The present disclosure relates to a gas turbine engine and, more particularly, to a combustor section therefor.
Gas turbine engines, such as those that power modem commercial and military aircraft, generally include a compressor section to pressurize an airflow, a combustor section to bum a hydrocarbon fuel in the presence of the pressurized air, and a turbine section to extract energy from the resultant combustion gases.
Advanced engine cycles require the combustor section to operate at high compressor exit temperatures. A survey of typical flight envelopes often reveals that high compressor exit temperatures exist with reduced supply pressure at high altitude. These operational conditions result in relatively high convection and radiation heat loads.
Among the engine components, relatively high temperatures are observed in the combustor section such that cooling airflow is provided to meet desired service life requirements. The combustor section typically includes a combustion chamber formed by an inner and outer wall assembly. Each wall assembly includes a support shell lined with heat shields, which are often referred to as liner panels. In certain combustion architectures, dilution passages direct airflow to condition air within the combustion chamber.
In addition to the dilution passages, the shells may have relatively small air impingement passages to direct cooling air to impingement cavities between the support shell and the liner panels. This cooling air exits numerous effusion passages through the liner panels to effusion cool the passages and film cool a hot side of the liner panels to reduce direct exposure to the combustion gases.
A liner panel is provided for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure. This liner panel includes a substrate with a hot side and a cold side; a bond coat on the hot side and/or the cold side of the substrate; and a convective feature on the cold side of the substrate of a material different than a material of the substrate.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the bond coat may coat the cold side, and the convective feature may be on the bond coat on the cold side.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the convective feature may be a convective coating.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the convective coating may form a wave pattern.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the convective coating may form a splatter.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the convective coating may be unevenly applied.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the convective feature may be additively manufactured with the substrate and/or may be of a convective material different than the material of the substrate.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the convective feature may be a pin.
A wall assembly is provided for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine according to another disclosed non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure. This wall assembly includes a shell with a multiple of impingement flow passages; and a liner panel mounted to the shell, where the panel includes a convective feature which faces the shell.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the convective feature may be a convective coating.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the panel may include a bond coating on at least a cold side thereof, and/or the convective coating may be on the bond coating.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the bond coat may be applied to the hot side.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, a thermal barrier coating may be applied to the bond coat on the hot side.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the convective coating may form a wave pattern.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the convective coating may form a splatter.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the convective feature may be additively manufactured with the substrate and of a convective material different than a material which forms a hot side of the liner panel.
A method of cooling a liner panel is provided for a combustor section of a gas turbine engine according to another disclosed non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure. This method includes directing an impingement flow toward a convective feature of a liner panel; and directing an effusion flow though the liner panel.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the method may include directing the effusion flow though the liner panel from an entrance formed in a trough formed by the convective feature.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the method may include forming the convective feature as an uneven surface on a cold side of the liner panel.
In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the method may include additively manufacturing the convective feature.
The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting.
Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed non-limiting embodiments. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:
The engine 20 generally includes a low spool 30 and a high spool 32 mounted for rotation about an engine central longitudinal axis A relative to an engine static structure 36 via several bearing structures 38. The low spool 30 generally includes an inner shaft 40 that interconnects a fan 42, a low pressure compressor (“LPC”) 44 and a low pressure turbine (“LPT”) 46. The inner shaft 40 may drive the fan 42 directly or through a geared architecture 48 as illustrated in
The high spool 32 includes an outer shaft 50 that interconnects a high pressure compressor (“HPC”) 52 and a high pressure turbine (“HPT”) 54. A combustor 56 is arranged between the HPC 52 and the HPT 54. The inner shaft 40 and the outer shaft 50 are concentric and rotate about the engine central longitudinal axis A which is collinear with their longitudinal axes.
Core airflow is compressed by the LPC 44 then the HPC 52, mixed with the fuel and burned in the combustor 56, then expanded over the HPT 54 and the LPT 46. The LPT 46 and HPT 54 rotationally drive the respective low spool 30 and high spool 32 in response to the expansion. The main engine shafts 40, 50 are supported at a plurality of points by the bearing systems 38 within the static structure 36.
In one non-limiting example, the gas turbine engine 20 is a high-bypass geared aircraft engine. In a further example, the gas turbine engine 20 bypass ratio is greater than about six (6:1). The geared architecture 48 can include an epicyclic gear train, such as a planetary gear system or other gear system. The example epicyclic gear train has a gear reduction ratio of greater than about 2.3, and in another example is greater than about 2.5:1. The geared turbofan enables operation of the low spool 30 at higher speeds which can increase the operational efficiency of the LPC 44 and the LPT 46 and render increased pressure in a fewer number of stages.
A pressure ratio associated with the LPT 46 is pressure measured prior to the inlet of the LPT 46 as related to the pressure at the outlet of the LPT 46 prior to an exhaust nozzle of the gas turbine engine 20. In one non-limiting embodiment, the bypass ratio of the gas turbine engine 20 is greater than about ten (10:1), the fan diameter is significantly larger than that of the LPC 44, and the LPT 46 has a pressure ratio that is greater than about five (5:1). It should be understood, however, that the above parameters are only exemplary of one embodiment of a geared architecture engine and that the present disclosure is applicable to other gas turbine engines including direct drive turbofans.
In one embodiment, a significant amount of thrust is provided by the bypass flow path due to the high bypass ratio. The fan section 22 of the gas turbine engine 20 is designed for a particular flight condition—typically cruise at about 0.8 Mach and about 35,000 feet. This flight condition, with the gas turbine engine 20 at its best fuel consumption, is also known as bucket cruise Thrust Specific Fuel Consumption (TSFC). TSFC is an industry standard parameter of fuel consumption per unit of thrust.
Fan Pressure Ratio is the pressure ratio across a blade of the fan section 22 without the use of a Fan Exit Guide Vane system. The low Fan Pressure Ratio according to one non-limiting embodiment of the example gas turbine engine 20 is less than 1.45. Low Corrected Fan Tip Speed is the actual fan tip speed divided by an industry standard temperature correction of (“Tram”/518.7)0.5. The Low Corrected Fan Tip Speed according to one non-limiting embodiment of the example gas turbine engine 20 is less than about 1150 fps (351 m/s).
With reference to
The outer combustor liner assembly 60 is spaced radially inward from an outer diffuser case 64A of the diffuser case module 64 to define an outer annular plenum 76. The inner combustor liner assembly 62 is spaced radially outward from an inner diffuser case 64B of the diffuser case module 64 to define an inner annular plenum 78. It should be understood that although a particular combustor is illustrated, other combustor types with various combustor liner arrangements will also benefit herefrom. It should be further understood that the disclosed cooling flow paths are but an illustrated embodiment and should not be limited only thereto.
The combustor wall assemblies 60, 62 contain the combustion products for direction toward the turbine section 28. Each combustor wall assembly 60, 62 generally includes a respective support shell 68, 70 which supports one or more liner panels 72, 74 mounted thereto arranged to form a liner array. The support shells 68, 70 may be manufactured by, for example, hydroforming of a sheet metal alloy to provide the generally cylindrical outer shell 68 and inner shell 70. Each of the liner panels 72, 74 may be generally rectilinear with a circumferential arc. The liner panels 72, 74 may be manufactured of, for example, a nickel based super alloy, ceramic or other temperature resistant material substrate. In one disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the liner array includes a multiple of forward liner panels 72A and a multiple of aft liner panels 72B that are circumferentially staggered to line the outer shell 68. A multiple of forward liner panels 74A and a multiple of aft liner panels 74B are circumferentially staggered to line the inner shell 70.
The combustor 56 further includes a forward assembly 80 immediately downstream of the compressor section 24 to receive compressed airflow therefrom. The forward assembly 80 generally includes a cowl 82, a bulkhead assembly 84, and a multiple of swirlers 90 (one shown). Each of the swirlers 90 is circumferentially aligned with one of a multiple of fuel nozzles 86 (one shown) and the respective hood ports 94 to project through the bulkhead assembly 84.
The bulkhead assembly 84 includes a bulkhead support shell 96 secured to the combustor walls 60, 62, and a multiple of circumferentially distributed bulkhead liner panels 98 secured to the bulkhead support shell 96 around the swirler opening. The bulkhead support shell 96 is generally annular and the multiple of circumferentially distributed bulkhead liner panels 98 are segmented, typically one to each fuel nozzle 86 and swirler 90.
The cowl 82 extends radially between, and is secured to, the forwardmost ends of the combustor walls 60, 62. The cowl 82 includes a multiple of circumferentially distributed hood ports 94 that receive one of the respective multiple of fuel nozzles 86 and facilitates the direction of compressed air into the forward end of the combustion chamber 66 through a swirler opening. Each fuel nozzle 86 may be secured to the diffuser case module 64 and project through one of the hood ports 94 and through the swirler opening within the respective swirler 90.
The forward assembly 80 introduces core combustion air into the forward section of the combustion chamber 66 while the remainder enters the outer annular plenum 76 and the inner annular plenum 78. The multiple of fuel nozzles 86 and adjacent structure generate a blended fuel-air mixture that supports stable combustion in the combustion chamber 66.
Opposite the forward assembly 80, the outer and inner support shells 68, 70 are mounted to a first row of Nozzle Guide Vanes (NGVs) 54A in the HPT 54. The NGVs 54A are static engine components which direct core airflow combustion gases onto the turbine blades of the first turbine rotor in the turbine section 28 to facilitate the conversion of pressure energy into kinetic energy. The core airflow combustion gases are also accelerated by the NGVs 54A because of their convergent shape and are typically given a “spin” or a “swirl” in the direction of turbine rotor rotation. The turbine rotor blades absorb this energy to drive the turbine rotor at high speed.
With reference to
A multiple of cooling impingement passages 104 penetrate through the support shells 68, 70 to allow air from the respective annular plenums 76, 78 to enter cavities 106 formed in the combustor walls 60, 62 between the respective support shells 68, 70 and liner panels 72, 74. The cooling impingement passages 104 are generally normal to the surface of the liner panels 72, 74. The air in the cavities 106 provide cold side impingement cooling of the liner panels 72, 74 that is generally defined herein as heat removal via internal convection.
A multiple of effusion passages 108 penetrate through each of the liner panels 72, 74. The geometry of the passages (e.g., diameter, shape, density, surface angle, incidence angle, etc.) as well as the location of the passages with respect to the high temperature combustion flow also contributes to effusion film cooling. The effusion passages 108 allow the air to pass from the cavities 106 defined in part by a cold side 110 of the liner panels 72, 74 to a hot side 112 of the liner panels 72, 74 and thereby facilitate the formation of a thin, relatively cool, film of cooling air along the hot side 112. In one disclosed non-limiting embodiment, each of the multiple of effusion passages 108 are typically 0.025″ (0.635 mm) in diameter and define a surface angle of about thirty (30) degrees with respect to the cold side 110 of the liner panels 72, 74. The effusion passages 108 are generally more numerous than the impingement passages 104 and promote film cooling along the hot side 112 to sheath the liner panels 72, 74. Film cooling as defined herein is the introduction of a relatively cooler air at one or more discrete locations along a surface exposed to a high temperature environment to protect that surface in the region of the air injection as well as downstream thereof. The combination of impingement passages 104 and effusion passages 108 may be referred to as an Impingement Film Floatwall (IFF) assembly.
A multiple of dilution passages 116 may penetrate through both the respective support shells 68, 70 and liner panels 72, 74 along a common axis D. For example only, the dilution passages 116 are located in a circumferential line W (shown partially in
With reference to
A row of studs 100A, 100B are located adjacent to the respective forward circumferential rail 122 and aft circumferential rail 124. Each of the studs 100A, 100B may be at least partially surrounded by posts 130 to at least partially support the fastener 102 and provide a stand-off between each liner panels 72B, 74B and respective support shell 68, 70. Some liner panels may include various surface augmentation features on a cold side to increase heat transfer and provide increased cooling effectiveness. The effectiveness of this heat transfer, however, is limited by the conductivity of the panel material as the effectiveness may decrease as features increase in size due to the increased distance between the cold side and hot side of the liner panel.
The dilution passages 116 are located downstream of the forward circumferential rail 122 to quench the hot combustion gases within the combustion chamber 66 by direct supply of cooling air from the respective annular plenums 76, 78. That is, the dilution passages 116 pass air at the pressure outside the combustion chamber 66 directly into the combustion chamber 66. This dilution air is not primarily used for cooling of the combustor shells or panels, but to condition the combustion products within the combustion chamber 66.
Some engine cycles and architectures require that the gas turbine engine combustor 56 operate at relatively high compressor exit temperatures aft of the HPC 52—referred to herein as T3. As further perspective, T1 is a temperature in forward of the fan section 22; T2 is a temperature at the leading edge of the fan 42; T2.5 is the temperature between the LPC 44 and the HPC 52; T3 is the temperature aft of the HPC 52; T4 is the temperature in the combustion chamber 66; T4.5 is the temperature between the HPT 54 and the LPT 46; and T5 is the temperature aft of the LPT 46 (see
With reference to
In this disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the exposed bond coat 134 on the cold side 110 of the liner panel 72, 74 is available to receive a convective coating 140. The convective coating 140 may be unevenly applied to form a multiple of convective features 142 to increase heat transfer. That is, the convective coating 140 is applied to the cold side 110 over the bond coat 134 in an uneven manner to form the multiple of convective features 142. In this disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the convective coating 140 is selectively applied thicker in certain areas to form a wave pattern 150 of alternating peaks 152 and troughs 154. It should be appreciated that the wave pattern 150 may be skewed or otherwise geometrically shaped to have various predefined wavelengths and/or amplitudes. The part of the wave pattern 150 half-way between each peak 152 and the trough 154 may be defined as the baseline, the peak 152 is generally convex and the trough 154 is generally concave. In one disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the wave pattern 150 may be circumferentially arranged about the combustor chamber 66 and skewed toward the downstream NGVs 54A. In other words, the wave pattern 150 may not be exactly uniform and may be biased toward a particular direction such as toward the NGVs 54A. It should also be appreciated that the wave pattern 150 need not be located over the entirety of the cold side 110 of each liner panel 72, 74.
Each trough 154 may include an entrance 156 to a respective effusion passage 108 at the lowest point therein. In other words, the entrances 156 are in the cold side 110 at, for example, the closest location(s) of the outer/exposed surface of the convective coating 140) to the hot side 112. The peaks 152 that flank each trough 154 facilitate capture and direction of air into each of the effusion passages 108. The entrance 156 may be displaced from an exit 158 of the effusion passages 108 such that the effusion passage 108 defines an angle through each liner panel 72, 74. That is, the effusion passage 108 need not be perpendicular through each liner panel 72, 74 with respect to the hot side 112 and may be angled with respect to the wave pattern 150.
In this disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the multiple of cooling impingement passages 104 penetrate through the support shells 68, 70 to direct air from the respective annular plenums 76, 78 to impinge onto the peaks 152. That is, the multiple of cooling impingement passages 104 may be directed toward the peaks 152 such that the impingement air will turbulate and cause a pressure increase. As the impingement air is turbulated off the cold side 110 of each liner panel 72, 74, a pressure drop across the liner panel 72, 74 develops to facilitate navigation of the air into the effusion passages 108, and thence the combustion chamber 66.
After the impingement air is turbulated off of the peaks 140, a pressure drop across the panel 72, 74 causes the air to navigate into the troughs 154 thence thru the effusion passage 108 and the combustor chamber 66. The entrance 156 to the effusion passages 108 is located within the troughs 154 and at least partially segregated by the peaks 152. This essentially increases the cooling air navigation path to the entrance 156 and increases the time for convective heat transfer to facilitate cooling effectiveness.
Cooling effectiveness of the liner panel 72, 74 is dependent on a number of factors, one of which is the heat transfer coefficient. This heat transfer coefficient depicts how well heat is transferred from the liner panel 72, 74, to the cooling air. As the liner panel 72, 74 surface area increases, this coefficient increases due to a greater ability to transfer heat to the cooling air—turbulation of the air also increases this heat transfer. The peaks 152 and troughs 154 increase these two factors, and thereby increase the cooling ability of the line panel 72, 74. Further, the convective features 142 increase liner panel area and, as the convective features 142 are formed of the convective coating 140, the same efficiency as a flat plate is retained.
In general, flow transition from the stagnation impingement flow to turbulence follows the mechanism associated with turbulence creation through unstable Tollmien-Schiliting peaks, three-dimensional instability, then by vortex breakdown in a cascading process which leads to intense flow fluctuations and energy exchange or high heat transfer. This process, facilitated by the multiple of convective features 142, allows for high energy exchange, produces turbulence, coalescence of turbulence spot assemblies and redirection of flow towards more sensitive heat transfer areas, along with flow reattachment. All these factors lead to intense energy transport.
With reference to
With reference to
In this disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the convective features 142B are additively manufactured from a conductive material 160 different than a material 152 for the remainder of the liner panel 72, 74 which is typically manufactured of a nickel based super alloy, ceramic or other temperature resistant material. That is, the convective features 142B are integrally additive manufactured of a conductive material 160. The convective features 142B may be formed as, for example, pins, hemispheres, ridges and other raised features that extend from the cold side 110 of the liner panel 72, 74. As these convective features are manufactured using a conductive material of higher conductivity than that of the panel material itself, heat transfer can be increased due to increased thermal transfer effectiveness. Additionally, the convective features 142B may also receive the conductive coating 140 thereon as described above. That is, the convective features 142B are manufactured from the conductive material 160 with the conductive coating 140 applied thereto. The use of the conductive coating allows for an increase in the feature effectiveness thus improving heat transfer.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar references in the context of description (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or specifically contradicted by context. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity). All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other. It should be appreciated that relative positional terms such as “forward,” “aft,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” and the like are with reference to the normal operational attitude of the vehicle and should not be considered otherwise limiting.
Although the different non-limiting embodiments have specific illustrated components, the embodiments of this invention are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the non- limiting embodiments in combination with features or components from any of the other non- limiting embodiments.
It should be appreciated that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should also be appreciated that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements will benefit herefrom.
Although particular step sequences are shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present disclosure.
The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the features within. Various non-limiting embodiments are disclosed herein, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that various modifications and variations in light of the above teachings will fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is therefore to be appreciated that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described. For that reason the appended claims should be studied to determine true scope and content.
This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/918,422 filed Dec. 19, 2013 and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/835,153 filed Jun. 14, 2013, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
This disclosure was made with Government support under FA-8650-09-D-2923 0021 awarded by the United States Air Force. The Government may have certain rights in this disclosure.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2014/042284 | 6/13/2014 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61918422 | Dec 2013 | US | |
61835153 | Jun 2013 | US |