Vortex Turbulence Generator for Combustor Dilution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dilution holes in gas turbine engines do not provide turbulent airflow, leading to poor mixing with combustion gases and increased NOx emissions, which reduces the reliability of the combustor liner and causes temperature accumulation at the downstream edge.
Innovation Solution
A vortex turbulence generator is integrated into the dilution holes, featuring a flow passage with turbulators that generate a vortex flow, enhancing mixing and cooling by creating a turbulent airflow that penetrates deeper into the combustion chamber and spreads dilution air downstream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional dilution holes are used with normal flow to the liner surface, then the liner cooling is maintained, but the mixing with combustion gases is poor and NOx emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow regime parameter from laminar/normal flow to turbulent vortex flow by introducing turbulators. This transforms the dilution air flow characteristics to achieve deeper penetration and better mixing with combustion gases, reducing NOx emissions while maintaining liner cooling effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The turbulators serve as an intermediary element within the dilution hole that generates vortex flow. This intermediary structure transforms the straightforward normal flow into a rotational vortex pattern, enabling the dilution air to penetrate deeper into the combustion chamber and mix more effectively with hot gases
2Temperature
If dilution air flow stays close to the liner surface, then the liner cooling is effective, but the mixing with combustion gases is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic vortex flow characteristics to the dilution air instead of static normal flow. The rotational motion creates a more dynamic interaction between dilution air and combustion gases, enhancing mixing while the centrifugal effects help distribute cooling more effectively along the liner surface
3Object-generated harmful factors
If turbulent flow is generated in dilution holes, then the mixing with combustion gases improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The turbulators are placed locally within the dilution hole flow passage rather than requiring complex overall restructuring. This localized modification generates vortex flow only where needed in the dilution holes, achieving the desired turbulent mixing effect without substantially increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The turbulators create an effective porous-like turbulent structure within the dilution hole flow path. The vortex flow pattern resembles flow through a porous medium, enhancing mixing and penetration while the turbulator geometry can be optimized to balance complexity with 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 solution reduces NOx emissions and improves the reliability of the combustor liner by ensuring better mixing and cooling of combustion gases, lowering temperatures and extending the lifespan of the liner.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of vortex generating turbulators include a projection portion extending from a surface of the turbulence generator wall into the turbulence generator flow passage and generate a vortex turbulent flow of an oxidizer passing through the turbulence generator flow passage
Implementation Method 2
generate a vortex turbulent flow of an oxidizer passing through the turbulence generator flow passage from the cold surface side of the combustor liner to the hot surface side of the combustor liner
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor for a gas turbine engine. The combustor has a combustor liner that includes a vortex turbulence generator. The vortex turbulence generator has a flow passage extending therethrough, the flow passage being defined by a wall about a periphery of the flow passage, and a plurality of vortex generating turbulators disposed on the wall, each of the plurality of vortex generating turbulators a projection portion extending from a surface of the wall into the flow passage and generating a vortex turbulent flow of an oxidizer passing through the flow passage from a cold surface side of the combustor liner to a hot surface side of the combustor liner.