Passage geometry for gas turbine engine combustor
10684017 ยท 2020-06-16
Assignee
Inventors
- Dennis M. Moura (South Windsor, CT, US)
- Jonathan J. Eastwood (Newington, CT, US)
- Lee E. Bouldin (Woodbridge, CT, US)
Cpc classification
F23R2900/03041
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23R2900/00018
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23R3/002
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23R2900/03045
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23R2900/00017
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23R3/50
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y02T50/60
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
F23R2900/03044
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F23R3/06
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23R3/50
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
An annular grommet is provided for a wall assembly of a combustor section of a gas turbine engine. The annular grommet includes a wall that at least partially defines a chamber. A wall assembly within a gas turbine engine includes a liner panel with a hot side and a cold side. The wall assembly also includes an annular grommet with a passage wall and a flange wall transverse to the passage wall. The annular grommet includes a chamber therein. A method of cooling a wall assembly within a gas turbine engine includes injecting air through a chamber in an annular grommet.
Claims
1. A wall assembly within a gas turbine engine, comprising: a shell; and a liner panel attached to the shell, the liner panel comprising a hot side and a cold side, the hot side forming a radial peripheral boundary of a combustion chamber; and a grommet comprising a passage wall and a flange wall transverse to the passage wall, and the flange wall is between the liner panel and the shell; the passage wall at least partially forming a dilution passage along an axis; the passage wall and the flange wall at least partially forming a grommet chamber that at least partially surrounds the dilution passage; and a section of the grommet projecting along the axis away from the hot side and into the combustion chamber, and the section of the grommet extending partially circumferentially around the axis between opposing circumferential ends of the section of the grommet; wherein the section of the grommet defines a perimeter of less than three hundred and sixty degrees; wherein the section of the grommet extends radially relative to the axis between an inner surface and an outer surface; wherein the section of the grommet is configured with an outlet passage that fluidly couples the grommet chamber with the combustion chamber; and wherein the outlet passage is located in the outer surface and spaced from the hot side.
2. The wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the section of the grommet projects in a first direction along the axis away from the hot side and into the combustion chamber; and a section of the passage wall projects in a second direction along the axis out from the flange wall, and the second direction is opposite the first direction.
3. The wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the passage wall has a first end and a second end; the passage wall extends along the axis between the first end and the second end; the flange wall is disposed a non-zero first distance from the first end; and the flange wall is disposed a non-zero second distance from the second end.
4. The wall assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the grommet chamber within the passage wall extends partially around the axis between opposing circumferential end surfaces.
5. The wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the flange wall is configured with an inlet passage that extends radially relative to the axis through a section of the flange wall to the grommet chamber.
6. The wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the passage wall and the flange wall at least partially form a second grommet chamber circumferentially adjacent the grommet chamber; and the second grommet chamber partially surrounds the dilution passage.
7. A wall assembly within a gas turbine engine, comprising: a shell; and a liner panel attached to the shell, the liner panel comprising a hot side and a cold side, the hot side forming a radial peripheral boundary of a combustion chamber; and a grommet with a passage wall and a flange wall transverse to the passage wall, and the flange wall is between the liner panel and the shell; wherein the grommet at least partially defines a dilution passage along an axis; and at least one grommet chamber that at least partially surrounds the dilution passage; wherein the at least one grommet chamber includes an outlet passage transverse to the passage wall and adjacent to the hot side; wherein the outlet passage is defined through an axially extended passage wall section of the passage wall that extends beyond the hot side and into the combustion chamber; wherein the axially extended passage wall section projects along the axis away from the hot side and into the combustion chamber, and the axially extended passage wall section extends partially circumferentially around the axis between opposing circumferential ends of the axially extended passage wall section; wherein the axially extended passage wall section defines a perimeter of less than three hundred and sixty degrees; and wherein the outlet passage is located in an outer surface of the axially extended passage wall section and spaced from the hot side.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed non-limiting embodiment(s). The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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(41) 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 shown in
(42) The high spool 32 includes an outer shaft 50 that interconnects a high pressure compressor (HPC) 52 and 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.
(43) 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.
(44) With reference to
(45) More particularly, the outer combustor wall 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 wall 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.
(46) 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. Each of the liner panels 72, 74 may be generally rectilinear and curved with respect to the engine axis A, and manufactured of, for example, a nickel based super alloy, ceramic or other temperature resistant material and are arranged to form a liner array. In the liner array, a multiple of forward liner panels 72A and a multiple of aft liner panels 72B 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 also line the inner shell 70.
(47) 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 an annular hood 82 and a bulkhead assembly 84 that supports 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 a respective hood port 94.
(48) 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 each respective swirler opening 92. 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.
(49) The annular hood 82 extends radially between, and is secured to, the forwardmost ends of the combustor wall assemblies 60, 62. The multiple of circumferentially distributed hood ports 94 facilitate the direction of compressed air into the forward end of the combustion chamber 66 through each respective swirler 90. Each fuel nozzle 86 may be secured to the diffuser case module 64 to project into the respective swirler 90.
(50) 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.
(51) Opposite the forward assembly 80, the outer and inner support shells 68, 70 are mounted adjacent 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.
(52) With reference to
(53) 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 impingement cavities 106 formed within the combustor wall assemblies 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 provides cold side impingement cooling of the respective liner panels 72, 74 that is generally defined herein as heat removal via internal convection.
(54) 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 gas flow also contributes to effusion film cooling. The combination of impingement passages 104 and effusion passages 108 may be referred to as an Impingement Film Floatwall (IFF) assembly.
(55) The effusion passages 108 allow the air to pass from each cavity 106 defined in part by the cold side 110 of the liner panels 72, 74 to a hot side 112 thereof and facilitate the formation of a relatively thin, cool, insulating blanket of cooling air along the hot side 112. The effusion passages 108 are generally more numerous than the impingement passages 104 to promote the development of a sheath of film cooling along the hot side 112. 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.
(56) A multiple of dilution passages 116 may penetrate through the respective support shells 68, 70 and liner panels 72, 74 along an axis D. For example only, in a Rich-Quench-Lean (R-Q-L) type combustor, the dilution passages 116 are located downstream of the forward assembly 80 to quench the hot combustion gases within the combustion chamber 66 by direct supply of cooling air from the respective annular plenums 76, 78.
(57) At least one of the multiple of dilution passage 116, in one disclosed non-limiting embodiment, is defined by an annular grommet 150 (see
(58) With reference to
(59) The passage wall 152 is defined by an inner passage wall surface 156 and an outer passage wall surface 158. The inner passage wall surface 156 defines the dilution passage 116 along axis D. The outer passage wall surface 158 defines a periphery smaller than the aperture 140 to accommodate, for example, tolerances and/or operational thermal growth. The flange wall 154 extends transversely from the passage wall 152 and includes an outer flange wall surface 160 and an inner flange wall surface 162 with an edge 163 therebetween. The outer flange wall surface 160 provides an interface surface with the support shell 68, 70 while the inner flange wall surface 162 provides an interface surface with the respective liner panel 72, 74. That is, the flange wall 154 is at least partially sandwiched between the respective support shell 68, 70 and associated liner panels 72, 74.
(60) The passage wall 152 and the flange wall 154 together define a chamber 170 therein. The chamber 170 in this disclosed non-limiting embodiment includes a passage wall chamber portion 172 and a flange wall chamber portion 174 generally transverse thereto in cross-section. The passage wall chamber portion 172 and the flange chamber portion 174 may extend completely or at least partially around the annular grommet 150. That is, the chamber 170 need not extend the full periphery of the annular grommet 150. Further, the passage wall chamber portion 172 and the flange wall chamber portion 174 need not be completely contained within the respective passage wall 152 and the flange wall 154. That is, the passage wall chamber portion 172 and the flange wall chamber portion 174 may be closed-out or otherwise at least partially formed by assembly of the annular grommet 150 into the respective liner panel 72, 74.
(61) An inlet passage 180 communicates airflow from the respective annular plenums 76, 78 into the chamber 170. In one disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the inlet passage 180 extends through the outer flange wall surface 160 of the flange wall 154 that provides an interface surface with the support shell 68, 70. The inlet passage 180 is radially located between an outer edge of the grommet defining the aperture 140 and the passage wall 152 such that the annular grommet 150 need not be centered within the apertures 140, 142 to accommodate, for example, tolerances and thermal growth, but still maintains communication through the inlet passage 180 from the respective annular plenums 76, 78.
(62) In another disclosed non-limiting embodiment, an inlet passage 180A alternatively or additionally communicates airflow from the respective impingement cavity 106 into the chamber 170. It should be appreciated that variously sized inlet passages 180, 180A may be utilized to control the ratio of airflow into the chamber 170.
(63) Airflow is communicated from the chamber 170, which may be continuous or internally separated, through an outlet passage 190 generally parallel to the respective liner panels 72, 74. That is, the outlet passage 190 is located, in one disclosed non-limiting embodiment, through an axially extended passage wall section 164 of the passage wall 152. The axially extended passage wall section 164 locates the outlet passage 190 axially beyond (e.g., with respect to axis D) the hot side 112 of the respective liner panel 72, 74. In this disclosed non-limiting embodiment, the axially extended passage wall section 164 axially extends beyond the hot side 112 of the respective liner panel 72, 74 for only part of the passage wall 152 circumference. In other words, the axially extended passage wall section 164 does not extend for a full three-hundred and sixty degrees of the passage wall 152 circumference and essentially forms a stepped distal edge 166 (see
(64) The passage wall 152 may be continuous or segmented with respect to the passage wall chamber portion 174. That is, the passage wall chamber portion 174 may itself be defined by a multiple of interior walls 176 (see
(65) The outlet passage 190 from the chamber 170 is located in the axially extended passage wall section 164 and may be of various shapes such as a circular 190 (see
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(79) The cavity formed within the annular grommet readily increase durability, lowers repair cost and increases time on wing.
(80) 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.
(81) 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.
(82) 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.
(83) 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.
(84) 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.