Turbine Combustor Vortex Generators for Fuel-Air Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing turbine engines face challenges in efficiently mixing fuel and air to prevent flashback and auto-ignition while maintaining optimal combustion conditions, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased emissions.
Innovation Solution
The use of vortex generators and swirler configurations within the fuel injector to enhance fuel-air mixing, combined with controlled air flow paths and fuel supply arrangements, reduces flashback and auto-ignition, improving combustion efficiency and reducing emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional fuel-air mixing methods are used in the combustor, then the combustion process is simple to implement, but fuel-air mixing efficiency is insufficient leading to increased emissions and reduced combustion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel injector is divided into multiple injectors with multiple nozzles each, creating numerous fuel injection points distributed throughout the combustion chamber. This segmentation enables more uniform fuel-air mixing across the combustion zone, improving combustion efficiency and reducing localized rich or lean zones that would increase emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes fluid dynamic principles by introducing air swirl and utilizing vortex flow patterns within the combustion chamber. The air swirl creates enhanced mixing through turbulent eddies and vortex structures, improving fuel-air homogeneity without requiring additional mechanical mixing devices, thereby reducing emissions while maintaining high combustion efficiency.
2Productivity
If vigorous fuel-air mixing is applied to improve combustion efficiency, then combustion efficiency increases, but flashback and auto-ignition risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the combustion chamber are provided with different mixing intensities. The fuel injectors are positioned and angled to create localized mixing zones with appropriate turbulence levels. Air swirl is introduced at specific locations to enhance mixing where needed while maintaining more stable, lower-velocity regions in other areas, preventing flashback and auto-ignition while maintaining overall high combustion efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The combustion system utilizes dynamic flow patterns including air swirl and vortex formation that adapt to operating conditions. The swirling air flow creates time-varying mixing zones that enhance fuel-air homogeneity during the combustion process while the rotational motion helps stabilize the flame front, preventing flashback by maintaining appropriate flow velocities and mixing characteristics under varying load conditions.
3Productivity
If multiple fuel injectors and nozzles are installed to improve fuel distribution, then fuel-air mixing is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each fuel injector assembly serves multiple functions: it distributes fuel through multiple nozzles, introduces air for mixing, generates local turbulence, and positions fuel streams to optimize mixing with the swirling air flow. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve superior fuel-air mixing with a relatively simple injector design, avoiding the need for separate components for each function and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel injector design employs a nested structure where multiple nozzles are integrated within each injector body, and multiple injectors are arranged within the combustion chamber in a compact configuration. This nesting approach maximizes the number of fuel injection points and mixing zones within a limited space, achieving enhanced fuel-air mixing efficiency without proportionally increasing the overall device complexity or footprint.
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 solution enhances fuel-air mixing, stabilizes flames, and reduces NOx emissions by optimizing combustion conditions, leading to improved engine performance and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The multiple vortex generators are configured to direct the axial flow of compressed air provided to the inlet such that the compressed air forms a vortex within the air flow path
Implementation Method 2
The use of vortex generators and swirler configurations within the fuel injector to enhance fuel-air mixing
Implementation Method 3
air and fuel are mixed, and then the fuel is burned in the presence of the air to produce hot gas
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine engine having a compressor section, a combustion section having a combustor, and a turbine section in serial flow arrangement. The combustor includes a combustion chamber, at least one fuel injector, and a center body located within an air flow path of the fuel injector, where the center body has an internal fuel supply path. A vortex generator is provided on the center body and at least one fuel supply passage includes outlets that emit fuel into the air flow path for mixing the fuel with air in the air flow path.