achieves efficient mixing through their interacting flow patterns while avoiding the need for separate complex mixing devices
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 design ensures efficient mixing and combustion of hydrogen and air, preventing flame backflow and enhancing combustion efficiency in gas turbine engines.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the first feed conduits and the second feed conduits are tangentially oriented to the mixing chamber
Implementation Method 2
a convergent-divergent nozzle head arranged along a nozzle axis and having an upstream end defining an inlet mouth
Data Source
AI summary
An injector for introducing hydrogen and gas into a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine includes a convergent-divergent nozzle head and a hydrogen/gas feed nozzle. The convergent-divergent nozzle head is arranged along a nozzle axis and has an upstream end defining an inlet mouth. The hydrogen/gas feed nozzle includes a mixing chamber arranged along the nozzle axis upstream of the inlet mouth, first feed conduits configured to feed hydrogen into the mixing chamber, and second feed conduits configured to feed gas into the mixing chamber. Each of the first feed conduits and the second feed conduits are tangentially oriented to the mixing chamber.