Selective steam distribution to steam cooled zones in a turbine engine
A control method is provided during which a turbine engine is operated. The turbine engine includes a plurality of steam cooled zones along a flowpath within the turbine engine. Steam is distributed between the steam cooled zones based on a first distribution while the turbine engine is operating in a first mode. The steam is distributed between the steam cooled zones based on a second distribution while the turbine engine is operating in a second mode. The second distribution is different than the first distribution.
1. A control method, comprising:
operating a turbine engine, the turbine engine comprising a combustor section and a cooling system, the combustor section comprising a combustor and a combustion chamber extending radially within the combustor section between and to an inner wall of the combustor and an outer wall of the combustor, and the cooling system comprising a plurality of steam cooled zones arranged within the combustor section and about the combustion chamber, each of the steam cooled zones including a steam flow regulator and a portion of walls within the combustor;
distributing steam, using the steam flow regulators, between the plurality of steam cooled zones to cool the portions of the walls within each zone, based on a first distribution while the turbine engine is operating in a first mode wherein the first distribution specifies a first amount of steam to cool the portion of the walls in each zone according to first thermal loads in each zone during the first operational mode; and
distributing the steam between the plurality of steam cooled zones based on a second distribution while the turbine engine is operating in a second mode wherein the second distribution specifies a second amount of steam to cool the portion of the walls in each zone according to second thermal loads in each zone during the second operational mode, wherein the second distribution is different than the first distribution.
2. The control method of claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of steam cooled zones include a first zone and a second zone;
the first distribution provides a first ratio of the steam distributed between the first zone and the second zone; and
the second distribution provides a second ratio of the steam distributed between the first zone and the second zone, and the second ratio is different than the first ratio.
3. The control method of claim 2 , wherein
the plurality of steam cooled zones further include a third zone;
the first ratio is a ratio of the steam distributed between the first zone, the second zone and the third zone; and
the second ratio is a ratio of the steam distributed between the first zone, the second zone and the third zone.
4. The control method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of steam cooled zones include a first zone and a second zone, and at least one of
the first distribution provides the steam to the first zone and not to the second zone; or
the second distribution provides the steam to the second zone and not to the first zone.
5. The control method of claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of steam cooled zones include a first zone;
the first distribution provides a first flowrate of the steam to the first zone; and
the second distribution provides a second flowrate of the steam to the first zone, and the second flowrate of the steam to the first zone is different than the first flowrate of the steam to the first zone.
6. The control method of claim 5 , wherein
the plurality of steam cooled zones further include a second zone;
the first distribution provides a first flowrate of the steam to the second zone; and
the second distribution provides a second flowrate of the steam to the second zone, and the second flowrate of the steam to the second zone is different than the first flowrate of the steam to the second zone.
7. The control method of claim 6 , wherein
the second flowrate of the steam to the first zone is greater than the first flowrate of the steam to the first zone; and
the second flowrate of the steam to the second zone is greater than the first flowrate of the steam to the second zone.
8. The control method of claim 6 , wherein
the second flowrate of the steam to the first zone is greater than the first flowrate of the steam to the first zone; and
the second flowrate of the steam to the second zone is less than the first flowrate of the steam to the second zone.
9. The control method of claim 5 , wherein
the plurality of steam cooled zones further include a second zone;
the first distribution provides a first flowrate of the steam to the second zone; and
the second distribution provides a second flowrate of the steam to the second zone, and the second flowrate of the steam to the second zone is equal to the first flowrate of the steam to the second zone.
10. The control method of claim 1 , wherein a first of the plurality of steam cooled zones comprises at least a portion of a fuel injector assembly.
11. The control method of claim 1 , wherein a first of the plurality of steam cooled zones comprises at least a portion of a combustor bulkhead.
12. The control method of claim 1 , wherein a first of the plurality of steam cooled zones comprises at least a portion of the inner wall or the outer wall of the combustor.
13. The control method of claim 1 , wherein a first of the plurality of steam cooled zones comprises at least a portion of a stator vane array downstream of the combustion chamber.
14. The control method of claim 1 , wherein
a first of the plurality of steam cooled zones comprises a first portion of a structure of the turbine engine about the combustion chamber; and
a second of the plurality of steam cooled zones comprises a second portion of the structure of the turbine engine about the combustion chamber.
15. The control method of claim 1 , wherein
the operating of the turbine engine comprises injecting fuel into the combustor at a first flowrate during the first mode; and
the operating of the turbine engine comprises injecting fuel into the combustor at a second flowrate during the second mode, and the second flowrate is different than the first flowrate.
16. The control method of claim 1 , wherein a first of the plurality of steam cooled zones is symmetrically cooled with the steam about a centerline during the operating of the turbine engine.
17. A control method, comprising:
operating a turbine engine, the turbine engine comprising a combustor section and a cooling system, the combustor section comprising a combustor and a combustion chamber extending radially within the combustor section between and to an inner wall of the combustor and an outer wall of the combustor, and the cooling system comprising a plurality of steam cooled zones arranged within the combustor section and about the combustion chamber, each of the steam cooled zones including a respective steam flow regulator and a respective portion of walls within the combustor;
injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, wherein the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber at a first flowrate during a first power setting, the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber at a second flowrate during a second power setting, and the second flowrate is different than the first flowrate;
combusting the fuel within the combustion chamber; and
distributing steam, using the respective steam flow regulators, between a plurality of steam cooled zones arranged about the combustion chamber to cool the respective portions of the walls within each zone, the plurality of steam cooled zones including a first zone and a second zone, wherein the steam is distributed according to a first ratio between the first zone and the second zone during the first power setting, wherein the first ratio specifies a first amount of steam to cool the portion of the walls in each zone according to first thermal loads in each zone during the first power setting, wherein the steam is distributed according to a second ratio between the first zone and the second zone during the second power setting, wherein the second ratio specifies a second amount of steam to cool the portion of the walls in each zone according to second thermal loads in each zone during the second power setting, and wherein the second ratio is different than the first ratio.
18. An assembly for a turbine engine, comprising:
a combustor comprising a combustion chamber;
a fuel system comprising a fuel injector assembly arranged with the combustor, the fuel system configured to inject fuel into the combustion chamber through the fuel injector assembly at a first flowrate during a first power setting and at a second flowrate during a second power setting, and the first flowrate different than the second flowrate; and
a cooling system including a plurality of steam cooled zones arranged about the combustion chamber, each of the steam cooled zones including a steam flow regulator and a portion of walls within the combustor, the cooling system configured to
distribute steam, using the steam flow regulators, between the plurality of steam cooled zones to cool the portions of the walls within each zone, based on a first distribution during the first power setting, wherein the first distribution specifies a first amount of steam to cool the portion of the walls in each zone according to first thermal loads in each zone during the first power setting; and
distribute the steam between the plurality of steam cooled zones based on a second distribution during the second power setting, wherein the second distribution specifies a second amount of steam to cool the portion of the walls in each zone according to second thermal loads in each zone during the second power setting, the second distribution different than the first distribution.
19. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein a first of the plurality of steam cooled zones comprises a portion of the combustor.
20. The assembly of claim 18 , further comprising:
a structure arranged with the combustor; and
a first of the plurality of steam cooled zones comprising at least a portion of the structure.