Waveform Mixer Vanes for Fuel-Air Mixing in Gas Turbines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mixer vanes in gas turbine engines do not effectively enhance fuel-air mixing, leading to inefficient combustion and higher NOx emissions.

Innovation Solution

The use of mixer vanes with a wave-shaped profile that creates turbulence by detaching and reattaching the boundary layer of the air flow, incorporating openings to further enhance mixing, and optimizing the waveform characteristics for improved turbulent kinetic energy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional mixer vanes are used, then the device complexity is low, but the fuel-air mixing efficiency is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel-air mixing efficiencyVSAvoidvane structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mixer vane incorporates a waveform profile with curved crests and troughs instead of straight edges. This curvature creates boundary layer detachment and reattachment, generating turbulence that enhances fuel-air mixing efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple overall vane structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention modifies the geometric parameters of the mixer vane by introducing a waveform profile with specific crest and trough characteristics. This parameter change transforms the flow field structure, creating turbulence through boundary layer separation and reattachment, thereby improving mixing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If mixer vanes with waveform profile are used, then turbulent kinetic energy increases, but pressure fluctuations increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveturbulent kinetic energyVSAvoidpressure fluctuations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The waveform profile is designed with specific local characteristics where crests and troughs are positioned to create turbulence in specific regions. This localized turbulence generation enhances mixing in the fuel-air interaction zone while the overall pressure fluctuations are managed through the distributed nature of the waveform along the vane surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Enhances fuel-air mixing, reduces NOx emissions, and improves combustion efficiency by increasing turbulent kinetic energy and reducing pressure fluctuations.

Implementation Method 1

the waveform profile being configured to detach a boundary layer of an air flow across each mixer vane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBoundary layer detachment: Boundary Layer

Implementation Method 2

the waveform profile introduces turbulence into the air flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentUS12492820B2Mixer vanes

Publication Date: 2025.12.09 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

A main mixer for an engine. The main mixer includes a plurality of mixer vanes located circumferentially around a mixer body. Each mixer vane includes a waveform profile. The waveform profile detaches or trips a boundary layer of an air flow across the mixer vane such that the waveform profile introduces turbulence into the air flow.