FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a burner component and more particularly to a burner
through which dual fluids are provided, particularly dual fuel, for combustion in
a turbomachine, particularly a gas turbine engine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In a gas turbine engine typically ambient air may be compressed by a compressor section
and provided to a combustor in which the substantially ambient air will be mixed fuel,
the mixture being combusted in a combustion chamber of the combustor, to provide a
driving force for a subsequent turbine section - an expansion turbine - in which a
hot fluid from the combustor will drive rotor blades of the turbine to drive again
one or several shafts. One of the shafts is typically connected to rotor blades of
the expansion turbine - turbine rotor blades - and also to rotor blades of the compressor
section - compressor rotor blades - so that fluidic forces generated by the combustor
and acting upon the turbine rotor blades result directly in revolution of that shaft
and the connected compressor rotor blades, which lead to - due to interaction with
guide vanes of the compressor and due to reduced cross sectional area of the fluidic
path in the compressor - to compression of the ambient air.
[0003] As explained, compressed ambient air and fuel is provided to the combustor. Typically
the compressed air is swirled - via a swirler or a swirl generator - and fuel is injected
into the swirled air to provide a well mixed fluid. This air/fuel mixture is ignited
and burned in a combustion chamber of the combustor. In gas turbine engines a continuous
combustion takes place in which constantly an air/fuel mixture is provided and burned
such that a stable flame is formed in the combustion chamber.
[0004] Different types of fuels have different combustion properties. Modern combustors
of stationary gas turbine engines are designed to operate with different types of
fuel and in a broad range of working modes. Even though a combustor may be designed
for a specific fuel type, for example natural gas from a specific source of delivery,
it may be possible to operate the combustor with different fuels. Nevertheless the
risk for instable combustion or flashbacks may increase.
[0005] During startup of the gas turbine engine, it is common to supply so called pilot
fuel to guarantee a stable flame. The pilot fuel may be injected at a different position
into the combustion space. The pilot fuel may possibly also be a different fuel type,
e.g. liquid fuel, while a so called main fuel is natural gas. When the engine reaches
full load operation pilot fuel may not be needed anymore and can be shut off or at
least reduced.
[0006] A variety of burner designs, different fuel supply and air supply to burners, and
cooling features of burners are known from prior art documents in a lot of different
configurations. For example patent application
EP 2 489 939 A1 discloses a tip of a fuel lance in which a pilot fuel channel is surrounded by a
helical cooling channel to cool the lance tip. Said document discloses the preamble
of claim 1.
[0007] According to
US 2014/0202163 A1 annular channels are incorporated in an effusion plate and are wrapped around a fuel
nozzle. One reason for this design is to provide improved cooling.
[0008] EP 2 604 919 A1 is directed to a fuel nozzle in which two fuels are mixed. Walls may be corrugated
and twisted for good mixing.
[0009] According to
EP 2 107 300 A1 a fuel tube may be provided to deliver gaseous fuel to a swirler. The fuel tube may
have an outer surface with grooves and several fuel ejection holes along the expanse
of the fuel tube. The outer surface of the fuel tubes may show helical grooves. This
implementation allows to generate small vortices of injected fuel in the grooves and
therefore enhancing turbulence of the flow of the fuel for improving mixing with air
that passes along the outside around the fuel tube.
[0010] US 2 978 870 A discloses a fuel injector in which fuel is ejected via orifices in stages. The orifices
are provided by individual channels separated by partitions. The orifices may vary
in size.
[0011] According to patent publication
US 2015/0135716 A1 an anti-coking liquid fuel cartridge is known, including a main fuel passage, a pilot
fuel passage and air channels surrounding the pilot fuel passage. The pilot fuel may
be delivered via pilot fuel helix pipes, which are intertwined in a hollow body to
allow different thermal expansion. Cooling air surrounds the pilot fuel helix pipes.
[0012] When designing a burner dimensioning and positioning of fuel injection holes is widely
performed in consideration of operation on natural gas of a specific gas composition.
When operating with different fuel with the same burner design, a stable combustion
may require changes in some burner design properties, for example to have a larger
effective area for gas injection in case of low calorific value gases, geometry modifications
to adapt to physical properties - e.g. physical properties like gas density, diffusivity,
reactivity, mixing time - of the different fuel types. In some incidents maybe also
a richer air/fuel mixture will be configured, i.e. a higher percentage of fuel in
the air/fuel mixture. The latter may be in conflict with an approach called Dry Low
Emission (DLE), in which a lean combustion is performed to reduce emissions, like
NOx. Additionally, a richer combustion may result in unwanted coking of surfaces.
In other configuration, often the overall air/fuel mixture is the same as the compressor
air flow and the gas fuel energy flow are unchanged even if using different gases.
[0013] Different gases as fuels usually have different physical properties from natural
gas - e.g. propane has higher density, hydrogen has higher diffusivity and reactivity.
Nevertheless good premixing is wanted for different gaseous or liquid fuels.
[0014] It may often be desirable - e.g. for reactive fuel like hydrogen - to reduce the
mixing time or residence time (defined as time for the gas molecule to move from the
injection point to the flame front). This otherwise would result that there is less
premixing and therefore locally there will be pockets with richer air/fuel mixtures
and also leaner air/fuel mixtures.
[0015] Using a different type of fuel in a burner not designed for this type of fuel could
lead to combustion instabilities, flashbacks, attachment of the flame on burner metal
surfaces, combustion noise, or mechanical vibrations.
[0016] Thus, a safe approach to use a different type of fuel would be to replace the burner
which is designed for one specific type of fuel with an optimized burner design for
the other type of fuel.
[0017] There is the goal to achieve fuel flexibility without replacing of burner components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The present invention seeks to mitigate the mentioned drawbacks.
[0019] This objective is achieved by the features of independent claim 1. The dependent
claims describe advantageous developments and modifications of the invention.
[0020] In accordance with the invention there is provided a burner component according to
claim 1.
[0021] Thus, the burner component is configured to supply preferably at least one type of
fuel via one of the fuel channels while the other fuel channel, if not supplied with
fuel, is purged via purge air. It may be possible to supply fuel via both mentioned
fuel channels at the same time. The term "purge fluid", "purging fluid", "purge air"
or "purging air" is used in this context to define a fuel channel that is not supplied
with fuel at a given mode of operation but supplied with a non-reactive fluid or air.
The non-reactive fluid or air is not used for cooling or primarily intended for combustion
but only to flush the fuel channel to keep the fuel channel free from combustible
products. In this context it is clear that the defined first fuel channel and second
fuel channel are not cooling air passages or air passages to provide the main air
for combustion but are fuel passages that may provide fuel but may also be inactive
at another point in time (and therefore flushed via purge air).
[0022] With "burner space" not only the main combustion chamber is considered, but also
a mixing chamber or swirler passages.
[0023] Thus, the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel are arranged in a twisted
or intertwined manner, so that fluid travelling through one of the channels follows
a helical path through the burner component.
[0024] As the burner component comprises a helically shaped separating barrier between the
first fluid fuel channel and the second fluid fuel channel, in consequence also the
first fluid channel forms a helically shaped fluid passage and the second fluid channel
forms another helically shaped fluid passage, both embedded in the burner component.
[0025] A barrier "between" the first fuel channel and the second fuel channel is understood
in the context of this invention as that the barrier is the only element between the
fluids that are guided through the fuel channels. The first fuel channels and the
second fuel channels are directly connected to another via the barrier.
[0026] "Barrier" in the context of the invention is solid component. Typically you would
also call it a wall of the burner component.
[0027] The invention allows guiding of two different fluids in a very compact cross-section.
Furthermore it allows to integrate fluid channels into a solid component so that no
external pipes need to be attached to an exterior of a burner component. That means
that the two fluid channels may be integrally formed with the burner component.
[0028] Preferably the helically shaped separating barrier, the first fuel channel and the
second fuel channel - each of these mentioned elements - may expand helically around
and along a common centre line. "Common centre line" meaning a centre line for all
three mentioned elements.
[0029] The invention is particularly advantageous if the fluid channels have exit holes
- the mentioned first and second holes - through which the delivered fluid can exit
the burner component for being injected into a combustion space or into a passage
through which air travels. By this compact fluid channel design the exit holes can
be located very close to another which would not be possible if two standard pipes
would be used. Furthermore, due to the helical design of two distinct fluid channels,
the exit holes positions and exit holes sizes can be optimised for different fuel
types, e.g. the first fluid channel and its exit holes are designed for supply natural
gas of a specific type and the second fluid channel and its exit holes are designed
for a different fuel, e.g. hydrogen, a different natural gas, liquid fuel of specific
composition, diesel. In consequence, the same burner component can be used to operate
the gas turbine engine with two different fuel types. No hardware adaptations are
needed if the operation is switched from one fuel type to another.
[0030] This design can even be extended for three or more fluid channels, which all are
twisted to another. This would allow a wide range of operation in respect of fuel
flexibility.
[0031] Preferably the burner component is a part of a combustor of a gas turbine engine,
particularly a swirler vane or swirler wing which is also used to inject fuel into
a to be swirled further fluid - e.g. compressed air - or a fuel lance for a burner
to inject fuel into a burner space. The swirler vane or wing may be preferably a solid
component into which the two fluid channels are formed as passages.
[0032] While the primary goal of a swirler may be to generate swirl on compressed air, a
lot of times swirlers provide fuel injection holes to inject fuel into the to be swirled
compressed air stream. A swirler comprises vanes or wings that have an exterior shape
to guide or direct fluids between adjacent vanes or wings, and according to the invention
the burner component may be such a swirler vane or wing or may be a part of such component.
[0033] A fuel lance may be of an elongated form, for example cylindrical, and allows egress
of delivered fluids into a burner space or a passage into which the fuel lance extends.
According to the invention the delivery of different fluids through the interior of
the fuel lance is reduced in footprint. And again, exit holes dimensioning and positioning
can be optimised of the given fluid type that will be passed through the respective
fluid channel. The fuel lance may be preferably a solid component into which the two
fluid channels are formed as passages.
[0034] It may be advantageous that particularly DLE (dry low emission) burners can maintain
its high capabilities on natural gas compositions but in parallel allows to expand
its operation to other gas compositions without having the geometrical and structural
limits imposed by the natural gas injection holes. A customer can easily switch between
the fluids depending on the fluid that is operated. This feature therefore allows
to expand the accepted fuel flexibility range, meaning for example a larger range
of Wobbe index or a larger range of hydrogen concentration, which may be a limiting
factor in prior art designs in which only one fuel line with specific exit holes are
provided. In operation and in accordance with the invention, an operation with two
different fuels will not negatively affect NOx emissions in either mode of operation,
as the exit holes can be positioned and sized in a substantially optimal way.
[0035] In the following the inventive concept is discussed in more detail, including discussion
of variations and specific embodiments.
[0036] The burner component may have a solid component into which the first fuel channel
and the second fuel channel may be formed as slots or channels. That means that the
boundary walls of the fuel channels may be merely formed by the solid component. No
additional jacket is required for the first fuel channel or the second fuel channel.
Also, the fluid channels are therefore not loose components embedded in a surrounding
hollow component but the fluid channels are merely hollow regions of the solid component
into which the fluid channels are formed.
[0037] The helically shaped separating barrier may be part of the solid component.
[0038] In consequence of the form of the helically shaped separating barrier, the first
fluid channel may itself be a helically shaped first fluid channel and the second
fluid channel may itself be a helically shaped second fluid channel.
[0039] According to an embodiment helically shaped separating barrier may be twisted around
a centre line and further walls of the first fluid channel and of the second fluid
channel follow together substantially a tubular shape. Particularly both channels
may form substantially a circular overall cross section. The centre line may be straight
line, e.g. for a cylindrical fuel lance, but alternatively the centre line may follow
a more complex path.
[0040] One option would also be that the centre line is a circle, e.g. if the fluid channels
are integrated in a cylindrical burner tip via which fuel is provided into a burner
space. Available space in the cylindrical burner tip may be limited and the invention
allows to integrate a fuel rail or fuel manifold - generally called "fuel channeled
path" - for more than one fluid into the burner tip. The exit holes may be distributed
along a circumference of the burner tip.
[0041] In this latter case of a distribution along a circular burner tip the helicoid structure
preferably evolves horizontally instead of vertically, when the burner tip lies in
a horizontal plane. The helicoidal separation wall between the two fluid passages
within the available fuel channeled path may allow the use of additive manufacturing
also when developed horizontally. A confining wall for the thread may be preferably
not cylindrical, instead the two threaded passages should have preferably a circular
section area. Such a vertical helicoid could be useful when the fuel or gas holes
for the two different fluids or fuels need to be placed along a vertical line.
[0042] As said, exit holes size and positioning can be adapted to the specific fuel type
which is anticipated to be provided during operation.
[0043] In an embodiment more than two holes of the at least one first hole of the first
fluid channel may be arranged substantially on a straight line. Additionally or alternatively
more than two holes of the at least one second hole of the second fluid channel may
be arranged also on a straight line. The mentioned two straight lines may be optionally
a common straight line. Note that deviations from a perfect straight line obviously
are also possible.
[0044] The geometrical orientation of the at least one first hole and of the at least one
second hole may be the same, i.e. the direction of the holes into the burner space
is identical.
[0045] This is particularly advantageous in case that the burner component is part of a
swirler vane as the direction of injection into a passing by air flow may be from
a preferred angle, for example an injection of fuel into a perpendicular air flow
through a swirler passage between two swirler vanes.
[0046] Nevertheless there may be also examples to not align all holes on a line. For a cylindrical
fuel lance it may be advantageous to have the at least one first hole and of the at
least one second hole distributed around the circumference. So at least two of the
at least one first hole may be arranged on a spiral manner.
[0047] In an embodiment the plurality of holes of the at least one first hole may define
a first surface pattern of outlets on a surface of the burner component, and the plurality
of holes of the at least one second hole may define a second surface pattern of outlets
on a surface of the burner component A first layout of the first surface pattern and
a second layout of the second surface pattern may be different to another. "Layout"
is understood as distribution of holes on a surface, a number of holes, and distances
between adjacent holes. Possibly the first fuel may have advantageously a specific
number of exit holes in a specific distance to another to allow optimal operation
- i.e. low NOx emission, stable combustion without flashbacks, etc. - with the first
fuel, whereas a different number of exit holes and/or different specific distances
will be used for the second fluid channel for operation with a second fluid, so to
guarantee also optimal operation for the second fluid.
[0048] If all of the at least one first hole have identical size this would mean that possibly
different amount of fuel is ejected due to different local pressure of the first fluid
within the first channel. To configure proper amount of ejected fuel considering a
given pressure for the supply of the first fluid, several of the at least one first
hole may have different first hole diameters. Additionally or alternatively also the
passage cross section of the first channel can be reduced in size along a length of
the first channel.
[0049] If the at least one first hole has a first hole diameter and the at least one second
hole has a second hole diameter, the second hole diameter may be different to the
first hole diameter, possibly optimised for the selected first and second fluid. For
example, considering the holes are arranged in an order in direction of a fluid flow
through the respective fluid channels, an initial hole of the at least one first hole
may have a different diameter than an initial hole of the at least one second hole,
a consecutive hole of the at least one first hole may have a different diameter than
a consecutive hole of the at least one second hole, and so forth.
[0050] Not yet mentioned, but the manufacturing of the burner component could be complex.
Therefore it is proposed that the separating barrier is integrally formed within the
burner component and produced via additive manufacturing, sometimes called 3D printing.
Preferably a powder based system may be considered, like selective laser melting (SLM)
or selective laser sintering, wherein successive layers are selectively fused to build
a body of the burner component. Particularly walls of the first fluid channel, wall
of the second fluid channel, and the helically shaped separating barrier are physically
fused together, while void spaces forming conduits for the first fluid channel, the
second fluid channel, the at least one first hole, and the at least one second hole
will only be filled temporarily with loose powder which will be removed again during
the manufacturing process.
[0051] As already indicated, the invention is directed to at least two channels that are
twisted about another. This results in intertwined channels.
[0052] The channels may be arranged in form of a double helix. The term "double helix" is
used for two intertwined helices that are arranged about a common axis. Using a terminology
that is common in the field of threads, e.g. for screws and bolts, this twisted design
defines a double-start - for two intertwined helices - or a multiple-start thread
- the latter for multiple intertwined helices. The "start" can be considered the inlets
to the fluid channels at a supply end.
[0053] "Double-start" means that exactly two channels are part of the twisted design. In
other words, two helically shaped separating barriers are turned around a central
line of symmetry and define the separating barrier. A "double-start thread" may also
be called "double thread screw".
[0054] "Multiple-start" means that multiple channels are part of the twisted design. In
consequence also multiple helically shaped separating barriers are turned around a
central line of symmetry and define the separating barrier.
[0055] Other terminology from the field of threads to define this design are "lead" and
"pitch". "Lead" defines the distance taken in direction of the central line until
when a specific fluid has performed one complete 360° rotation about the central line.
"Pitch" defines substantially the distance taken in direction of the central line
between the two barriers. "Pitch" is the distance from a crest of one thread of the
separating barrier to the next crest.
[0056] So far it has been mentioned that the separating barrier is twisted about a central
line. In this case the shape is quite equal to a helicoid as defined in Geometry as
mathematical science.
[0057] Thus the separating barrier may comprise at least two helicoid walls twisted around
a common centre line, the two helicoid walls being displaced to another along the
common centre line. This may also be called "closed right ruled generalized helicoid".
[0058] It may also be that the separating barrier is wrapped around a central cylinder.
In this case the shape is similar to a cylinder with an external thread applied on
its lateral surface.
[0059] The invention is not only directed to a burner component, but also to a burner as
such, particularly a burner of a gas turbine engine. Such a burner may have multiple
swirler vanes which are arranged according to the previously explained design. The
swirler vanes may be arranged about a burner axis and define swirler passages for
air into which the first fluid is provided via the first fluid channel and a second
fluid is provided via the second fluid channel, both fluids being injected into the
swirler passages during operation.
[0060] The swirler vanes may be arranged about a burner axis. The swirler may be an axial
or a radial swirler. Alternatively the swirlers may be angled such that to the burner
axis.
[0061] Additionally or alternatively to these swirler vanes, such a burner may have a fuel
lance that is equipped with the inventive fluid channel design.
[0062] Furthermore the inventive features can also be used in a fuel rail embedded in a
body of the burner.
[0063] Several swirlers and/or a fuel lance may be generated on one common additive manufacturing
generation process. If the swirlers are angled in respect of a burner axis - and the
burner axis being a vertical to the base plate - the helicoids may not be generated
vertically to the base plate but with a slight angle. A 25° deviation from the vertical
may be possible so that the gentle overhung structures can be generated, as each layer
of the layer by layer generation shows only a slight overhang.
[0064] It may be noted that even though the first fuel channel is defined to guide a first
fuel during operation, there may be modes of operation in which this first fuel channel
is purged with air or another non-reactive gas or fluid during which no fuel is delivered.
Nevertheless the first fuel channel is designed to deliver a fuel, i.e. the first
fuel. A similar explanation would be valid for the second fuel channel and the second
fuel.
[0065] Fuel can be provided only via a single one of the fluid channels at a given time,
the other channel being purged with air or non-reactive fluid.
[0066] In another mode operation both fluid channels may be used to supply a main fuel via
the first fluid channel and a pilot fuel via the second fluid channel.
[0067] In another mode operation both fluid channels may be used to supply a gaseous fuel
- e.g. natural gas - via the first fluid channel and a another type of fuel - e.g.
liquid fuel - via the second fluid channel.
[0068] In another mode operation both fluid channels may be used to supply the same type
of fuel via both fluid channels, but the amount of supply being separately controllable.
[0069] Furthermore, one of the fluid channels can also be used to inject water into a burner
space.
[0070] The term "purging air" is used to indicate that the respective channel shall be evacuated
from a previously used fuel and that no fluid enters the respective channel via its
exit holes in an opposite direction. Nevertheless the fluid channels can be used to
specifically to inject air into the burner space to modify the swirl in the burner
or to change intentionally a local fuel concentration in the burner space.
[0071] It has to be noted that embodiments of the invention have been described with reference
to different subject matters. In particular, some embodiments have been described
with reference to apparatus type claims whereas other embodiments have been described
with reference to method type claims. However, a person skilled in the art will gather
from the above and the following description that, unless other notified, in addition
to any combination of features belonging to one type of subject matter also any combination
between features relating to different subject matters, in particular between features
of the apparatus type claims and features of the method type claims is considered
as to be disclosed with this application.
[0072] The aspects defined above and further aspects of the present invention are apparent
from the examples of embodiment to be described hereinafter and are explained with
reference to the examples of embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0073] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
- FIG. 1:
- shows schematically a burner component according to the invention;
- FIG. 2:
- shows sectional view of an exemplary burner incorporating the invention;
- FIG. 3:
- shows a detailed sectional view of a section of the burner shown in FIG. 2;
- FIG. 4:
- shows a more detailed sectional view of a section of the burner shown in FIG. 2;
- FIG. 5:
- shows a three dimensional view of the burner shown in FIG. 2 with the inventive fuel
supply at three different locations at the burner.
[0074] The illustration in the drawing is schematical. It is noted that for similar or identical
elements in different figures, the same reference signs will be used.
[0075] Some of the features and especially the advantages will be explained for an assembled
and operating combustor or an assembled and operating gas turbine engine, but obviously
the features can be applied also to the single components of the gas turbine but may
show the advantages only once assembled and during operation. But when explained by
means of a gas turbine during operation none of the details should be limited to a
gas turbine while in operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0076] Referring now to FIG. 1, a burner component 10 is depicted in a simplified embodiment
in a magnified drawing. The further figures then show more realistic embodiments.
Particularly an exterior shape of the burner component 10 is shown in FIG. 1 merely
as a cylinder. This may be true for some real life embodiments, e.g. if the burner
component 10 is a fuel lance, but in other embodiments the exterior shape may be more
complex, e.g. when the burner component 10 is a swirler vane of a passage through
a burner body.
[0077] The burner component 10 shows a helically shaped separating barrier 40 which separates
two fluid channels that are twisted around each other along a centre line 41, which
could be considered to be a central axis.
[0078] The two fluid channels are a first fuel channel 21 (also called first fluid channel
21) and a second fuel channel 22 (also called second fluid channel 22). Each of these
channels define a corkscrew-like channels to guide fluids, likes gases, liquids, or
mixtures of both. At least in one mode of operation these channels 21,22 are configured
to provide fuel in at least of the channels 21,22. The first fluid channel 21 is arranged
to guide a first fluid 23 - indicated by an arrow. The first fluid 23 is particularly
a first fuel, e.g. a gaseous fuel with a specific Wobbe Index and/or further parameters.
The first fluid 23 could also be air, water, or a liquid fuel. The first fluid 23
could be specific kind of natural gas. The second fluid channel 22 is arranged to
guide a second fluid 24 - indicated again by an arrow. The second fluid 24 is particularly
a second fuel, e.g. a gaseous fuel with a different specific Wobbe Index and/or different
further parameters. The second fluid 24 could also be air, water, or a liquid fuel.
The second fluid 24 could be specific kind of natural gas.
[0079] The first fluid 23 and the second fluid 24 are particularly different to another.
[0080] That means that the properties of the first fluid 23 and the second fluid 24 are
different at a specific point in time.
[0081] The second fluid channel 22 is free of passages to the first fluid channel 21. Thus,
the channels are distinct or separate to another. No mixing of the fuels occurs within
the mentioned channels. This allows providing different types of fluids and/or different
amount of fluids through the channels.
[0082] The footprint of the channels, as they are arranged helically, is small so that these
channels can be incorporated in small components.
[0083] The first fluid channel 21 and the second fluid channel 22 are provided to deliver
a fluid to specific locations at a combustor surface so that the delivered fluids
can be ejected into a combustion chamber or any other location - e.g. a passage, like
a swirler passage - within the combustor. To allow ejecting fluids, the burner component
10 comprises at least one first hole 25 - in FIG. 1 only one hole 25 is depicted but
more could be present - to provide a first passage from the first fluid channel 21
through a wall 30 of the burner component 10 for supplying the first fluid 23 into
a burner space 31 during operation. Furthermore, the burner component 10 comprises
at least one second hole 26 - in FIG. 1 two holes 26 are depicted but a different
number could be present - to provide a second passage from the second fluid channel
22 through the wall 30 of the burner component 10 for supplying the second fluid 24
into the burner space 31 during operation.
[0084] The first fluid channel 21 and the second fluid channel 22 are delimited in the shown
example by the wall 30 that follows substantially a tubular shape in which the helically
shaped separating barrier 40 is located. The wall 30 may also have a different form.
[0085] The distribution of the at least one first hole 25 and the at least one second hole
26 may be such that the injection of the guided fluids happens at different locations
into the burner space 31. The locations of these holes may be predefined such that
the burner can adapt to different types of fuels, assuming that a stable combustion
is preferred. Also the size of these holes can be predefined such that the burner
is adapted to different types of fuels. For example a low calorific fuel as a first
type of fluid may be supplied via the first fluid channel 21 while the second fluid
channel 22 is only purged by air. If switchover to a high calorific fuel as a second
type of fluid is wanted, then the first fluid channel 21 may be purged with air and
the second fluid channel 22 can deliver this high calorific fuel. As the locations
and size of the holes are different for both channels, the combustion can be optimised
for both types of fuels.
[0086] This is particularly advantageous for dry low emission (DLE) burners in which a variation
between differently supplied fuels allows stable combustion for the different fuels,
as the hole positions and/or dimensions are optimised in order to avoid combustion
noise or flashback problems. The same burner can be used, but the different fluid
channels will be supplied with different fluids.
[0087] Without the invention, modification of the main gas holes which are optimised in
positioning and/or dimensioning for natural gas. These holes are not optimal for different
fuels. The problem with fixed holes for different fuels is that the gas fuel flexibility
of the burner is limited by the existing main gas holes positioning and/or dimensions.
[0088] According to FIG. 1 the at least one first hole 25 has a first hole diameter 42 and
the at least one second hole 26 has a second hole diameter 43 different to the first
hole diameter 42. Particularly the holes sizes (42 versus 43) may be different by
5% to 40%. The appropriate size may be calculated or determined by experiments.
[0089] According to FIG. 1 the two helically formed fluid channels (21 and 22) extend along
the centre line 41. The distribution of a plurality of the first holes 25 and a plurality
of the second holes 26 is different to another. A first one of the second holes 26
may be in between two consecutive ones of the first holes 25, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0090] The orientation of the holes according to FIG. 1 is in the same direction. That means
that all holes are arranged on a straight line. It may be advantageous though if the
holes may be injecting the fluids into the burner space 31 in a different angle. In
that case at a plurality of the first holes 25 are arranged on a first line, while
the plurality of the second holes 26 are arranged on a second line, wherein these
two lines are not identical.
[0091] According to FIG. 1 the separating barrier 40 comprises at least two helicoid walls
50 and 51 that are twisted around the common centre line 41. The two helicoid walls
50, 51 are displaced to another along the common centre line 41. If this structure
is compared to the technology of threads this configuration would be called a double-start
thread.
[0092] Possibly - but not shown - more than two fluid channels can be twisted about the
centre line 41. This configuration would be called a multiple-start thread.
[0093] It may be advantageous if the separating barrier 40 is integrally formed within the
burner component 10, particularly produced via additive manufacturing. One advantageous
technique is called selective laser melting (SLM). The helicoids shape would be especially
suitable for additive manufacturing because it develops upward in a way that there
is always a lower layer of material available to add the new layer during manufacturing.
[0094] A powder based additive manufacturing process may be performed such that the wall
30 and the helically shaped separating barrier 40 are generated layer by layer such
that powder is distributed and a laser fuses a layer of powder with an underlying
solidified structure. This will be performed repetitively layer by layer. For the
helically shaped separating barrier 40 the laser for fusing of a layer of powder is
slightly repositioned after every layer so that layer by layer a helicoids structure
is generated. The helically shaped separating barrier 40 will be formed as one solid
component together with the wall 30. Further parts of the burner component 10 may
also be generated by additive manufacturing in the same manufacturing process. For
example a complete swirler wing may be generated as one single component. Possibly
even the complete swirler comprised of several swirler wings could be generated in
an additive manufacturing process. Finally, even a complete burner including one or
several of these inventive structures can be generated in an additive manufacturing
process so that the complete burner is one single solid component.
[0095] In reference to FIG. 1 previously the basic concept was explained. The following
figures now show how this solution can be incorporated in different burner designs.
[0096] In FIG. 2 a burner is shown in a sectional view which is attached to a combustion
chamber 309. FIG. 5 shows the same burner in a three dimensional view. The burner
comprises a fuel lance 304 and a swirler with swirler wings 303. Via the fuel lance
304 a central gaseous fuel may be provided via holes 301 located at the fuel lance
304. The swirler wings 303 - also called as swirler vanes - define passages for air
between the swirler wings 303. So called main gaseous fuel may be provided via holes
300 on the swirler wings 303. Both, the fuel lance 304 and the swirler wings 303,
or each element individually, can be equipped with a helicoid fuel supply as explained
in accordance with FIG. 1.
[0097] The exemplary burner of FIG.2 and FIG. 5 shows further downstream a mixer 305 in
which the air and fuel can continue to mix. Holes 306 for air may be located at a
surrounding wall of the mixer 305. These holes 306 allow to generate a film cooling
effect, as expressed by arrows for film cooling air 307. A burner tip 308 follows
the mixer 305. A wall of the burner tip 308 may optionally also be equipped with a
helicoid fuel supply for pilot fuel as explained in accordance with FIG. 1. Therefore
pilot fuel could be guided via inner channels or inner manifolds embedded in a body
of the burner tip 308. Pilot fuel injectors 302, provided with fuel via the embedded
helicoids fuel supply (which is not shown in FIG.2 but later indicated in FIG. 5)
are also indicated in FIG. 2.
[0098] In operation a main flame 310 and pilot flames 311 will be established within the
combustion chamber 309.
[0099] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross section of the swirler. In FIG. 3 the swirler wings
are referenced by numeral 100. Each swirler wing 100 is burner component 10, as previously
introduced. One swirler wing 100 at the top of the figure shows a cross section of
the two twisted fluid channels 21 and 22, as introduced in accordance with FIG. 1.
A second cross section is shown for a further swirler wing 100 which is position at
a downward position in FIG. 3. The latter swirler wing 100 also shows several first
holes 25 and several second holes 26. In the example, and depicted from left to right,
two holes 25 follow another, and afterwards the holes 25 and 26 are arranged alternatingly.
This is just an example how the holes could be positioned differently to another.
[0100] A third swirler wing 100 is shown substantially in the middle of the FIG.3. For that
swirler wing 100, which is not shown in a sectional view as its position is behind
the drawing plane, only the holes 25 and 26 are shown on a surface of the swirler
wing 100. In the example all holes are arranged on a common line on the surface of
the swirler wing 100. To better understand the orientation of the different swirler
wings 100, FIG. 5 should be consulted.
[0101] As seen in FIG. 3 the two fluid channels 21 and 22 have different cooling holes positions.
The distance between each of the first holes 25 may be the same for all first holes
25. Alternatively the distance between each of the first holes 25 may change along
a length of the first fluid channel 21. Hole sizes of all the first holes 25 could
possibly be identical, but in a preferred way the hole sizes may be differing along
the length of the first fluid channel 21. The hole sizes may be optimized according
to the flow in the burner space 31 and also to the wanted local pressure in the fluid
channels 21 and 22. Just as a pure example, a first one of a set of first holes 25
may have a diameter of 1.4 mm, a second one of 1.5 mm and a third one of 1.6 mm. Other
values may be appropriate.
[0102] All these just mentioned options - equidistant distances or differing distances of
the holes, as well as hole size options - are also valid for the second holes 26.
[0103] Hole sizes of the first holes 25 and the second holes 26 may be different to another.
For example, the most upstream first hole 25 may have a different diameter than the
most upstream second hole 26, the consecutive next first hole 25 may have a different
diameter than the consecutive next second hole 26, etc.
[0104] According to FIG. 4 a further magnified view of two swirler wings 100 are shown,
including the supply of fuel. Two different fuel supplies are indicated by arrows,
leading into the first fluid channel 21 and the second fluid channel 22. The helicoids
structure inside the swirler wing 100 is indicated in a cross sectional view for one
of the swirler wings 100. For a second swirler wing 100, the helicoid internal structure
for the first fluid channel 21 and the second fluid channel 22 is only indicated by
dashed lines. On that swirler wing 100 the plurality of holes 25 and 26 are indicated.
[0105] Not explicitly shown, the hole sizes of several holes 25 may be different to another,
to guarantee the proper pressure of the first fluid 23 through the holes 25. The hole
sizes of several holes 26 may also be different to another, again to guarantee the
proper pressure of the second fluid 24 through the holes 26.
[0106] FIG. 5 now shows such a burner 105 in a three dimensional view. In a swirler section
101 swirler wings 100 are shown. A burner space 31 may be represented by passages
between the swirler wings 100 and/or by a central void between the swirler wings 100.
The swirler wings 100 again define the burner component 10. Outlet holes 25 and 26
are indicated in one of the swirler wings 100. The internal helicoid first and second
fluid channels (21 and 22) are indicated by dashed lines.
[0107] The mixer 305 including its holes 306 is located in a mixing section 102, followed
by a burner tip section 103.
[0108] In the burner tip section 103, several holes are present that again could be provided
with fluids via helicoid passages.
[0109] A inwardly facing surface of the burner tip section 103 may be equipped with first
holes 25' and second holes 26'. A wall of the burner tip section 103, in which these
holes are located, defined a burner component 10' as defined in accordance with FIG.
1. For example different types of pilot fuel may be provided via the holes 25' and
26'. Alternatively air may be injected via these holes to enhance the turbulence.
As a further option, water or another fluid may be injected via the holes 25' and
26'. This configuration allows injection of a specific fluid via the holes 25' while
another fluid may be injected via holes 26'. An internal helicoid structure is indicated
by a first fluid channel 21' and a second fluid channel 21' via dashed lines.
[0110] Very similar to the previous paragraph, a front face of the burner tip section 103
may also be equipped with first holes 25" and second holes 26''. A wall of the burner
tip section 103, in which these holes are located, defined a burner component 10"
as defined in accordance with FIG. 1. For example different types of pilot fuel may
be provided via the holes 25" and 26''. As a further option, water or another fluid
may be injected via the holes 25" and 26". This configuration allows injection of
a specific fluid via the holes 25" while another fluid may be injected via holes 26''.
An internal helicoid structure is indicated by a first fluid channel 21'' and a second
fluid channel 21" via dashed lines.
[0111] Thus, in FIG.3 three different locations are shown in which the inventive helicoids
structure could be incorporated.
[0112] FIG. 6 shows a different type of burner 105. A swirler vane 100' may be present,
which incorporates a burner component 10, that defines two internal fluid passages
as defined in accordance with FIG. 1. The helicoids fluid channels are indicated by
a fuel supply line with reference numerals 21 and 22 identifying the first fluid channel
21 and the second fluid channel 22.
[0113] The inventive helicoid multi fuel supply can be used for different kinds of burner
designs. As the geometrical expanse of that helicoids structure is small, it can be
included in all kinds of burner components, like fuel lances, fuel rails, swirler
vanes, different body party of a burner.
[0114] The invention is advantageous as at least two different fluids can be provided to
a burner space. For example the invention can use a main gas channel and an additional
main gas channel, the latter to provide the possibility to add extra injection holes
on the burner wings and therefore adapt the hole positioning and/or dimensioning to
the needs of the the transported additional gas. Fuels with slightly different compositions
can be guided through the two distinct channels. The invention is particularly advantageous
if two fuels are supplied with very different properties, like natural gas provided
via the first fluid channel and a highly reactive fuel like hydrogen via the second
fluid channel.
[0115] The holes for injecting fuel into a burner space can be positioned in a way that
a design optimised for natural gas can be left unchanged because the other fuel is
supplied via the other fluid channel. A control software can switch between main fuel
feeding depending on the fuel that needs to be burnt. If one fluid channel is inactive,
it may be purged with air. Purging with air may be performed that no combustion fluids
can enter - by a reverse flow - a channel that is substantially inactive.
[0116] The additive manufacturing allows new opportunities in the possible shapes to be
used for the main gas channels and this invention take advantage of this. The current
space allowed for the main gas channel is therefore divided between the first fluid
and the second fluid without interfering with the injection holes diameter and/or
positioning by using a helicoidally shaped wall between the first and second fluid
channel. The helicoids shape is especially suitable for additive manufacturing because
it develops upward in a way that there is always a lower layer of material available
to add the new layer. The division of two main gas channels by the use of a helicoid
allows to maintain untouched the predesigned natural gas injection holes while adding
extra possible locations for having further injection holes for a second fluid.
[0117] Advanced DLE burners will maintain higher capabilities on natural gas compositions
but at the same time operation can be expanded to other gas compositions without having
limits imposed by the natural gas injection holes. During operation fuel supply can
easily be switched between a first and a second fuel depending on the fuel that is
to be used. The presented features allow expanding an designed fuel flexibility range,
i.e. a larger range of Wobbe index or a larger range of hydrogen concentration, that
would otherwise (if only one single channel is provided in a burner with only one
set of injection holes) be limited by having only one set of fuel injection holes.
A combustor can meet continuously very low NOx emission even when operating on different
fuels, for which different fuel injection holes positions and/or dimensions are needed.
[0118] To recapture, the two fluid channels with different fluid injection holes can be
used for several modes of operation:
- Running a machine on a specific type of fuel but be flexible if a different type of
fuel is provided to the burner (in a switchover during operation or after a restart).
- Both channels can be used during operation, but the fuel supply is controlled based
on the load of the engine. In this situation possibly also the same fuel type is used
but one has the function of a main fuel and one of a pilot fuel, both separately controllable.
- One fluid channel can be used to supply natural gas, one fluid channel is optimised
to supply diesel or another type of fuel, for example hydrogen.
- One fluid channel can be used to supply low Wobbe index fuels, one fluid channel is
optimised for hight Wobbe index fuels.
- The second channel can be initially inactive and be activated, particularly if a low
Wobbe index fuel is supplied via the first channel, during operation once a specific
pressure level in the first channel has been reached.
- One channel can be designed to explicitly guide air to allow air cooling or fuel/air
mixing at locations that were not easily accessible without the invention.
- Optimised combustion in respect of flashbacks and combustion noise particularly due
to defined fuel velocity and to defined heat load of the fuel as a result of specific
hole diameter for the different fluid channels.
- The hole pattern and the hole diameters can be adapted to different physical behaviours
of different fuels.
1. Brennerkomponente (10), insbesondere ein Drallkörper (100) oder eine Brennstofflanze
(304) für einen Brenner eines Gasturbinenmotors, die Folgendes umfasst
- einen ersten Brennstoffkanal (21) zum Leiten eines ersten Fluids (23) während des
Betriebs, wobei das erste Fluid (23) ein erster Brennstoff oder ein Spülfluid ist;
- einen zweiten Brennstoffkanal (22) zum Leiten eines zweiten Fluids (24) während
des Betriebs, wobei das zweite Fluid (24) ein zweiter Brennstoff oder ein Spülfluid
ist, wobei der zweite Brennstoffkanal (22) frei von Durchgängen zum ersten Brennstoffkanal
(21) ist;
- mindestens ein erstes Loch (25) zum Bereitstellen eines ersten Durchgangs vom ersten
Brennstoffkanal (21) durch eine Wand (30) der Brennerkomponente (10) zum Zuführen
des ersten Fluids (23) in einen Brennerraum (31) während des Betriebs;
- mindestens ein zweites Loch (26) zum Bereitstellen eines zweiten Durchgangs vom
zweiten Brennstoffkanal (22) durch die Wand (30) der Brennerkomponente (10) zum Zuführen
des zweiten Fluids (24) in einen Brennerraum (31) während des Betriebs;
wobei die Brennerkomponente (10) ferner eine schraubenförmige Trennbarriere (40) zwischen
dem ersten Brennstoffkanal (21) und dem zweiten Brennstoffkanal (22) umfasst;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Barriere (40) mindestens zwei helikoide Wände (50, 51) umfasst, die rund um eine
gemeinsame Mittellinie (41) gewunden sind, die entlang einer gemeinsamen Mittellinie
(41) zueinander versetzt sind;
wobei die helikoiden Wände (50, 51) zwischen dem ersten Brennstoffkanal (21) und dem
zweiten Brennstoffkanal (22) angeordnet sind, sodass der erste Brennstoffkanal (21)
und der zweite Brennstoffkanal (22) ein zweigängiges Gewinde definieren oder mit weiteren
Fluidkanälen als verschlungene mehrere Helices angeordnet sind,
wobei die helikoiden Wände (50, 51) integral innerhalb der Brennerkomponente (10)
ausgebildet sind und durch additive Fertigung produziert werden.
2. Brennerkomponente (10) nach Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die schraubenförmige Trennbarriere (40) um eine Mittellinie (41) gewunden ist und
innere Oberflächen (32) der Wand (30) des ersten Brennstoffkanals (21) und des zweiten
Brennstoffkanals (22) zusammen im Wesentlichen einer Röhrenform folgen.
3. Brennerkomponente (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
sich die schraubenförmige Trennbarriere (40), der erste Brennstoffkanal (21) und der
zweite Brennstoffkanal (22) schraubenförmig um und entlang einer gemeinsamen Mittellinie
(41) erstrecken.
4. Brennerkomponente (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
mehr als zwei Löcher des mindestens einen ersten Loches (25) auf einer geraden Linie
angeordnet sind; und/oder
mehr als zwei Löcher des mindestens einen zweiten Loches (26) auf einer geraden Linie
angeordnet sind; und/oder mehr als zwei Löcher des mindestens einen ersten Loches
(25) und des mindestens einen zweiten Loches (26) auf einer gemeinsamen geraden Linie
angeordnet sind.
5. Brennerkomponente (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die mehreren Löcher des mindestens einen ersten Loches (25) ein erstes Oberflächenmuster
von Auslässen auf einer Oberfläche der Brennerkomponente (10) definieren, und
die mehreren Löcher des mindestens einen zweiten Loches (26) ein zweites Oberflächenmuster
von Auslässen auf einer Oberfläche der Brennerkomponente (10) definieren, und
ein erstes Layout des ersten Oberflächenmusters und ein zweites Layout des zweiten
Oberflächenmusters verschieden voneinander sind.
6. Brennerkomponente (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
das mindestens eine erste Loch (25) einen ersten Lochdurchmesser (42) aufweist und
das mindestens eine zweite Loch (26) einen zweiten Lochdurchmesser (43) aufweist,
der vom ersten Lochdurchmesser (42) verschieden ist.
7. Brenner (105) für einen Gasturbinenmotor,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
der Brenner mehrere Brennerkomponenten (10) umfasst, die nach einem der Ansprüche
1 bis 6 definiert sind, die als Drallkörper (100) geformt sind,
die Drallkörper (100) um eine Brennerachse angeordnet sind und Durchgänge für Luft
definieren, in die ein erstes Fluid (23), das über den ersten Brennstoffkanal (21)
bereitgestellt wird, und ein zweites Fluid (24), das über den zweiten Brennstoffkanal
(22) bereitgestellt wird, während des Betriebs eingespritzt werden.