Turbulent Flame Speed as an Indicator for Flashback Propensity of Hydrogen-Rich Fuel Gases

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Chun Lin ◽  
Salvatore Daniele ◽  
Peter Jansohn ◽  
Konstantinos Boulouchos
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Turbulent Flame Speed ◽  
Velocity Gradients ◽  
Fuel Mixtures ◽  
Operational Range ◽  
Rich Mixtures

The turbulent flame speed (ST) is proposed to be an indicator of the flashback propensity for hydrogen-rich fuel gases at gas turbine relevant conditions. Flashback is an inevitable issue to be concerned about when introducing fuel gases containing high hydrogen content to gas turbine engines, which are conventionally fueled with natural gas. These hydrogen-containing fuel gases are present in the process of the integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC), with and without precombustion carbon capture, and both syngas (H2 + CO) and hydrogen with various degrees of inert dilution fall in this category. Thus, a greater understanding of the flashback phenomenon for these mixtures is necessary in order to evolve the IGCC concept (either with or without carbon capture) into a promising candidate for clean power generation. Compared to syngas, the hydrogen-rich fuel mixtures exhibit an even narrower operational envelope between the occurrence of lean blow out and flashback. When flashback occurs, the flame propagation is found to occur exclusively in the boundary layer of the pipe supplying the premixed fuel/air mixture to the combustor. This finding is based on the experimental investigation of turbulent lean-premixed nonswirled confined jet flames for three fuel mixtures with H2 > 70 vol. %. Measurements were performed up to 10 bar at a fixed bulk velocity at the combustor inlet (u0 = 40 m/s) and preheat temperature (T0 = 623 K). Flame front characteristics were retrieved via planar laser-induced fluorescence of the hydroxyl radical (OH-PLIF) diagnostics and the turbulent flame speed (ST) was derived, accordingly, from the perspective of a global consumption rate. Concerning the flashback limit, the operational range of the hydrogen-rich mixtures is found to be well represented by the velocity gradients prescribed by the flame (gc) and the flow (gf), respectively. The former (gc) is determined as ST/(Le × δL0), where Le is the Lewis number and δL0 is the calculated thermal thickness of the one-dimensional laminar flame. The latter (gf) is predicted by the Blasius correlation for fully developed turbulent pipe flow and it indicates the capability with which the flow can counteract the opposed flame propagation. Our results show that the equivalence ratios at which the two velocity gradients reach similar levels correspond well to the flashback limits observed at various pressures. The methodology is also found to be capable of predicting the aforementioned difference in the operational range between syngas and hydrogen-rich mixtures.

Turbulent Flame Speed as an Indicator for Flashback Propensity of Hydrogen-Rich Fuel Gases

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.-C. Lin ◽  
S. Daniele ◽  
P. Jansohn ◽  
K. Boulouchos
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Turbulent Flame Speed ◽  
Velocity Gradients ◽  
Fuel Mixtures ◽  
Operational Range ◽  
Rich Mixtures

The turbulent flame speed (ST) is proposed to be an indicator of flashback propensity for hydrogen-rich fuel gases at gas turbine relevant conditions. Flashback is an inevitable issue to be concerned about when introducing fuel gases containing high hydrogen content to gas turbine engines, which are conventionally fueled with natural gas. These hydrogen-containing fuel gases are present in the process of the integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) with and without pre-combustion carbon capture, and both syngas (H2 + CO) and hydrogen with various degree of inert dilution fall in this category. More understanding on the flashback phenomenon for these mixtures is thus necessary in order to evolve the IGCC concept (either with or without carbon capture) into a promising candidate for clean power generation. Compared to syngas, the hydrogen-rich fuel mixtures exhibit an even narrower operational envelope between the occurrence of lean blow out and flashback. When flashback occurs, the flame propagation is found to happen exclusively in the boundary layer of the pipe supplying the premixed fuel/air mixture to the combustor. This finding is based on the experimental investigation of turbulent, lean-premixed, non-swirled, confined jet flames for three fuel mixtures with H2 > 70 Vol. %. Measurements were performed up to 10 bar at fixed bulk velocity at the combustor inlet (u0 = 40 m/s) and preheat temperature (T0 = 623 K). Flame front characteristics were retrieved via OH-PLIF diagnostics, and turbulent flame speed (ST) was derived accordingly from the perspective of a global consumption rate. Concerning the flashback limit, the operational range of the hydrogen-rich mixtures is found to be well represented by the velocity gradients prescribed respectively by the flame (gc) and the flow (gf). The former (gc) is determined as ST/(Le × δL0), where Le is the Lewis number and δL0 is the calculated thermal thickness of the one-dimensional laminar flame. The latter (gf) is predicted by the Blasius correlation for fully developed turbulent pipe flow, and it indicates the capability with which the flow can counteract the opposed flame propagation. Our results show that the equivalence ratios at which the two velocity gradients reach similar levels correspond well to the flashback limits observed at various pressures. The methodology is also found to be capable of predicting the aforementioned difference in the operational range between syngas and hydrogen-rich mixtures.

Hydrogen–Air–Steam Deflagration Experiment Simulated Using Different Turbulent Flame-Speed Closure Models

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Holler Tadej ◽  
Ed M. J. Komen ◽  
Kljenak Ivo
Keyword(s):  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Combustion Model ◽  
Turbulent Flame Speed ◽  
Modeling Approach ◽  
Combustion Models

The paper presents the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) combustion modeling approach based on two combustion models. This modeling approach was applied to a hydrogen deflagration experiment conducted in a large-scale confined experimental vessel. The used combustion models were Zimont's turbulent flame-speed closure (TFC) model and Lipatnikov's flame-speed closure (FSC) model. The conducted simulations are aimed to aid identifying and evaluating the potential hydrogen risks in nuclear power plant (NPP) containment. The simulation results show good agreement with experiment for axial flame propagation using the Lipatnikov combustion model. However, substantial overprediction in radial flame propagation is observed using both combustion models, which consequently results also in overprediction of the pressure increase rate and overall combustion energy output. As assumed for a large-scale experiment without any turbulence inducing structures, the combustion took place in low-turbulence regimes, where the Lipatnikov combustion model, due to its inclusion of quasi-laminar source term, has advantage over the Zimont model.

Investigation of Flamelet Generated Manifold Reaction Source Term Closure Models Applied to an Industrial Gas Turbine

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Mallouppas ◽  
Graham Goldin ◽  
Yongzhe Zhang ◽  
Piyush Thakre ◽  
Jim Rogerson
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Source Term ◽  
Mixture Fraction ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Turbulent Flame Speed ◽  
Progress Variable ◽  
Flamelet Generated Manifold ◽  
Reactor Types ◽  
Industrial Gas Turbine

Abstract Three Flamelet Generated Manifold reaction source term closure options and two different reactor types are examined with Large Eddy Simulation of an industrial gas turbine combustor operating at 3 bar. This work presents the results for the SGT-100 Dry Low Emission (DLE) gas turbine provided by Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery Ltd. The related experimental study was performed at the German Aerospace Centre, DLR, Stuttgart, Germany. The FGM model approximates the thermo-chemistry in a turbulent flame as that in a simple 0D constant pressure ignition reactors and 1D strained opposed-flow premixed reactors, parametrized by mixture fraction, progress variable, enthalpy and pressure. The first objective of this work is to compare the flame shape and position predicted by these two FGM reactor types. The Kinetic Rate (KR) model, studied in this work, uses the chemical rate from the FGM with assumed shapes, which are a Beta function for mixture fraction and delta functions for reaction progress variable and enthalpy. Another model investigated is the Turbulent Flame-Speed Closure (TFC) model with Zimont turbulent flame speed, which propagates premixed flame fronts at specified turbulent flame speeds. The Thickened Flame Model (TFM), which artificially thickens the flame to sufficiently resolve the internal flame structure on the computational grid, is also explored. Therefore, a second objective of this paper is to compare KR, TFC and TFM with the available experimental data.

Combustion Characteristics and NOX Emission of Hydrogen-Rich Fuel Gases at Gas Turbine Relevant Conditions

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.-C. Lin ◽  
S. Daniele ◽  
P. Jansohn ◽  
K. Boulouchos
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Turbulent Combustion ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Elevated Pressure ◽  
Chemical Kinetic ◽  
Nox Emission ◽  
Operating Pressure ◽  
High Hydrogen ◽  
Turbulent Flame Speed ◽  
Fuel Mixtures

In this paper, characteristics of turbulent combustion and NOx emission for high hydrogen-content fuel gases (H2 > 70 vol. %; “hydrogen-rich”) are addressed. An experimental investigation is performed in a perfectly-premixed axial-dump combustor under gas turbine relevant conditions. Fundamental features of turbulent combustion for these mixtures are evaluated based on OH-PLIF diagnostics. On the other hand, NOx emissions are measured with an exhaust gas sampling probe positioned downstream the combustor outlet. Compared to syngas mixtures (H2 + CO), the operational limits for hydrogen-rich fuel gases are found to occur at even leaner conditions concerning flashback phenomena. With respect to effects of operating pressure, a strongly reduced operational envelope is observed at elevated pressure. Only with decreasing the preheat temperature a viable approach to further extend the operational range is seen. Evaluation of the averaged turbulent flame shape shows that the profile of the flame front is generally approaching that of an ideal cone. Thus a simplified approach for estimating the turbulent flame speed via the location of the flame tip alone can be applied. The level of NOx emission for the hydrogen-rich fuel mixtures is generally above that of syngas mixtures, which exhibit already higher NOx emission values than natural gas. Distinct chemical kinetic features are found specifically at elevated pressure. While the pressure effects are weak for syngas, a non-monotonic behavior is observed for the hydrogen-rich fuels. Reaction path analysis is performed to complement and provide more insight to the findings from the measurements. From chemical kinetic calculations a distinct shift in NOx formation pathways (thermal NOx vs. NOx through N2O/NNH reaction channels) can be observed for the different fuel mixtures at different pressure levels.

Large-Scale Homogeneous Hydrogen-Air-Steam Deflagration Experiment Simulated Using Two Turbulent Flame Speed Closure Models

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadej Holler ◽  
Varun Jain ◽  
Ed M. J. Komen ◽  
Ivo Kljenak
Keyword(s):  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Turbulent Flames ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Combustion Model ◽  
Turbulent Flame Speed ◽  
Combustion Models

The CFD combustion modeling approach based on two combustion models was applied to a hydrogen deflagration experiment conducted in a large-scale confined experimental vessel. The used combustion models were Zimont’s Turbulent Flames Speed Closure (TFC) model and Lipatnikov’s Flame Speed Closure (FSC) model. The conducted simulations are aimed to aid identifying and evaluating the potential hydrogen risks in Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) containment. The simulation results show good agreement with experiment for axial flame propagation using the Lipatnikov combustion model. However substantial overprediction in radial flame propagation is observed using both combustion models, which consequently results also in overprediction of the pressure increase rate and overall combustion energy output. As assumed for a large-scale experiment without any turbulence inducing structures, the combustion took place in low-turbulence regimes, where the Lipatnikov combustion model, due to its inclusion of quasi-laminar source term, has advantage over the Zimont model.

Boundary Layer Flashback Prediction for Turbulent Premixed Jet Flames: Comparison of Two Models

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Kalantari ◽  
Nicolas Auwaijan ◽  
Vincent McDonell
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Jet Flames ◽  
Turbulent Flame Speed ◽  
Turbulent Premixed

Abstract Lean-premixed combustion is commonly used in gas turbines to achieve low pollutant emissions, in particular nitrogen oxides. But use of hydrogen-rich fuels in premixed systems can potentially lead to flashback. Adding significant amounts of hydrogen to fuel mixtures substantially impacts the operating range of the combustor. Hence, to incorporate high hydrogen content fuels into gas turbine power generation systems, flashback limits need to be determined at relevant conditions. The present work compares two boundary layer flashback prediction methods developed for turbulent premixed jet flames. The Damköhler model was developed at University of California Irvine (UCI) and evaluated against flashback data from literature including actual engines. The second model was developed at Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) using data obtained at gas turbine premixer conditions and is based on turbulent flame speed. Despite different overall approaches used, both models characterize flashback in terms of similar parameters. The Damköhler model takes into account the effect of thermal coupling and predicts flashback limits within a reasonable range. But the turbulent flame speed model provides a good agreement for a cooled burner, but shows less agreement for uncooled burner conditions. The impact of hydrogen addition (0 to 100% by volume) to methane or carbon monoxide is also investigated at different operating conditions and flashback prediction trends are consistent with the existing data at atmospheric pressure.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Reduced Kinetics in Simulation of Gasified Biomass Gas Combustion

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoxiang Zhang ◽  
Nur Farizan Munjat ◽  
Jeevan Jayasuriya ◽  
Reza Fakhrai ◽  
Torsten Fransson
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Chemical Kinetics ◽  
Cfd Simulation ◽  
Laminar Flame ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Turbulent Flame Speed ◽  
Operation Conditions ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustion

It is essentially important to use appropriate chemical kinetic models in the simulation process of gas turbine combustion. To integrate the detailed kinetics into complex combustion simulations has proven to be a computationally expensive task with tens to thousands of elementary reaction steps. It has been suggested that an appropriate simplified kinetics which are computationally efficient could be used instead. Therefore reduced kinetics are often used in CFD simulation of gas turbine combustion. At the same time, simplified kinetics for specific fuels and operation conditions need to be carefully selected to fulfill the accuracy requirements. The applicability of several simplified kinetics for premixed Gasified Biomass Gas (GBG) and air combustion are evaluated in this paper. The current work is motivated by the growing demand of gasified biomass gas (GBG) fueled combustion. Even though simplified kinetic schemes developed for hydrocarbon combustions are published by various researchers, there is little research has been found in literature to evaluate the ability of the simplified chemical kinetics for the GBG combustion. The numerical Simulation tool “CANTERA” is used in the current study for the comparison of both detailed and simplified chemical kinetics. A simulated gas mixture of CO/H2/CH4/CO2/N2 is used for the current evaluation, since the fluctuation of GBG components may have an unpredictable influence on the simulation results. The laminar flame speed has an important influence with flame stability, extinction limits and turbulent flame speed, here it is chosen as an indicator for validation. The simulation results are compared with the experimental data from the previous study [1] which is done by our colleagues. Water vapour which has shown a dilution effect in the experimental study are also put into concern for further validation. As the results indicate, the reduced kinetics which are developed for hydrocarbon or hydrogen combustion need to be highly optimized before using them for GBG combustion. Further optimization of the reduced kinetics is done for GBG and moderate results are achieved using the optimized kinetics compared with the detailed combustion kinetics.

Turbulent flame speed for hydrogen-rich fuel gases at gas turbine relevant conditions

2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (35) ◽  
pp. 20242-20254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Chun Lin ◽  
Peter Jansohn ◽  
Konstantinos Boulouchos
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Turbulent Flame Speed

Effect of Centrifugal Force on Conventional and Alternative Fuel Surrogate Turbulent Premixed Flames

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro M. Briones ◽  
Balu Sekar ◽  
Timothy Erdmann
Keyword(s):  
Flame Front ◽  
Centrifugal Force ◽  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Propagation Velocity ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Premixed Flames ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Turbulent Premixed Flames ◽  
Flame Propagation Velocity ◽  
Turbulent Flame Speed

The effect of centrifugal force on flame propagation velocity of stoichiometric propane-, kerosene-, and n-octane-air turbulent premixed flames was numerically examined. The quasi-turbulent numerical model was set in an unsteady two-dimensional geometry with finite length in the transverse and streamwise directions but with infinite length in the spanwise direction. There was relatively good comparison between literature-reported measurements and predictions of propane-air flame propagation velocity as a function of centrifugal force. It was found that for all mixtures the flame propagation velocity increases with centrifugal force. It reaches a maximum then falls off rapidly with further increases in centrifugal force. The results of this numerical study suggest there are no distinct differences among the three mixtures in terms of the effect of centrifugal force on the flame propagation velocity. There are, however, quantitative differences. The numerical models are set in a non-inertial, rotating reference frame. This rotation imposes a radially outward (centrifugal) force. The ignited mixture at one end of the tube raises the temperature and its heat release tends to laminarize the flow. The attained density difference combined with the direction of the centrifugal force promotes Rayleigh-Taylor instability. This instability with thermal expansion and turbulent flame speed constitute the flame propagation mechanism towards the other tube end. A wave is also originated but propagates faster than the flame. During propagation the flame interacts with eddies that wrinkle and/or corrugate the flame. The flame front wrinkles interact with streamtubes that enhance Landau-Darrieus (hydrodynamic) instability, giving rise to a corrugated flame. Under strong stretch conditions the stabilizing equidiffusive-curvature mechanism fails and the flame front breaks up, allowing inflow of unburned mixture into the flame. This phenomenon slows down the flame temporarily and then the flame speeds up faster than before. However, if corrugation is large and the inflow of unburned mixture into the flame is excessive, the latter locally quenches and slows down the flame. This occurs when the centrifugal force is large, tending to blowout the flame. The wave in the tube interacts continuously with the flame through baroclinic torques at the flame front that further enhances the above mentioned flame-eddies interactions. Only at low centrifugal forces the wave intermingles several times with the flame before the averaged flame propagation velocity is determined. The centrifugal force does not substantially increase the turbulent flame speed as commented by previous experimental investigations. The results also suggest that an ultra-compact combustor (UCC) with high-g cavity (HGC) will be limited to centrifugal force levels in the 2000–3000g range.

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