Turbine Section Fuel Injection With Inert Gas Flame Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Certain conditions in the turbine section of a gas turbine engine create vulnerabilities to flame holding near the wall, posing a risk to the structure.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating inert gas ports and fuel ports into the turbine section wall, with the inert gas ports injecting inert gas downstream and fuel ports injecting fuel upstream, utilizing humps to push the flame away from the wall, thereby reducing the risk of flame holding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fuel is injected into the turbine section to add heat and create isothermal expansion, then gas turbine engine efficiency and performance are improved, but the risk of flame holding near the wall increases
Solution Approach 1:
An inert gas (such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide) is introduced as an intermediary substance between the fuel injection port and the turbine section wall. This inert gas forms a protective barrier that prevents the fuel flame from contacting and adhering to the wall surface, while still allowing the fuel to combust and release heat into the turbine flow path for improved efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a localized inert atmosphere near the turbine section wall by injecting inert gas in that region. This inert environment displaces oxygen and prevents combustion reactions at the wall surface, eliminating the flame holding problem while maintaining the beneficial thermal effects of fuel injection in the main flow path.
2Use of energy by moving object
If fuel injection ports are positioned close to the wall to maximize heat transfer, then thermal efficiency is improved, but the vulnerability to flame holding and structural damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different gas compositions to different spatial zones: fuel is injected into the main flow path where high-temperature combustion is desired for thermal efficiency, while inert gas is injected specifically in the region near the wall where flame holding would cause structural damage. This local differentiation of gas properties resolves the contradiction between thermal efficiency and structural safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The inert gas is injected in advance into the region near the wall before the fuel flame can reach and adhere to the surface. This preliminary establishment of an inert barrier prevents the harmful flame holding condition from developing, while allowing the fuel to subsequently combust efficiently in the main flow path.
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 mitigates flame holding near the turbine section wall, providing thermal protection to the structure by using inert gas to displace fuel away from the surface, enhancing the engine's operational safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
causing the injected inert gas to occupy at least a portion of a region downstream of the fuel port and adjacent to the wall
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes at least one component of a turbine section. The at least one component includes an inert gas port formed into a wall of the at least one component. The inert gas port is configured to inject an inert gas into a chamber of the turbine section in a downstream direction. The at least one component also includes a fuel port formed into the wall upstream of the inert gas part. The fuel port is configured to inject a fuel in the downstream direction toward the injected inert gas. The inert gas causes the injected fuel to be lifted away from the surface of the wall and propelled into the hot gas flow path, where the fuel can be ignited by the combustion gases to increase gas turbine engine efficiency and performance.