This application is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 filing of International Application No. PCT/FR2019/051176 filed May 22, 2019, which claims the benefit of priority to French Patent Application No. 1854298 filed May 23, 2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates to the field of turbomachine combustion chambers for aircraft.
In this field such combustion chambers are known, with:
A deflector is furthermore often arranged downstream of the bottom wall, in order to thermally protect it with respect to the hearth of the combustion chamber in which combustion takes place, the deflector having second openings for mounting said oxidant injection devices (i.e. configured for this purpose), the first and second openings then being a priori coaxial. As a reminder, the hearth of a combustion chamber is delimited by said longitudinal walls and the bottom of the chamber.
This is the case in EP 1 785 671.
Typically, two main functions of a deflector are to thermally protect the bottom of the chamber, which is often more structural, and to create a “cup” film for upstream cooling of the (surfaces facing the inside of the chamber of the) inner and outer walls, thanks to the impact flow coming from the pierced chamber bottom. Nevertheless, it turns out that this flow in the primary zone of the furnace (upstream part) disturbs the stability of the combustion and the early cooling of the internal and/or external walls accentuates the thermal gradient in the critical zone, around holes passing through them typically called primary and/or dilution holes
For combustion in the hearth, fuel injection devices for injecting fuel through at least said first openings are also provided on these combustion chambers.
In the present application:
FR 2,998,038 discloses such a combustion chamber wherein there is a double-walled chamber bottom: upstream and downstream, the second one acting as a deflector, with a space (or enclosure) between them, this space being supplied with air via multiple perforations, in order to ensure impact cooling of the downstream wall, which is directly exposed to the flame radiation. Air is then ejected through slots or holes towards the (surfaces oriented towards the interior of the chamber of the) inner and outer walls to initiate an air film which is then relayed through the multi-perforation holes in these walls.
In the present patent, the chamber bottoms of such combustion chambers are concerned in particular.
A technical problem addressed here concerns the degradation of the in-service condition of the bottom of the chamber. Indeed, burns have been observed at the bottom of the chamber. Creeks were also observed.
In view of the analyses carried out, the thermal level of the exposure of these various parts seems to be the cause of the damage observed.
Indeed, the area concerned is massive and has a high thermal inertia. However, current technology makes it difficult to cool it.
Furthermore, in EP 1 785 671, the air passage holes are in the deflector plate and not in the (structural) chamber bottom wall. These air passage holes pass essentially between said chamber bottom wall and the deflector. It would be complicated to modify such a structure in order to pierce said chamber bottom wall, instead of the deflector, because said chamber wall has a role of mechanical structuring of the combustion chamber contrary to the deflector.
This allows to provide a solution to at least part of the above-mentioned difficulties that is proposed to upgrade an aircraft gas turbomachine combustion chamber comprising:
By fixing together by this rim the chamber bottom wall (with its air passage holes along it) and the longitudinal walls (inner and outer walls mentioned above), an indirect thermal impact on these longitudinal walls is expected. Fixing can be carried out by means of screws.
The expression “along the chamber bottom wall” indicates that said holes extend (at least along most of their length) transversely to the thickness of the chamber bottom wall, internally. Considering a substantially flat area of this bottom wall, said holes extend, inside this wall, substantially in the plane of this wall, and therefore not transversely to this plane. When the bottom of the chamber extends (overall) between said inner and outer walls, said inner holes will extend (at least over most of their length) substantially transversely to the above-mentioned longitudinal axis of the combustion chamber
In addition, these holes will favourably define (air) pipes. The expression “pipe” is intended to indicate that said holes will be favourably very long in relation to their cross-section(s), typically their diameter(s), this ratio thus being greater than 5, or preferably 10, even if said cross-section varies. The maximum cross section is then considered.
Each of these holes will thus be able to ensure a cooling air circulation fed by the highest pressure differential available. The air flow rate obtained will allow the recovery of calories by pumping them into the bottom of the chamber. In addition, the use of a deflector may be limited (see below).
Preferably, the inlet of the hole(s) in question should be located towards the outer periphery of the bottom wall of the chamber.
Thus, it will be possible to favour an easier realization (access through this periphery) and to benefit from a potentially longest length of holes, or pipes, with thus an optimised thermal effect.
Preferably, the combustion chamber:
In addition to the above advantages, this rim can then be used to both fix the above-mentioned walls and to manage the above-mentioned thermal problem in an optimised way (by lengthening the length of the holes).
If the rim is facing upstream, it will also be easier to let in air, which will be cooler.
Preferably, said holes will open on the edge of the chamber bottom wall at the location of the inlet and/or outlet openings.
In this case, an easier execution and a longer hole length are all the more preferable, respectively. In addition, opening the outlet openings of the holes on the (radially inner) edge of the chamber bottom wall, or at least in the immediate environment of said (each) mounting opening of the combustion air supply system(s), will allow the air flow obtained, having recovered calories by pumping in the chamber bottom, to open into the chamber (hearth inlet) to supply the combustion. It should be noted that such heated air will be beneficial for the stability of combustion, as the pipes (holes) are fed by the highest pressure differential available.
At least some of said holes may individually define a sinuous line over at least part of their length.
Thus, it will be possible to aim for the holes/ducts to be made as accurately as possible so that the bottom wall of the chamber ensures both a structural function and efficient cooling. Thus, a sinuous shape will make it possible to keep a constant material thickness (at least sufficient) and to maximize the exchange surface in order not to create mechanical weakness or areas likely to favour hot spots. It will help to take into account the problems of thermal homogenization of the bottom of the chamber and its lifetime.
This also applies to a combustion chamber of an aircraft gas turbomachine, in itself, comprising:
Preferably, the combustion air supply system(s) will also comprise at least one supply passage towards an outer periphery of the bowl, and/or at least one twist, respectively provided to be supplied with: combustion air to be supplied to the inside of the bowl mixed with air having passed through said second holes.
Thus, in particular with the outlet openings of the above-mentioned air holes opening onto the (radially inner) edge of the chamber bottom wall, or at least in the immediate environment of said mounting opening(s) of the combustion air supply system(s), it will be possible, in addition to recovering calories by pumping them into the chamber bottom, to supply the combustion with this heated air, which is therefore favourable to the stability of the combustion.
In relation to the above, it is proposed that the above-mentioned bowl be (typically at the location of a flared part) crossed by second holes and/or third holes for the passage of fluid (a priori only air). These second holes and/or third holes will open into the hearth of the combustion chamber and, close to them, at least some of the outlet openings (of at least some) of said holes made in the bottom wall of the chamber will be able to open there, so that (heated) air having passed through these holes can also pass through said second and/or third holes, thus towards said hearth.
In connection with the aforementioned aspect concerning the combined effect of fixing said chamber bottom wall and of thermal management in the environment of this fixing, it is proposed that at the location of a said rim formed, at the outer periphery of the wall, by a curved part, said at least one chamber bottom wall be fixed with the longitudinal walls by screws which will bypass some of said holes/ducts of the chamber bottom wall.
With a combustion chamber having all or part of the aforementioned characteristics, it is thus possible to have a chamber bottom wall which directly faces the inner hearth of the chamber, without the interposition of a deflector plate, impliedly disposed opposite, slightly downstream of said bottom wall, like it transversely to said inner and outer walls.
In fact, with a chamber bottom wall without transverse (i.e. substantially axial) holes for the cooling air (holes referred to above as “multi-perforations”), it will be possible to make such a wall and a deflector in one piece. The film cup function could then be removed and the thermal and structural functions could be provided by the one-piece chamber bottom. The weight saving compared to separate parts would depend on the cooling requirements and mechanical strength.
Thus, it is further proposed that the manufacture of said chamber bottom wall be carried out by additive manufacture, providing for the manufacture of said holes in this wall with a section smaller than the remaining thickness of said bottom wall on either side of this section.
It will then become possible to integrate a network of holes forming pipes in a fairly small space, with an expected mass gain and efficient and optimised cooling of critical areas. The additive manufacturing shall allow for the construction of said holes/ducts as accurately as possible to ensure both the structural function and the cooling function of the bottom of the chamber. Thus, possible sinuous shapes such as those mentioned above make it possible to maintain a constant material thickness and to maximise the exchange surface in order to avoid creating mechanical weakness or areas likely to favour hot spots.
The invention will be better understood and other details, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear when reading the following description, which is given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings.
The longitudinal walls 14 and 16 may be substantially coaxial with each other and parallel to axis 22a, this axis belonging to the sectional plane of
The bottom wall 18 has multi-perforations 28 for the passage of air from the compressor into the annular space 30 between the bottom wall 18 and the deflectors 24. The ventilation of the bottom wall 18 may not be homogeneous over its entire circumference.
In
Thus, it can be seen that, in all the modes of construction detailed below, there is, as in
Furthermore, in an attempt to overcome at least some of the problems and disadvantages mentioned above, it is in the proposed invention that, as already explained, the cooling air passage holes 128 through the bottom wall 118 extend internally along this bottom wall, between at least one said inlet hole 128a and at least one said outlet port 128b.
With respect to the opening 119 most adjacent to it, outlet port 128b is located closer to opening 119 than inlet hole 128a, as shown in
Thus, at least part of these cooling air holes 128 will pass through (internally along) the total thickness e of the bottom wall 118.
To achieve this, it will certainly be favourable in practice to locate the (each) inlet hole 128a towards an outer periphery 178a (external to the axis 122a) of said bottom wall 118.
Rather than being a single piece over 360°, the bottom wall 118 preferably comprises, around the axis 122a, a circumferential succession of wall sectors 148a each provided with an opening 119; see in particular
For its fastening, the bottom wall 118 has, at its outer periphery, an annular rim 138a for fastening to the upstream end of the outer wall 116 of the chamber, and, at its inner periphery, an annular rim 138b for fastening to the upstream end of the inner wall 114 of the chamber.
A priori, it will be preferred that the annular rims 138a external and 138b internal face upstream. They may be substantially cylindrical.
The fixing itself is, in the preferred example, by means of screw-nut type means 32 which pass through holes 34 in the rims 138a, 138b, radially to axis 122a; see
In order to combine fixing and cooling qualities, it is proposed that some of said holes 128 in the bottom wall bypass screws 32 (and their holes 34);
In particular, it is towards the respective upstream free ends 158a, 158b of these mounting rims 138a, 138b that the inlet holes 128a of the above-mentioned cooling air passage holes 128 will be located; see
Thus, it is then away from the hot and fixing areas, from the free edge 168a and/or 168b of these fixing rims 138a, 138b, that the cooling air can circulate in wall 118.
Towards the outlet, after conducting the air, holes 128 may also lead to the inner edge 168c of the back wall; see
This will allow the bottom wall 118 to be cooled as thoroughly as possible, sector by sector, if it is formed in this way.
In the thickness of the bottom wall 118, the cross-section of the holes 128 may be constant or variable. It could be rectangular (
On this point, it can be seen from most of
The number of inputs 128a and the number of outputs 128b will be defined according to the needs. An input will not necessarily correspond to a single output, and vice versa. For example, there may be a single, long-slotted inlet 128a, internal connections 36 at the bottom of the chamber (
Notably by additive manufacturing (one of the manufacturing processes, most of the time computer-assisted, aiming at shaping a part by adding material, by stacking successive layers), it will be possible to fabricate/construct holes/ducts 128 to ensure as precisely as possible both the structural function and the cooling function of the bottom 118 of the chamber. It will thus be possible for at least some of these holes or ducts to individually define a sinuous line, over at least part of their length, as shown in
With additive manufacture, it will be possible in particular to manufacture the holes/ducts 128 of wall 118 with a section e1 (such as a diameter) smaller than the remaining thickness (e2a+e2b) of said bottom wall, on either side of this section; i.e. e1<e2a+e2b;
Diameters e1 of holes/ducts 128 smaller than a millimetre must make it possible to maintain a thickness (e2a+e2b) at the bottom of the chamber that is low and to ensure a structural role. A minimum thickness of material will thus be preserved. These diameters will be favourably in the range of one quarter to one third of the total thickness (e1+e2a+e2b) of the chamber bottom.
Each bowl 40 of the combustion air supply system 120 is mounted in (or surrounds, in a one-piece construction; see below) the opening 119 of one of the sectors of the chamber bottom wall 118.
Air and fuel flows through bowl 40 to ignite in the hearth 115.
From the upstream compressed air (arrow 11), the cooling compressed air which has circulated through the holes/ducts 128, can exit through:
The third holes 48 are substantially parallel to axis 122a.
Before passing through the second 46 and third holes 48, the air that has circulated through the holes/ducts 128 should preferably be discharged through the edge of wall 118, in 128b (see
The elbow wall 52 can be traversed by at least one supply passage 54 in distribution chamber 50 for air from stream 111 that has not passed through the holes/ducts 128.
Thus, each combustion air supply system 120 may comprise at least one said supply passage 54 towards an external periphery of the bowl, and/or at least one twist 42, provided respectively to be supplied with combustion air to be supplied to the inside of the bowl 40, mixed with the air, coming from the bottom wall 118 of the chamber, and thus having passed through the second holes 46, for a supply of air directly to the location of the opening 119 in question.
The relevant outer periphery of bowl 40 and the second holes 46 will be favourably located in its downstream flared part 40a, in order to distribute the air/fuel mixture in the hearth 115.
If it is also desired to create a “cup” film for upstream cooling of the (so-called chamber-facing surfaces of the) inner 114 and outer 116 walls, thanks to an impact flow coming from the bottom of chamber 118, some of the outlets 128b, such as those 128b1, 128b2 on
In all of the above examples (see
In addition to the additive manufacturing which may have allowed it (see above), this specificity is of course linked to the holes/ducts 128.
For the connection between the back wall 118 and the combustion air supply system 120, several cases have been provided for:
In both cases, wall 118 was connected to the outer face of the flared part 40a of bowl 40 and to the downstream end of the angled wall 52 towards the circumference of opening 119. In order to form the annular chamber 50, the upstream ends of bowl 40 and angled wall 52 were also joined together.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1854298 | May 2018 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/FR2019/051176 | 5/22/2019 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2019/224484 | 11/28/2019 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5329761 | Ablett | Jul 1994 | A |
7043921 | Hadder | May 2006 | B2 |
11029028 | Bengtson | Jun 2021 | B2 |
20040231333 | Tiemann et al. | Nov 2004 | A1 |
20170356652 | Singh et al. | Dec 2017 | A1 |
20190086081 | Bellardi | Mar 2019 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
1785671 | May 2007 | EP |
2896575 | Jul 2007 | FR |
2998038 | May 2014 | FR |
2053450 | Feb 1981 | GB |
WO 2018026382 | Feb 2018 | WO |
Entry |
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International Patent Application No. PCT/FR2019/051176, International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Sep. 4, 2019, 14 pgs. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20210199297 A1 | Jul 2021 | US |