Venturi cooling system

• US 7,707,836 B1
• Filed: 08/06/2009
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gas Turbine Efficiency Sweden AB
• Original Assignee: Gas Turbine Efficiency Sweden AB
• Inventors: Barnes, John, Bailey, Adam, Bland, Robert, Battaglioli, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Ted
• Application Number:
  US12/536,861
• Time in Patent Office: 271 Days
• Field of Search: 607/55, 607/57, 607/58
• US Class Current: 60/755
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 3/002 Wall structures F23R3/02 and F23R3/007 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 3/04 Air inlet arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 3/42 characterised by the arrangement or form of the flame tubes or combustion chambers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A combustor for a gas turbine is provided having a nozzle assembly located at one end and a combustion chamber defining a second end of the combustor. A venturi is positioned within the combustor, between the nozzle and the combustion chamber. The venturi defines an internal passageway therein having a first side facing the nozzle and a second side facing the combustion chamber. Compressed air is directed into an inlet in fluid communication with the first and second sides of the internal passageway. The internal passageway directs the compressed air from the inlet in opposite directions within the first and second sides of the internal passageway for cooling the venturi.

Claims

1. A combustor for a gas turbine comprising:

a nozzle assembly located at a first end of the combustor;

a combustion chamber defined within the combustor, downstream of the nozzle assembly;

a venturi positioned within the combustor and defining a transition between the first end and the combustion chamber, the venturi having an internal passageway therein, the internal passageway having a first portion extending towards the first end and a second portion extending towards the combustion chamber;

a compressed air source directed into a cooling inlet, the cooling inlet in fluid communication with the first and second portions of the internal passageway,

the internal passageway directing the compressed air from the source in opposite directions along the first portion and second portion for cooling the venturi; and

a secondary passageway communicating with a downstream end of the second portion of the internal passageway, wherein the air flow moving through the second portion of the internal passageway into the secondary passageway is reversed in direction and directed towards the first end of the combustor.

2. The combustor of claim 1, further comprising a cooling air exit positioned at an end of the first portion of the internal passageway for directing the cooling air into the first end of the combustor.

3. The combustor of claim 2, wherein the secondary passageway and the first portion of the internal passageway are each in fluid communication with the cooling air exit.

4. The combustor of claim 3 wherein the cooling air exit directs the air flow from the secondary passageway and the first portion of the internal passageway into the first end of the combustor, upstream of the venturi.

5. The combustor of claim 4, wherein the cooling air exit is positioned upstream of the first portion of the venturi.

6. The combustor of claim 1, further comprising a radial plenum positioned behind the venturi and fluidly connecting the first and second portions of the internal passageway with the compressed air source.

12. The combustor of claim 1, wherein the cooling air exit directs the air flow from the secondary passageway and the first portion of the internal passageway into the first end of the combustor, upstream of the venturi.

7. A combustor for a gas turbine comprising:

a nozzle assembly located at a first end of the combustor;

a combustion chamber defined within the combustor, downstream of the nozzle assembly;

a venturi positioned within the combustor and defining a transition between the first end and the combustion chamber, the venturi having an internal passageway therein, the internal passageway having first and second portions on opposing sides of an apex of the venturi;

a cooling inlet for a compressed air flow, the cooling inlet in fluid communication with the first and second portions of the internal passageway, and the compressed air from the cooling inlet is directed within the internal passageway in opposite directions within the first and second portions for cooling the venturi; and

a secondary passageway communicating with a downstream end of the second portion of the internal passageway, wherein the air flow moving through the second portion of the internal passageway into the secondary passageway is reversed in direction and directed towards the first end of the combustor.

8. The combustor of claim 7, wherein the cooling inlet communicates with either the first or second portion of the internal passageway at a position offset from the apex of the venturi within the combustor.

9. The combustor of claim 7, wherein the cooling inlet comprises a radial plenum positioned behind the venturi.

10. The combustor of claim 7, further comprising a cooling air exit positioned at an end of the first portion of the internal passageway for directing the cooling air into the first end of the combustor.

11. The combustor of claim 10, wherein the secondary passageway and the first portion of the passageway are each in fluid communication with the cooling air exit.

13. A venturi within a gas turbine combustor comprising:

an upstream angled side, a downstream angled side, an apex positioned between the upstream and downstream sides and a cooling air inlet between angled sides for supplying cooling air proximate the apex;

a first passageway directing cooling air from the inlet along an inner surface of the downstream angled side and then reversed in direction upstream thereof along a liner;

a second passageway directing cooling air from the inlet along the upstream angled side; and

a cooling discharge directing cooling air from the second passageway into the combustor, upstream of the apex of the venturi.

14. The venturi of claim 13, further comprising a central plenum extending radially around the combustor, within the venturi, and being fluidly connected to the first and second passageways.

15. The venturi of claim 13, wherein the cooling discharge is positioned upstream of the upstream angled side of the venturi.