Thermally compliant combustion cap device and system

Abstract

A combustion cap plate is disclosed. The combustion cap plate includes: a plate having a planar surface and configured to be affixed to an assembly connected to a turbine combustion chamber, the plate defining a central axis perpendicular to the planar surface; a plurality of openings through the plate; and a plurality of raised portions formed by the plate. The raised portions each extend away from the planar surface in a direction of the central axis and having a shape conforming to a thermal gradient incident on the plate during a combustion process.

1 . A combustion cap plate comprising:
 a plate having a planar surface and configured to be affixed to an assembly connected to a turbine combustion chamber, the plate defining a central axis perpendicular to the planar surface;   a plurality of openings through the plate;   a plurality of raised portions formed by the plate, the raised portions each extending away from the planar surface in a direction of the central axis and having a shape conforming to a thermal gradient incident on the plate during a combustion process.   
   
   
       2 . The combustion cap plate of  claim 1 , wherein the raised portion has a thickness that is substantially equal to a thickness of the plate 
   
   
       3 . The combustion cap plate of  claim 1 , wherein the plate has a plurality of hot portions and cool portions, the hot portions subject to a higher thermal load during combustion than the cool portions, and the shape of each of the plurality of raised portions conforms to a shape of each hot portion. 
   
   
       4 . The combustion cap plate of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings includes a central opening and a plurality of peripheral openings circumferentially located about the central axis. 
   
   
       5 . The combustion cap plate of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of raised portions is circumferentially located between a pair of the peripheral openings. 
   
   
       6 . The combustion cap plate of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of portions define a plurality of pyramidal protrusions. 
   
   
       7 . The combustion cap plate of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of raised portions define a plurality of elongated protrusions. 
   
   
       8 . The combustion cap plate of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of elongated protrusions includes a plurality of pairs of the elongated protrusions, each pair forming a “V” shape symmetrical about a radial direction on the planar surface extending perpendicularly from the central axis. 
   
   
       9 . The combustion cap plate of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of raised portions each extend in a direction toward at least one of a front of the plate and a rear of the plate. 
   
   
       10 . The combustion cap plate of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of raised portions are configured to expand in a direction away from the planar surface in response to the thermal gradient. 
   
   
       11 . A system for supplying combustible material to a gas turbine, the system including:
 an outer sleeve connectable to a combustion chamber in the gas turbine;   a plate having a planar surface and defining a central axis perpendicular to the planar surface, the plate including a plurality of fuel nozzle openings through the plate; and   a plurality of fuel nozzle cups affixed in alignment with the plurality of openings,   the plate having a plurality of raised portions, the raised portions each extending away from the planar surface in a direction of the central axis and having a shape conforming to a thermal gradient incident on the plate during a combustion process.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the raised portion has a thickness that is substantially equal to a thickness of the plate 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plate has a plurality of hot portions and cool portions, the hot portions subject to a higher thermal load during combustion than the cool portions, and the shape of each of the plurality of raised portions conforms to a shape of each hot portion. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of openings includes a central opening and a plurality of peripheral openings circumferentially located about the central axis. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of raised portions are circumferentially located between a pair of the peripheral openings. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of portions define a plurality of pyramidal protrusions. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of raised portions define a plurality of elongated protrusions. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of elongated protrusions includes a plurality of pairs of the elongated protrusions, each pair forming a “V” shape symmetrical about a radial direction on the planar surface extending perpendicularly from the central axis. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of raised portions each extend in a direction toward at least one of a front of the plate and a rear of the plate. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of raised portions are configured to expand in a direction away from the planar surface in response to the thermal gradient.