Patent Application
20140208756
None.
The present invention generally relates to a system for reducing combustion noise and directing cooling air into a gas turbine combustor.
In a typical gas turbine engine used in a powerplant application, a plurality of combustors are arranged in an annular array about a centerline of the engine. The combustors receive pressurized air from the engine's compressor, add fuel to create a fuel/air mixture, and ignite the mixture to produce hot combustion gases. The hot combustion gases exit the combustors and enter a turbine, where the expanding gases are utilized to drive a turbine, which is in turn coupled through a shaft to the compressor. The engine shaft is also coupled to a shaft that drives a generator for generating electricity.
The combustors typically include at least a pressurized case and a combustion liner contained within the case. The fuel, which is supplied by a plurality of fuel nozzles, mixes with air and reacts (i.e. ignites) within the combustion liner. In order to actively cool the combustion liner, the compressed air that is used for combustion is first directed through the pressurized case and along the combustion liner. The air then mixes with fuel and reacts in the combustion liner.
Prior art configurations of combustors include a flow sleeve extending through the case and used to support a combustion liner in place within the combustor. The flow sleeve often includes a series of holes through which compressed air passes. Air passing through these holes is intended to impinge on the combustion liner wall. However, in prior gas turbine combustor configurations, air streams have been known to be ineffective in maintaining active cooling through impingement, thereby leading to premature degradation and damage of the combustion liner.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a novel and improved system for cooling and reducing combustion noise in a gas turbine combustor. An embodiment of the present invention includes a flow sleeve for a gas turbine combustor comprising a tubular portion and a conical portion, with a plurality of flow straighteners extending radially inward and between the tubular and conical portions. The flow sleeve also includes a plurality of rows of cooling holes extending about the flow sleeve and an aft ring secured to the outlet end of the conical portion, where the aft ring includes a receptacle containing a piston ring that is able to expand or contract in diameter.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a cooling system for a gas turbine combustor is disclosed comprising a flow sleeve, a combustion liner, and a transition duct. The flow sleeve includes a tubular portion, a conical portion, a plurality of rows of cooling holes, and an aft ring having a receptacle and a piston ring contained within the receptacle. A cooling passage is formed between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve and directs air received from the flow sleeve to the inlet of the combustor. The transition duct is coupled to the combustion liner at the liner outlet. A piston ring is positioned in the aft end of the flow sleeve to create a seal between the flow sleeve such that compressor air is only permitted to enter the passageway through holes in the flow sleeve.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a sealing device for an aft end of a gas turbine combustor, the device comprising a sleeve having a conical portion and an aft ring with a receptacle. A piston ring is located in the receptacle, where the piston ring is able to expand or contract in order to form a seal with the transition duct.
Additional advantages and features of the present invention will be set forth in part in a description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from practice of the invention. The instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
The subject matter of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different components, combinations of components, steps, or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies.
The present invention is directed generally towards a system for reducing combustion noise controlling the flow of cooling air to a combustion liner. Referring initially to
The present invention can be better understood when considering
Referring now to
A combustion liner 220 is located within the flow sleeve 202 and extends through the axial length of the flow sleeve 202. The combustion liner 220 is generally tubular in shape and, as a result of its location within the combustion system, creates a cooling passage 222 between the combustion liner 220 and flow sleeve 202. It is the air passing through passageway 222 that flow straighteners 216 attempt to straighten so as to achieve a more uniform flow path.
The present invention also includes a transition duct 230 which is coupled to the outlet of the combustion liner 220 for receiving the hot combustion gases from the combustion liner 220. Due to the geometric requirements of the combustion liner 220 compared to the inlet region of a turbine, the transition duct 230 transitions from a generally circular cross section at the duct inlet to a generally rectangular cross section at the duct outlet.
As discussed above, the flow sleeve 202 includes a piston ring 214. The piston ring 214 creates a seal between the flow sleeve 202 and the transition duct 230. Because the piston ring is expandable, it has the ability to adjust to various tolerance conditions and differential thermal growth between the flow sleeve 202, which is relatively cold, and the transition duct 230, which is relatively hot, due to the combustion gases contained within. By maintaining a constant contact between the piston ring 214 and the transition duct 230, a seal is formed that prevents compressor air from entering the passageway 222 from the aft end of the flow sleeve 202. Instead all of the compressed air is directed towards the conical and tubular portions of the flow sleeve 202 so that it may enter through the plurality of rows of cooling holes 208.
As discussed above, the flow sleeve 202 includes a plurality of cooling holes 208 arranged in multiple rows. As shown in
In an embodiment of the invention, the flow sleeve 202 has four rows of holes 208 with each row having 24 holes. The aft-most row of holes 208A, closest to the aft ring 210, have a diameter of approximately 0.95 inches, with the adjacent row moving forward, indicated as 208B, have a diameter of approximately 1.5 inches, while the next row 208C have a diameter of approximately 1.575 inches, and the forward-most row of holes 208D having a diameter of approximately 0.65 inches. As a result of the cooling holes 208 being placed in the flow sleeve 202, the cooling holes 208 impart a jet of cool air onto the combustion liner 220 that is located in the flow sleeve 202. The jet impinges air on the liner which cools the liner wall and then the air travels upstream towards an inlet to the combustion liner 220.
The present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments, which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its scope.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects set forth above, together with other advantages which are obvious and inherent to the system and method. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and within the scope of the claims.
