Tear-Shaped Suspension Elements for Annular Fuel Nozzles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel nozzle designs face challenges in maintaining thermal compliance and physical integrity while accommodating radial deflection and imbalanced loading, particularly in gas turbine applications, where annular bodies need to withstand environmental changes and deliver combustion materials efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a series of annular bodies with suspension elements having a tear-shaped cross-section, connecting the annular outer body to the inner bodies, allowing for rigid axial and lateral positioning while permitting controlled radial deflection, and featuring outlets for coolant and fuel delivery, addressing imbalanced loading and thermal growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If annular bodies are configured to be stiff axially relative to a centerline, then axial positioning stability is improved, but radial flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension elements are designed with asymmetric cross-sections (tear-shaped, airfoil-shaped, or Z-shaped) that provide different stiffness characteristics in different directions. This dynamic structural design allows the assembly to be stiff axially while remaining flexible radially, resolving the contradiction between axial stability and radial adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension elements exhibit direction-dependent mechanical properties through their asymmetric cross-sectional geometry. The local quality of each suspension element is optimized to provide high stiffness in the axial direction while maintaining low stiffness in the radial direction, enabling the assembly to simultaneously achieve axial stability and radial flexibility
2Ease of manufacture
If suspension elements are symmetrically arranged, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but ability to address imbalanced loading is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension elements are arranged asymmetrically relative to the centerline of the annular assembly, with offset positions that create intentional imbalance. This asymmetric configuration enables the suspension system to effectively address imbalanced thermal loading and thermal growth while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the use of standardized asymmetric cross-sectional geometries
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric arrangement of suspension elements changes the geometric parameters of the suspension system, creating offset positions that provide enhanced capability to accommodate imbalanced thermal loads and differential thermal expansion while maintaining ease of manufacture through consistent asymmetric cross-sectional designs
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional suspension elements are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but pressure drop in coolant delivery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension elements feature curved, aerodynamic cross-sections (tear-shaped, airfoil-shaped, or Z-shaped) that reduce flow resistance and improve coolant flow characteristics. These curved geometries minimize turbulence and pressure drop in the coolant passages while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through additive manufacturing processes
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 configuration enhances thermal compliance, maintains structural integrity, and reduces pressure drop in coolant delivery, enabling efficient fuel and air distribution in fuel nozzles, while tolerating thermally induced radial growth and axial forces.
Implementation Method 1
each suspension element having an asymmetric cross-section, the asymmetric cross-section providing different stiffness in different directions
Implementation Method 2
enabling efficient fuel and air distribution in fuel nozzles, while tolerating thermally induced radial growth and axial forces
Data Source
AI summary
An object includes an annular outer body having an end and an interior surface; a first annular inner body disposed inside the annular outer body, the first annular inner body having an exterior surface defining a first annular passage with the interior surface of the annular outer body. The first annular passage includes a first plurality of outlets formed on the end of the annular outer body, the first annular passage receiving a coolant and discharging the coolant adjacent the end of the annular outer body. The object also includes a second annular inner body disposed inside the first annular inner body, the second annular inner body defining a second annular passage with the first annular inner body. Further, the object includes a third annular inner body disposed inside the second annular inner body, with the third annular inner body defining a third annular passage with the second annular inner body; and a fourth annular passage opposite and surrounded by the third annular passage. The object further includes a plurality of suspension elements connecting the interior surface of the annular outer body to the exterior surface of the first annular inner body, each suspension element including a first end connected to a first position on the first inner annular body and a second end connected to a second position on the annular outer body, wherein each first position is angularly circumferentially offset from each second position; and each suspension element is configured to substantially rigidly locate a position of the annular outer body relative to the first annular inner body in axial and lateral directions while permitting controlled deflection in a radial direction wherein the first position of each suspension element is angularly circumferentially offset to provide an imbalanced suspension capable of addressing an imbalanced loading, wherein each suspension element has an at least partially tear-shaped cross-section, and each of the second annular passage, the third annular passage, and the fourth annular passage includes a plurality of outlets formed through the annular outer body, adjacent the end, each of the plurality of outlets for each of the second annular passage, the third annular passage, and the fourth annular passage delivering a gas or fuel adjacent the end of the annular outer body.