Gas Turbine Transition Piece Cooling via Guide Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transition piece assemblies in gas turbines face challenges in efficiently cooling the transition piece and its casing due to heat transfer from high-temperature combustion gas, which can lead to thermal deformation or damage.
Innovation Solution
The proposed transition piece assembly includes a transition piece with an inlet and outlet for high-temperature combustion gas, a cylindrical liner, and a turbine inlet port, along with a transition piece casing that forms an annular interspace with a support member and guide members to redirect and increase the flow of compressed air for cooling, ensuring effective heat absorption and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the transition piece is exposed to high-temperature combustion gas, then the gas turbine can generate power, but the transition piece and casing are subjected to thermal damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the high-temperature combustion gas that would otherwise be harmful as a cooling medium. The combustion gas flows through the annular interspace between the transition piece and casing, absorbing heat from the transition piece and carrying it away, thereby converting the harmful thermal energy into a beneficial cooling effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular interspace acts as an intermediary cooling channel between the hot transition piece and the combustion gas. This intermediate space allows heat transfer from the transition piece to the combustion gas without direct thermal contact that would cause damage, effectively mediating the thermal interaction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cooling air flow is increased to prevent thermal damage, then cooling efficiency improves, but the amount of compressed air available for power generation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using separate cooling air that would reduce power generation, the patent converts the harmful high-temperature combustion gas into a useful cooling medium. This combustion gas would otherwise represent energy loss but now serves dual purposes: maintaining turbine operation and providing cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The combustion gas serves multiple functions simultaneously: it drives the turbine for power generation and acts as the cooling medium for the transition piece and casing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling air supplies that would otherwise reduce the air available for power generation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If guide members are added to redirect compressed air flow, then cooling efficiency increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide members are segmented into multiple discrete components positioned at different locations around the annular interspace. Each guide member independently directs airflow to specific areas of the transition piece, allowing for targeted cooling without requiring a completely redesigned complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide members utilize the annular dimension of the interspace to redirect airflow in a circumferential pattern around the transition piece. This dimensional approach allows efficient distribution of cooling air along the entire perimeter of the transition piece without requiring complex three-dimensional structures.
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 the cooling efficiency of the transition piece and its casing by increasing the amount of compressed air flow, effectively preventing thermal deformation and damage from high-temperature combustion gas.
Implementation Method 1
heat is transferred from the combustion gas to the transition piece because of the high temperature of the combustion gas
Implementation Method 2
compressed air flow, effectively preventing thermal deformation and damage from high-temperature combustion gas
Data Source
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AI summary
A transition piece assembly improves the cooling of a transition piece by increasing a flow of compressed air toward a transition piece casing. The assembly includes a transition piece including an inlet and an outlet; a transition piece casing spaced apart from the transition piece, the transition piece casing enclosing the transition piece to form an annular interspace between an inner circumferential surface of the transition piece casing and an outer circumferential surface of the transition piece, the transition piece casing including an outer circumferential surface over which compressed air flows; a support member for supporting the transition piece casing, the support member inserted into the annular interspace and seated on the outer circumferential surface of the transition piece; and a guide member that is fixed with respect to the transition piece casing and includes an axially perpendicular structure to guide the compressed air toward the transition piece casing.