Numerical Studies on Trapped-Vortex Concepts for Stable Combustion

1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. R. Katta ◽  
W. M. Roquemore

Spatially locked vortices in the cavities of a combustor aid in stabilizing the flames. On the other hand, these stationary vortices also restrict the entrainment of the main air into the cavity. For obtaining good performance characteristics in a trapped-vortex combustor, a sufficient amount of fuel and air must be injected directly into the cavity. This paper describes a numerical investigation performed to understand better the entrainment and residence-time characteristics of cavity flows for different cavity and spindle sizes. A third-order-accurate time-dependent Computational Fluid Dynamics with Chemistry (CFDC) code was used for simulating the dynamic flows associated with forebody-spindle-disk geometry. It was found from the nonreacting flow simulations that the drag coefficient decreases with cavity length and that an optimum size exists for achieving a minimum value. These observations support the earlier experimental findings of Little and Whipkey (1979). At the optimum disk location, the vortices inside the cavity and behind the disk are spatially locked. It was also found that for cavity sizes slightly larger than the optimum, even though the vortices are spatially locked, the drag coefficient increases significantly. Entrainment of the main flow was observed to be greater into the smaller-than-optimum cavities. The reacting-flow calculations indicate that the dynamic vortices developed inside the cavity with the injection of fuel and air do not shed, even though the cavity size was determined based on cold-flow conditions.

Author(s):  
Viswanath R. Katta ◽  
W. M. Roquemore

Spatially locked vortices in the cavities of a combustor aid in stabilizing the flames. On the other hand, these stationary vortices also restrict the entrainment of the main air into the cavity. For obtaining good performance characteristics in a trapped-vortex combustor, a sufficient amount of fuel and air must be injected directly into the cavity. This paper describes a numerical investigation performed to better understand the entrainment and residence-time characteristics of cavity flows for different cavity and spindle sizes. A third-order-accurate time-dependent Computational Fluid Dynamics with Chemistry (CFDC) code was used for simulating the dynamic flows associated with forebody-spindle-disk geometry. It was found from the non-reacting flow simulations that the drag coefficient decreases with cavity length and that an optimum size exists for achieving a minimum value. These observations support the earlier experimental findings of Little and Whipkey (1979). At the optimum disk location, the vortices inside the cavity and behind the disk are spatially locked. It was also found that for cavity sizes slightly larger than the optimum, even though the vortices are spatially locked, the drag coefficient increases significantly. Entrainment of the main flow was observed to be greater into the smaller-than-optimum cavities. The reacting-flow calculations indicate that the dynamic vortices developed inside the cavity with the injection of fuel and air do not shed, even though the cavity size was determined based on cold-flow conditions.


Author(s):  
Sandeep Kedukodi ◽  
Srinath Ekkad

Established numerical approaches for performing detailed flow analysis happens to be an effective tool for industry based applied research. In the present study, computations are performed on multiple gas turbine combustor geometries for turbulent, non-reactive and reactive swirling flow conditions for an industrial swirler. The purpose of this study is to identify the location of peak convective heat transfer along the combustor liner under swirling inlet flow conditions and to investigate the influence of combustor geometry on the flow field. Instead of modeling the actual swirler along with the combustor, an inlet swirl flow profile is applied at the inlet boundary based on previous literature. Initially, the computed results are validated against available experimental data for an inlet Reynolds number flow of 50000 using a 2D axi-symmetric flow domain for non-reacting conditions. A constant heat flux on the liner is applied for the study. Two turbulence models (RNG k-ε and k-ω SST) are utilized for the analysis based on its capability to simulate swirling flows. It is found that both models predict the peak liner heat transfer location similar to experiments. However, k-ε RNG model predicts heat transfer magnitude much closer to the experimental values except displaying an additional peak whereas k-ω model predicts only one peak but tends to over-predict in magnitude. Since the overall characteristic liner heat transfer trend is captured well by the latter one, it is chosen for future computations. A 3D sector (30°) model results also show similar trends as 2D studies. Simulations are then extended to 3 different combustors (Case 1: full cylinder and Case 2 and 3: cylinders with downstream contractions having reduced exit areas) by adopting the same methodology for same inlet flow conditions. Non-reacting simulations predict that the peak heat transfer location is marginally reduced by the downstream contraction of the combustor. However the peak location shifts towards downstream due to the presence of accelerated flow. Reacting flow simulations are performed with Flamelet Generation Manifold (FGM) model for simulating premixed combustion for the same inlet flow conditions as above. It is observed that Case 3 predicts a threefold increase in the exit flow velocity in comparison to non-reacting flow simulations. The liner heat transfer predictions show that both geometries predict similar peak temperatures. However, only one fourth of the initial liner length experiences peak temperature for Case 1 whereas the latter continues to feel the peak till the end. This behavior of Case 3 can be attributed to rapid convection of high temperature products downstream due to the prevailing accelerated flow.


2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Luke ◽  
Xiao-Ling Tong ◽  
Junxiao Wu ◽  
Lin Tang ◽  
Pasquale Cinnella

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Igra ◽  
Ozer Igra ◽  
Lazhar Houas ◽  
Georges Jourdan

Simulations of experimental results appearing in Jourdan et al. (2007, “Drag Coefficient of a Sphere in a Non-Stationary Flow: New Results,”Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A, 463, pp. 3323–3345) regarding acceleration of a sphere by the postshock flow were conducted in order to find the contribution of the various parameters affecting the sphere drag force. Based on the good agreement found between present simulations and experimental findings, it is concluded that the proposed simulation scheme could safely be used for evaluating the sphere’s motion in the postshock flow.


2010 ◽  
Vol 114 (1155) ◽  
pp. 333-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Vengadesan ◽  
C. Sony

Abstract The Trapped Vortex Combustor (TVC) is a new design concept in which cavities are designed to trap a vortex flow structure established through the use of driver air jets located along the cavity walls. TVC offers many advantages when compared to conventional swirl-stabilised combustors. In the present work, numerical investigation of cold flow (non-reacting) through the two-cavity trapped vortex combustor is performed. The numerical simulation involves passive flow through the two-cavity TVC to obtain an optimum cavity size to trap stable vortices inside the second cavity and to observe the characteristics of the two cavity TVC. From the flow attributes, it is inferred that vortex stability is achieved by circulation and the vortex is trapped inside when a second afterbody is added.


2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin M. Beal ◽  
Ofodike A. Ezekoye

Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) is a widely used fire fighting tactic in which a fan is used to push hot products of fire out of a burning structure. There is a recent body of research that has been conducted regarding the advantages and disadvantages of PPV. Studies of PPV most commonly use full scale experimental fires and/or computational simulations to evaluate its effectiveness. This paper presents computational simulations that have been conducted using Fire Dynamic Simulator (FDS) version 5 to evaluate the effects of exit vent location on resulting fire room conditions during the application of PPV to a ventilation constrained fire. The simulations use a simple one room structure with an adjacent hallway. We are simulating this geometry because we are in the process of designing and constructing a similar experimental compartment. Cold flow simulations are first conducted to understand how much the presence of the fire heat release affects the flow patterns. Then, two simulations which employ PPV with different exit vent locations are compared. The differences between the two simulations are detailed and a physical explanation for the differences is presented.


1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (3) ◽  
pp. H1177-H1183 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Sun ◽  
G. Kaley ◽  
A. Koller

Responses to changes in intravascular pressure of isolated rat gracilis muscle arterioles were investigated under no-flow conditions. First-, second-, and third- order arterioles were isolated and cannulated. Vascular diameters were measured with an image-shearing device and then recorded. In response to the step increases in perfusion pressure (from 20 to 160 mmHg, by 10- or 20-mmHg steps) arterioles constricted and developed active tone. For example, at 100, 80, and 50 mmHg pressure the steady-state active diameters of 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-order arterioles were 76.9 +/- 1.6, 32.3 +/- 1.1 and 22.3 +/- 3.2 microns, respectively. At the same perfusion pressure, by use of a Ca(2+)-free solution (ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid; 1 mM) containing sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 10(-4) M), the passive diameters (PD) of these vessels were 161.8 +/- 3.2, 76.0 +/- 1.7, and 47.6 +/- 2.2 microns. The negative slopes of the pressure-diameter curves indicate that in the physiological pressure range an inverse relationship exists between the arteriolar diameter and intravascular pressure. The maximum constriction expressed as a percent of PD was similar in the various sized arterioles (approximately 60%) but was reached at lower pressures in the smaller vessels. The vasoactive function of endothelium and vascular smooth muscle was assessed by the responses of arterioles to acetylcholine (ACh; 10(-6) M) and SNP (5 x 10(-8) M) before and after removal of the endothelium with air. After removal of the endothelium, dilation to ACh was abolished while dilation to SNP was retained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Author(s):  
Jefte da Silva Guimarães ◽  
Valéria Serrano Faillace Oliveira Leite ◽  
Dermeval Carinhana Junior ◽  
Marco Antônio Sala Minucci

For studies of hypersonic flows and supersonic combustion in ground test facilities, three devices can be used as ram accelerators, shock tunnels and supersonic combustor test benches. These devices can reproduce, on the ground, similar conditions to those in real flight at a certain altitude and speed. In the case of the supersonic combustor test bench (SCTB), it simulates the same flow conditions inside the combustor of a scramjet. The SCTB consists basically of a combustion chamber or vitiated air generator unit, where the air is heated, and a nozzle, where the air is accelerated to the desired test speed. The supersonic combustor to be tested is directly coupled to the nozzle exit of the SCTB. Ultimately, it was necessary to use a transition piece to connect the nozzle to the combustor to be tested, because the nozzle exit has a circular section and the combustor entrance has a rectangular one. This work aims to present the process of characterizing the cold flow along the SCTB of the Institute for Advanced Studies (IEAv) using the schlieren technique. The interference of the transition piece in obtaining the required flow conditions at the exit of the SCTB or the entrance of the combustor was mainly evaluated.


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