Turbine Combustor Fluid Injection for Emission Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engines face challenges in balancing NOx, nvPM, and CO2 emissions while achieving high overall pressure ratios and fuel efficiency, particularly during varying power levels of operation.
Innovation Solution
A lean burn combustor system with water or steam injection during high power operations and fuel staging during other power levels to reduce emissions, combined with a fluid injection system to control flame temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If water or steam injection is used during high power operations, then NOx and nvPM emissions are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Water or steam is introduced as an intermediary substance into the combustion chamber to mediate the combustion process. The fluid injection system delivers water or steam that acts as a mediator to reduce flame temperatures and suppress NOx and nvPM formation during high power operations, while the system remains integrated with existing combustor components
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical and chemical parameters of the combustion process by injecting water or steam. This modifies the temperature profile, fuel-air ratio, and combustion kinetics to reduce emissions. The fluid injection system enables dynamic parameter adjustment during high power operations to optimize emission reduction while maintaining engine performance
2Object-generated harmful factors
If fuel staging is implemented during varying power levels, then CO2 emissions are reduced, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel delivery system is segmented into multiple stages with different fuel-air ratios for different operating conditions. During varying power levels, the system uses staged fuel injection where primary fuel and secondary fuel are delivered at different rates and timing, allowing optimization of combustion efficiency and CO2 emissions across the operating range
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel staging system dynamically adjusts fuel delivery rates and air-fuel ratios based on real-time operating conditions. The control system modifies fuel injection parameters during transient and steady-state operations to maintain optimal combustion efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions while adapting to changing power demands
3Object-generated harmful factors
If flame temperatures are controlled during high power operations, then NOx emissions are reduced, but fuel efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid injection system operates periodically or intermittently based on operating conditions, injecting water or steam during high power operations when NOx formation is most problematic. This periodic intervention reduces flame temperatures and NOx emissions only when necessary, minimizing the impact on fuel efficiency during other operating modes
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial cooling through fluid injection rather than continuous full cooling. By injecting water or steam at optimized rates during high power operations, the system achieves sufficient NOx reduction while avoiding excessive cooling that would significantly reduce fuel efficiency and engine performance
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 system effectively reduces NOx and nvPM emissions across the entire mission cycle of a turbine engine, maintaining high fuel efficiency and operational performance.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid injection system in fluid communication with the combustor, the fluid injection system injecting a fluid into the combustor during the high power operation of the turbine engine
Implementation Method 2
A combustor is arranged in the core section to generate combustion gases for driving a turbine of the turbine engine
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor for a turbine engine. The combustor includes a fuel injector and a fluid injection system in fluid communication with the combustor. The fuel injector includes a mixer assembly with a pilot mixer and a main mixer. The pilot mixer and the main mixer operate during high power operation of the turbine engine. The fluid injection system injects a fluid into the combustor during high power operation of the turbine engine. The fluid is shut off during low power operation of the turbine engine and during mid-level power operation of the turbine engine.