Torch Ignitor Cooling Passage Helical Coil Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional torch ignitor systems for gas turbine engines lack effective cooling solutions for components that become extremely hot, leading to potential material degradation and reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
A torch ignitor system with a cooling passage that includes a helically coiled section around the ignitor, utilizing fuel to cool the ignitor while also supplying fuel for combustion, ensuring the ignitor remains within safe temperature limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional torch ignitor systems are used without cooling, then the system structure remains simple, but the ignitor components become extremely hot causing material degradation and reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling passage is integrated directly into the torch wall structure, merging the cooling function with the structural component. The helically coiled cooling passage is formed as a single piece with the torch wall, eliminating separate cooling components and reducing overall system complexity while providing effective ignitor cooling
Solution Approach 2:
Fuel serves dual purposes: it is supplied through the fuel nozzle for combustion in the combustion chamber and simultaneously passed through the cooling passage to cool the ignitor. This multi-functionality of fuel eliminates the need for separate cooling media and reduces system complexity
2Temperature
If a cooling passage is added to cool the ignitor, then the ignitor temperature is reduced improving reliability, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling passage is designed with a helical coil configuration that winds around the ignitor in a curved path. This curved geometry allows the cooling passage to conform to the ignitor shape, maximizing cooling surface area contact while maintaining a compact integrated structure that doesn't significantly increase overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The helically coiled cooling passage is nested within or integrated with the torch wall structure. The cooling passage utilizes the available space within the torch wall thickness, nesting the cooling function within the existing structural envelope rather than adding external cooling components
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 cooling passage effectively reduces the temperature of the ignitors and surrounding components, enhancing durability and maintaining operational reliability by using the combustion fuel for cooling, thereby preventing overheating and material damage.
Implementation Method 1
A cooling passage (124) is in thermal communication with the ignitor (110) for cooling the ignitor (110) with fuel passing through the cooling passage (124)
Implementation Method 2
A fuel nozzle (108) is mounted to the torch wall (102) to issue fuel into the combustion chamber (104)
Data Source
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AI summary
A torch ignitor system (100) includes a torch wall (102) defining a combustion chamber (104) therein with a flame outlet (112) passing out of the torch wall (102) downstream of the combustion chamber (104). A fuel nozzle (108) is mounted to the torch wall (102) to issue fuel into the combustion chamber (104). An ignitor (110) is mounted to the torch wall (102), extending into the combustion chamber (104) to ignite fuel issued from the fuel nozzle (108). A cooling passage (124) is in thermal communication with the ignitor (110) for cooling the ignitor with fluid passing through the cooling passage (124).