An Application of the Inventive Design Methodology to Thermal Systems: Improvement of the Insertion of Thermocouples in a Combustor

Although technical innovation is increasingly essential to meet the new challenges in the field of thermal engineering, it is rare the application of means supporting systematic innovation commonly used in other areas. This paper aims stimulating the use of the Inventive Design methodology in the field of thermal engineering. It discusses the improvement of a thermocouple’s mounting arrangement in a research combustor. The original design was based solely on the designer’s creativity and understanding and the solution found to conciliate wall temperature measurement with the possibility and easiness of combustor disassembly for overhaul made sacrifices in both these design criteria. The paper explores a quantitative relation obtained from beam bending theory to improve the solution as to the later criterion. However, only through the application of the theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ), specifically the contradiction matrix tool, was it possible to evolve beyond the current thermocouple arrangement paradigm and identify two new designs with potential for noticeable improvements in: reduction of measurement error, prevention of probe damage, and readiness in combustor servicing. This case study shows that Inventive Design is worth of being included in the toolbox of thermal equipment designers.