Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Combining of separately supplied fluids – Including whirler device to induce fluid rotation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-26
2002-08-06
Ganey, Steven J. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Combining of separately supplied fluids
Including whirler device to induce fluid rotation
C239S398000, C239S419000, C239S423000, C239S600000, C060S039230, C060S039300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06427930
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device for connection of a nozzle of a pre-mixing chamber of a gas turbine, to a housing of the pre-mixing chamber.
It is known that gas turbines comprise a compressor, to which air is supplied from the external environment in order to pressurise the compressor. The compressed air passes into a series of pre-mixing chambers, which end in a nozzle, in each of which an injector supplies fuel which is mixed with the air in order to form an air/fuel mixture to be burnt. When the mixture passes through the nozzle, it enters the combustion chamber, where it burns, and produces gases with a high level of enthalpy, which are expanded in a turbine. The turbine transforms the enthalpy of the gases into mechanical energy which is available to a user.
The present invention relates in particular to nozzles which admit the mixture which is formed in the pre-mixer inside the combustion chamber, and to the device for connection of the nozzles to a housing of a pre-mixing chamber. These nozzles consist of generally converging elements, and are commonly known as shrouds.
In order to make apparent the technical problems which are covered by the present invention, hereinafter a brief description is provided of a single pre-mixing unit
10
, with reference to FIG.
1
.
The pre-mixing unit
10
comprises a pre-mixing chamber
11
, which is defined by a housing
12
integral with a column-type support
13
. The column-type support
13
ends in a plate
14
, in which there are provided through holes
15
for attachment to a motor body, not shown, and a pair of through holes
16
which constitute the ends of pipes
17
,
18
for supply of the fuel.
One pipe
17
opens into an annular chamber
19
, from which, via through holes
20
, a portion of the fuel is supplied to an air agitator device
21
, generally indicated as a swirler. In the swirler
21
and the pre-mixing chamber
11
, there is produced the mixture consisting of air with a high level of turbulence obtained from the compressor, and a portion of fuel supplied via the swirler
21
.
The swirler
21
generally consists of two separate concentric blade elements: an outer element
21
a
is provided with blades which are oriented in one direction, whereas an inner element
21
b
, which is inserted on a shaped ogival element
22
, is provided with blades which are oriented in the opposite direction.
The different orientation of the blades of the two elements
21
a
and
21
b
of the swirler
21
makes it possible to obtain downstream from the swirler
21
itself, in the pre-mixing chamber
11
, a high level of turbulence which creates ideal conditions for obtaining a highly dispersed air-fuel mixture, and thus satisfactory combustion. It will be appreciated that, as shown in
FIG. 1
, the through holes
20
admit the fuel into the outer element
21
a
of the swirler
21
.
The column-type support
13
has another pipe
18
which supplies to a series of pipes, which, in conventional embodiments (not shown in
FIG. 1
) open inside the nozzle
23
. More particularly, these pipes open in the vicinity of a mouth of the nozzle
23
, which faces the combustion chamber of the turbine.
The pre-mixing chambers, and in particular the nozzles in which these chambers end, and by means of which they are connected to the combustion chamber, are parts of the turbines which are subject to thermal stress.
Since the flame in the combustion chamber is kept anchored in the vicinity of the nozzle, it transmits high thermal loads to all the elements of the pre-mixing unit, and in particular to the nozzle which is the element closest to it.
The foregoing makes apparent the fact that since the nozzle is the element which is under the greatest mechanical and thermal stress, it is also the element which is destined to become worn and damaged most.
For this reason, the nozzles generally consist of elements which are separate from the housing of the pre-mixing chamber, and are connected to the latter in a removable or detachable manner, such that they can be maintained, and when necessary replaced.
In the conventional embodiments, the nozzle is connected directly to the housing of the pre-mixing chamber. This means that removal of the connection and separation of the nozzle from the housing of the pre-mixing chamber are somewhat lengthy and difficult. In addition, in order to be able to produce sealed connections between the nozzle and the housing, accurate work is necessary, which is substantially lengthy, difficult and costly.
The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-described technical disadvantages, by providing a device for connection of a nozzle of a pre-mixing chamber of a gas turbine, to a housing of the pre-mixing chamber, which makes it possible to carry out rapid, simple connections of the nozzle to the housing of the pre-mixing chamber.
Another object of the invention is to provide a device for connection of a nozzle to a pre-mixing chamber of a gas turbine, to a housing of the pre-mixing chamber, which makes it possible to disconnect the nozzle from the housing of the pre-mixing chamber in a substantially fast, simple manner.
A further object of the invention is to provide a device for connection of a nozzle of a pre-mixing chamber of a gas turbine, to a housing of the pre-mixing chamber, which makes it possible to maintain and optionally replace the nozzle of the mixing unit in a substantially fast, simple manner.
A further object of the invention is to -provide a device for connection of a nozzle of a pre-mixing chamber of a gas turbine, to a housing of the pre-mixing chamber, which is substantially simple, safe and reliable.
This and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a device for connection of a nozzle of a pre-mixing chamber of a gas turbine, to a housing of the pre-mixing chamber, characterised in that it comprises at least one flange which clasps and retains the said nozzle, the said flange being connected in a detachable manner to the said housing of the said pre-mixing chamber, so as to render the said nozzle integral with the said housing of the said pre-mixing chamber.
According to a preferred embodiment, the flange is produced by means of a bush element, in which the nozzle is inserted, with one of the ends connected in a non-detachable manner to the nozzle, and the other end connected in a detachable manner to the pre-mixing chamber.
According to another preferred embodiment, the nozzle has an annular cavity, which is surrounded by the bush element. Between the annular cavity of the nozzle and the bush element, there is provided a distribution chamber, which can be supplied with fuel by a first pipe, and from which the fuel is discharged, and is admitted into the combustion chamber downstream from the nozzle, via second pipes.
Further characteristics of the device for connection according to the invention are also defined in the claims.
Advantageously, the device for connection according to the present invention is not only economical in terms of its production, but also because it makes it possible to carry out interventions on the nozzle or on the housing of the pre-mixing chamber in a manner which is substantially more economical than according to the known art.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4044553 (1977-08-01), Vaught
patent: 4466240 (1984-08-01), Miller
patent: 5139416 (1992-08-01), Wagner et al.
patent: 5218824 (1993-06-01), Cederwall et al.
patent: 5343694 (1994-09-01), Toborg et al.
patent: 5398496 (1995-03-01), Taylor et al.
patent: 5613363 (1997-03-01), Joshi et al.
patent: 5671597 (1997-09-01), Butler et al.
patent: 5701733 (1997-12-01), Lewis et al.
patent: 0 588 629 (1994-09-01), None
Mei Luciano
Miliani Alessio
Ganey Steven J.
General Electric Company
Nixon & Vanderhye
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