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EP 2 589 875 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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10.12.2014 Bulletin 2014/50 |
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Date of filing: 26.10.2012 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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injection Apparatus
Injektionsvorrichtung
Appareil d'injection
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL
NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
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Priority: |
01.11.2011 US 201113286744
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Date of publication of application: |
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08.05.2013 Bulletin 2013/19 |
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Proprietor: General Electric Company |
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Schenectady, NY 12345 (US) |
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Inventors: |
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- Stoia, Lucas John
Greenville, SC South Carolina 29615 (US)
- Melton, Patrick Benedict
Greenville, SC South Carolina 29615 (US)
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(74) |
Representative: Cleary, Fidelma |
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GPO Europe
GE International Inc.
The Ark
201 Talgarth Road
Hammersmith London W6 8BJ London W6 8BJ (GB) |
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an injection apparatus and, more particularly,
to an injection apparatus for attachment to an outer vessel disposed about an inner
vessel formed to define a main flowpath.
[0002] A typical turbomachine, such as a gas turbine engine, includes a compressor, a combustor
and a turbine. The compressor compresses inlet gas to produce compressed gas, which
is transmitted to the combustor. Within the combustor, the compressed gas is mixed
with fuel and combusted to produce high temperature fluids. These high temperature
fluids are then directed to the turbine for power and/or electricity generation. In
some cases, a transition piece may be disposed between the combustor and the turbine
such that the high temperature fluids flow through the transition piece prior to entering
the turbine.
[0003] As a result of the process described above, pollutants, such as oxides of nitrogen
(NOx) may be produced and emitted to the atmosphere. Recently, efforts have been undertaken
to reduce pollutant production and emission. Such efforts include the development
of axially staged fuel injection systems, such as late lean injection (LLI) systems.
In LLI systems, a quantity of fuel and air are injected into the main flowpath through
the combustor or the transition piece downstream of the main combustion zone.
[0004] A problem with such systems, however, is that axially staged or LLI injectors must
be integrally mounted to the transition piece, which is a complicated process that
may lead to further assembly issues with the transition piece impingement sleeve.
[0005] US 7000396 describes a combustor for a gas turbine including a combustor body having an aperture
and a casing enclosing the combustor body and defining a passageway therebetween for
carrying compressor discharge air. At least one injection tube supplies an amount
of the compressor discharge air into the combustor body and the injection tube is
disposed between the aperture and through the casing. A collar having a plurality
of openings is disposed at the passageway and surrounds the injection tube so that
the injection tube passes through the collar. A gap is disposed between the collar
and the injection tube.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention resides in an injection apparatus as defined in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0007] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
A schematic side view of an injection apparatus in accordance with embodiments.
[0008] The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages
and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] With reference to the sole figure, an injection apparatus 10 is provided. The injection
apparatus 10 is attachable to an outer vessel 11, such as an impingement sleeve or
a flow sleeve of an exemplary turbomachine transition piece. The outer vessel 11 may
be disposed about an inner vessel 12, which may be the turbomachine transition piece
and may be formed to define a main flowpath 120. During turbomachine operations, high
temperature fluids are produced in a combustor and directed toward a turbine by way
of the turbomachine transition piece. The flow of the high temperature fluids thus
proceeds along the main flowpath 120 of the inner vessel 12. It is, however, to be
understood that the injection apparatus 10 may be attachable to other vessels in the
turbomachine and/or other systems. As an alternate example, the injection apparatus
10 may be attachable to a forward end of the impingement sleeve (i.e., proximate to
the axial injection flow sleeve), the aft end of the impingement sleeve or to a flow
sleeve of the combustor.
[0010] The injection apparatus 10 includes a ring-shaped or annular base 20 and a tubular
body 40. The annular base 20 is configured to be fastened to the outer vessel 11 by
one or more of bolting, welding, sealing and butt welding. The annular base 20 has
a first surface 21 that is formed to define an injection hole location 200 and a protrusion
25. The protrusion 25 protrudes from an interior facing surface 26 of the annular
base 20 and extends perimetrically about the injection hole location 200 such that
the protrusion 25 is axisymmetric about a centerline of the inner vessel 12. The protrusion
25 includes a first part 27 and a connector 30. The first part 27 protrudes from the
interior facing surface 26 such that the first part 27 is axisymmetric about the centerline
of the inner vessel 12. The connector 30 has a first end 31, which is configured to
be fastened by, for example, welding to a distal end of the protrusion 25 perimetrically
about the injection hole location 200, and a second end 32. The first end 31 and the
second end 32 supportively meet at bend 33, which may be angular or curved, such that
the second end 32 defines a secondary injection hole location 201, which may correspond
to the injection hole location 200.
[0011] In accordance with embodiments, the injection hole location 200 and the secondary
injection hole location 201 may be round or, in some cases, substantially circular.
Similarly, the protrusion 25, the connector 30 and the tubular body 40 may also have
round or, in some cases, substantially circular cross-sections (i.e., they may be
ring-shaped) in correspondence with the shape of the injection hole location 200 and
the secondary injection hole location 201.
[0012] The tubular body 40 has sufficient length to extend across an annulus defined between
the outer vessel 11 and the inner vessel 12 and has an interior facing surface 41
that is formed to define a tubular injection hole 400. The tubular body 40 is sealably
fastened to the first surface 21 of the annular base 20 at the injection hole location
200 by way of, for example, bolt 42 that engages with the annular base 20. The tubular
body 40 also has a protrusion 45 that may be sealably fastened to the second end 32
of the connector 30 at the secondary injection hole location 201. Seals 46, such as
o-rings or c-seals, may be sealably disposed between the tubular body 40 and the first
surface 21 and between the protrusion 45 and the second end 32 of the connector 30.
The tubular injection hole 400 permits fluid communication between an exterior of
the outer vessel 11 and the main flowpath 120.
[0013] In accordance with embodiments, at an inlet end of the tubular body 40, the tubular
body 40 may include a flange 47. The annular base 20 may include an exterior facing
surface 28 that faces radially outwardly and away from the main flowpath 120. This
exterior facing surface 28 may have a fastening surface 280 formed thereon at the
injection hole location 200 where the exterior facing surface 28 is machined to be
flat and/or smooth and therefore configured for mating with the flange 47. Where bolt
42 is employed to fasten the tubular body 40 to the annular base 20, the bolt 42 extends
through both the flange 47 and the fastening surface 280 of the exterior facing surface
28.
[0014] The tubular body 40, the connector 30, the protrusion 25 and the annular base 20
may cooperatively define a plenum 50. The tubular body 40 is further formed to define
an additional injection hole 401 for permitting fluid communication between an interior
of the plenum 50 and the tubular injection hole 400. The additional injection hole
401 may be defined as a plurality of additional injection holes 401, which are arrayed
about the tubular injection hole 400 of the tubular body 40 at the plenum 50. Separation
between adjacent additional injection holes 401 may be uniform or non-uniform.
[0015] Where the injection apparatus 10 is attachable to an impingement sleeve or another
similar feature of a turbomachine, the plenum 50 may be supplied with fuel and the
exterior of the outer vessel 11 may include compressed air, such as compressor discharge
air that is produced by a compressor of the turbomachine. In these cases, the compressed
air flows through the tubular injection hole 400 and entrains a flow of the fuel from
the plenum 50 into the tubular injection hole 400. The fuel is thereby mixed with
the compressed air and injected into the main flowpath 120 as a fuel/air mixture.
As such, the injection apparatus 10 may be employed as part of an axially staged injection
system of a turbomachine or, more particularly, as part of a late lean injection (LLI)
system of the turbomachine. In the latter case, the fuel/air mixture may be lean such
that combustion of the fuel/air mixture within the main flowpath 120 serves to reduce
the production and subsequent emission of pollutants, such as oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
[0016] The annulus defined between the outer vessel 11 and the inner vessel 12 is generally
supported by support structures 60, such as a-spacers arrayed about the inner vessel
12. In accordance with embodiments, these support structures 60 may be disposed between
an exterior facing surface of the inner vessel 12 and the interior facing surface
26 of the annular base 20.
[0017] In accordance with aspects of the invention, the injection hole location 200 (and
the accompanying structures as described above) may be provided as a plurality of
injection hole locations 200. In these cases, the plural injection hole locations
200 may be arrayed about the outer vessel 11 and the inner vessel 12 as non-axisymmetric
features. Separation between adjacent injection hole locations 200 may be uniform
or non-uniform. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, four injection hole locations
200 may be clustered about respective lower portions of the outer vessel 11 and the
inner vessel 12.
[0018] The invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only
limited by the scope of the appended claims.
1. An injection apparatus, comprising:
an annular base (20) defining an injection hole location (200) and having a protrusion
(25) about the injection hole location (200);
said protrusion (25) extending from an interior facing surface (26) of the annular
base (20) and perimetrically about the injection hole location (200);
a connector (30) having a first end (31) fastened to a distal end of the protrusion
(25) perimetrically about the injection hole location (200) and a second end (32);
and
a tubular body (40) formed to define an injection hole (400), the tubular body (40)
being sealably fastened to the annular base (20) at the injection hole location (200)
and having a protrusion (45) sealably fastened to the second end (32) of the connector
(30); wherein
the tubular body (40), the connector (30), the protrusion (25) of the annular base
(20) and the annular base (20) cooperatively define a plenum (50), which is communicative
with the injection hole (400).
2. The injection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the annular base (20) includes
an exterior facing surface (28) having a fastening surface (280) formed thereon at
the injection hole location (200).
3. The injection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising seals (46) disposed
between the tubular body (40) and the annular base (20) and between the connector
(30) and the protrusion (45) of the tubular body (40).
4. The injection apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tubular body
(40) is further formed to define a plurality of additional injection holes (401) configured
for fluid communication between an interior of the plenum (50) and the injection hole
(400).
5. The injection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the additional injection holes
(401) are arrayed about a circumference of the injection hole (400) defined by the
tubular body (40).
6. The injection apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an outer
vessel (11) disposed about an inner vessel (12) formed to define a main flowpath (120),
wherein the annular base (20) is fastened to the outer vessel (11) and the injection
hole (400) permits communication between an exterior of the outer vessel (11) and
the main flowpath (120).
7. The injection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the outer vessel (11) comprises
an impingement sleeve of a turbomachine transition piece.
8. The injection apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the plenum (50) is supplied
with fuel and the exterior of the outer vessel (11) comprises compressed air.
9. The injection apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the annular base
(20) is fastened to the outer vessel (11) by one or more of bolting, welding, sealing
and butt welding.
10. The injection apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 9, further comprising support
structures (60) to support the annular base (20) on the inner vessel (12).
11. The injection apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a plurality
of injection hole locations (200) defined in the annular base (20).
12. The injection apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the injection hole locations
(200) are non-uniformly separated from one another.
13. The injection apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the injection hole locations
(200) are clustered.
1. Einspritzvorrichtung, umfassend:
eine ringförmige Basis (20), die eine Einspritzöffnungsposition (200) definiert, mit
einer um die Einspritzöffnungsposition (200) herum angeordneten Auskragung;
wobei die Auskragung (25) von einer nach innen gerichteten Oberfläche (26) der ringförmigen
Basis (20) ausgeht und um die Einspritzöffnungsposition (200) herum angeordnet ist;
einen Anschluss (30) mit einem ersten Ende (31), befestigt an einem distalen Ende
der Auskragung (25) um die Einspritzöffnungsposition herum (200), und einem zweiten
Ende (32); und
einen rohrförmigen Körper (40), geformt, um eine Einspritzöffnung (400) zu definieren,
wobei der rohrförmige Körper (40) abdichtend an der ringförmigen Basis (20) der Einspritzöffnungsposition
(200) befestigt ist und eine Auskragung (45) hat, die abdichtend an dem zweiten Ende
(32) des Anschlusses (30) befestigt ist; wobei
der rohrförmige Körper (40), der Anschluss (30), die Auskragung (25) der ringförmigen
Basis (20) und die ringförmige Basis (20) gemeinsam eine Kammer (50) definieren, welche
mit der Einspritzöffnung (400) in Verbindung steht.
2. Einspritzvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die ringförmige Basis (20) eine nach außen
weisende Oberfläche (28) mit einer darauf ausgebildeten Befestigungsfläche (280) an
der Einspritzöffnungsposition (200) hat.
3. Einspritzvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, ferner umfassend Dichtungen (46) zwischen
dem rohrförmigen Körper (40) und der ringförmigen Basis (20) sowie zwischen dem Anschluss
(30) und der Auskragung (45) des rohrförmigen Körpers (40).
4. Einspritzvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei der rohrförmige Körper
(40) ferner ausgeformt ist, um mehrere zusätzliche Einspritzöffnungen (401) zur Fluidverbindung
zwischen einer Innenseite der Kammer (50) und der Einspritzöffnung (400) zu definieren.
5. Einspritzvorrichtung nach Anspruch 4, wobei die zusätzlichen Einspritzöffnungen (401)
um einen Umfang der Einspritzöffnung (400), definiert durch den rohrförmigen Körper
(40), angeordnet sind.
6. Einspritzvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, ferner umfassend einen äußeren
Behälter (11), welcher um einen inneren Behälter (12) herum ausgebildet ist, um einen
Hauptströmungsweg (120) zu definieren, wobei die ringförmige Basis (20) am äußeren
Behälter (11) befestigt ist und die Einspritzöffnung (400) die Kommunikation zwischen
einem Außenbereich um den äußeren Behälter (11) herum und dem Hauptströmungsweg (120)
ermöglicht.
7. Einspritzvorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, wobei der äußere Behälter (11) eine Prallhülse
eines Übergangsteils einer Strömungsmaschine umfasst.
8. Einspritzvorrichtung nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, wobei die Kammer (50) mit Kraftstoff
versorgt wird und der Außenbereich um den äußeren Behälter (11) Druckluft enthält.
9. Einspritzvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 6 bis 8, wobei die ringförmige Basis
(20) durch Anschrauben, Schweißen, Versiegeln und/oder Stumpfschweißen am äußeren
Behälter (11) befestigt ist.
10. Einspritzvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 6 bis 9, ferner umfassend Stützvorrichtungen
(60), um die ringförmige Basis (20) auf dem inneren Behälter (12) abzustützen.
11. Einspritzvorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, ferner umfassend mehrere
in der ringförmigen Basis (20) definierte Einspritzöffnungspositionen (200).
12. Einspritzvorrichtung nach Anspruch 11, wobei die Einspritzöffnungspositionen (200)
uneinheitlich voneinander beabstandet sind.
13. Einspritzvorrichtung nach Anspruch 11, wobei die Einspritzöffnungspositionen (200)
in Gruppen angeordnet sind.
1. Un appareillage d'injection, comprenant :
une base annulaire (20) ménageant un endroit pour un orifice d'injection (200) et
ayant une protubérance (25) autour de l'endroit de l'orifice d'injection (200) ; ladite
protubérance (25) s'étendant de la surface tournée vers l'intérieur (26) de la base
annulaire (20) et sur le périmètre autour de l'endroit de l'orifice d'injection (200)
;
un connecteur (30) ayant une première extrémité (31) fixée à une extrémité distale
de la protubérance (25) sur le périmètre autour de l'endroit de l'orifice d'injection
troué (200) et une seconde extrémité (32) ; et
un corps tubulaire (40) formé pour définir un orifice d'injection (400), le corps
tubulaire (40) étant fixé de manière étanche à la base annulaire (20) à l'endroit
de l'orifice d'injection (200) et ayant une protubérance (45) fixée de manière étanche
à la seconde extrémité (32) du connecteur (30) ; dans lequel
le corps tubulaire (40), le connecteur (30), la protubérance (25) de la base annulaire
(20) et la base annulaire (20) coopèrent pour définir un plenum (50) qui est en communication
avec l'orifice d'injection (400).
2. L'appareillage d'injection selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la base annulaire
(20) inclut une surface tournée vers l'extérieur (28) ayant une surface de fixation
(280) formée dessus à l'endroit de l'orifice d'injection (200).
3. L'appareillage d'injection selon la revendication 1 ou 2 comprenant en outre des joints
(46) disposés entre le corps tubulaire (40) et la base annulaire (20) et entre le
connecteur (30) et la protubérance (45) du corps tubulaire (40).
4. L'appareillage d'injection selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel
le corps tubulaire est en outre formé pour définir une pluralités d'orifices d'injection
additionnels (401) configurés pour une communication fluidique entre un intérieur
du plenum (50) et l'orifice d'injection (400).
5. L'appareillage d'injection selon la revendication 4, dans lequel les orifices d'injection
additionnels (401) sont alignés le long d'une circonférence de l'orifice d'injection
(400) défini par le corps tubulaire (40).
6. L'appareillage d'injection selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, comprenant
en outre une enceinte extérieure (11) disposée autour d'un enceinte intérieure (12)
formé pour définir un trajet de flux principal (120), où la base annulaire (20) est
fixée à l'enceinte extérieure (11) et l'orifice d'injection (400) permet la communication
entre un extérieur de l'enceinte extérieure (11) et le trajet de flux principal (120).
7. L'appareillage d'injection selon la revendication 6, dans lequel l'enceinte extérieure
(11) comprend un manchon de heurt d'une pièce de transition de turbomachine.
8. L'appareillage d'injection selon la revendication 6 ou 7, dans lequel le plenum (50)
est alimenté en carburant et l'extérieur de l'enceinte extérieure (11) comprend de
l'air comprimé.
9. L'appareillage d'injection selon une quelconque des revendications 6 à 8, dans lequel
la base annulaire (20) est fixée à l'enceinte extérieure (11) par l'un ou l'autre
d'un vissage, soudage, scellement et soudage bout-à-bout.
10. L'appareillage d'injection selon une quelconque des revendications 6 à 9, comprenant
en outre des structures supports (60) pour monter la base annulaire (20) sur l'enceinte
interne (12).
11. L'appareillage d'injection selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant
en outre une pluralité d'orifices d'injection (200) définis dans la base annulaire
(20).
12. L'appareillage d'injection selon la revendication 11, dans lequel les endroits des
orifices d'injection (200) sont non uniformément séparés l'un de l'autre.
13. L'appareillage d'injection selon la revendication 11, dans lequel les endroits des
orifices d'injection (200) sont groupés.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description