Turbine Combustor Exhaust Gas Recirculation and Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines waste a significant amount of exhaust gas, which contains unburnt fuel and emissions, and existing systems do not effectively recirculate and utilize these gases for energy recovery and emission reduction.
Innovation Solution
A gas turbine system with stoichiometric exhaust gas recirculation (SEGR) that recirculates combustion products to cool the combustor liner and direct them through a flow sleeve for extraction, using a flange to isolate flows and enhance energy recovery and emission reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If exhaust gas is directly exhausted to atmosphere, then system simplicity is maintained, but energy is wasted and emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust gas flow is segmented into multiple streams: a first stream that is recirculated back to the combustor for cooling and combustion modulation, and a second stream that is extracted for external utilization. This segmentation allows selective energy recovery while maintaining system functionality without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
A flow sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component that directs and separates the exhaust gas flow into different pathways. This intermediary structure enables the recirculation and extraction functions without requiring complex valve systems or multiple separate components, thus managing complexity while achieving energy recovery.
2Loss of energy
If exhaust gas is recirculated to cool combustor liner, then energy recovery is improved, but combustion efficiency may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The recirculated exhaust gas is directed specifically to cool the combustor liner in localized regions that require thermal management. This localized cooling approach recovers heat where needed most while minimizing the impact on overall combustion efficiency, as only portions of the exhaust stream are recirculated rather than all exhaust gas.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of recirculating all exhaust gas which would excessively cool the combustor and reduce combustion efficiency, the system recirculates only a portion of the exhaust stream. This partial recirculation approach provides sufficient cooling energy recovery while maintaining adequate combustion temperatures and efficiency.
3Loss of energy
If multiple exhaust gas streams are separated, then energy recovery is maximized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow sleeve combines multiple functions into a single component: it directs the recirculated exhaust gas stream, extracts the second stream for external use, and maintains separation between the two streams. This merging of functions into one integrated component achieves multi-stream separation without requiring multiple separate devices or complex valve mechanisms.
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 achieves efficient energy recovery and reduces emissions by recirculating combustion gases for cooling and downstream processes, such as enhanced oil recovery and CO2 injection, while minimizing unburnt fuel and oxidant in the exhaust.
Implementation Method 1
recirculates combustion products to cool the combustor liner
Implementation Method 2
compressing at least some of the combustion products generated by the combustor to generate compressed combustion products
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a turbine combustor having a first volume configured to receive a combustion fluid and to direct the combustion fluid into a combustion chamber. The turbine combustor includes a second volume configured to receive a first flow of an exhaust gas and to direct the first flow of the exhaust gas into the combustion chamber. The turbine combustor also includes a third volume disposed axially downstream from the first volume and circumferentially about the second volume. The third volume is configured to receive a second flow of the exhaust gas and to direct the second flow of the exhaust gas out of the turbine combustor via an extraction outlet, and the third volume is isolated from the first volume and from the second volume.