scholarly journals Monte Carlo Simulation for Radiative Transfer in a High-Pressure Industrial Gas Turbine Combustion Chamber

Author(s):  
Tao Ren ◽  
Michael F. Modest ◽  
Somesh Roy

Radiative heat transfer is studied numerically for reacting swirling flow in an industrial gas turbine burner operating at a pressure of 15 bar. The reacting field characteristics are computed by Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations using the k-ϵ model with the partially stirred reactor (PaSR) combustion model. The GRI-Mech 2.11 mechanism, which includes nitrogen chemistry, is used to demonstrate the ability of reducing NOx emissions of the combustion system. A photon Monte Carlo (PMC) method coupled with a line-by-line (LBL) spectral model is employed to accurately account for the radiation effects. Optically thin (OT) and PMC–gray models are also employed to show the differences between the simplest radiative calculation models and the most accurate radiative calculation model, i.e., PMC–LBL, for the gas turbine burner. It was found that radiation does not significantly alter the temperature level as well as CO2 and H2O concentrations. However, it has significant impacts on the NOx levels at downstream locations.

Author(s):  
Tao Ren ◽  
Michael F. Modest ◽  
Somesh Roy

Radiative heat transfer is studied numerically for reacting swirling flow in an industrial gas turbine burner operating at a pressure of 15 bar. The reacting field characteristics are computed by Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations using the k-ε model with the partially stirred reactor (PaSR) combustion model. The GRI-Mech 2.11 mechanism, which includes nitrogen chemistry, is used to demonstrate the the ability of reducing NOx emissions of the combustion system. A Photon Monte Carlo (PMC) method coupled with a line-by-line spectral model is employed to accurately account for the radiation effects. CO2, H2O and CO are assumed to be the only radiatively participating species and wall radiation is considered as well. Optically thin and PMC-gray models are also employed to show the differences between the simplest radiative calculation models and the most accurate radiative calculation model, i.e., PMC-LBL, for the gas turbine burner. It was found that radiation does not significantly alter the temperature level as well as CO2 and H2O concentrations. However, it has significant impacts on the NOx levels at downstream locations.


Author(s):  
Alessandro Innocenti ◽  
Antonio Andreini ◽  
Andrea Giusti ◽  
Bruno Facchini ◽  
Matteo Cerutti ◽  
...  

In the present paper a numerical analysis of a low NOx partially premixed burner for industrial gas turbine applications is presented. The first part of the work is focused on the study of the premixing process inside the burner. Standard RANS CFD approach was used: k–ε turbulence model was modified and calibrated in order to find a configuration able to fit available experimental profiles of fuel/air concentration at the exit of the burner. The resulting profiles at different test points have been used to perform reactive simulations of an experimental test rig, where exhaust NOx emissions were measured. An assessment of the turbulent combustion model was carried out with a critical investigation of the expected turbulent combustion regimes in the system and taking into account the partially premixed nature of the flame due to the presence of diffusion type pilot flames. A reliable numerical setup was discovered by comparing predicted and measured NOx emissions at different operating conditions and at different split ratio between main and pilot fuel. In the investigated range, the influence of the premixer in the NOx formation rate was found to be marginal if compared with the pilot flame one. The calibrated numerical setup was then employed to explore possible modifications to fuel injection criteria and fuel split, with the aim of minimizing exhaust NOx emissions. This preliminary numerical screening of alternative fuel injection strategies allowed to define a set of advanced configurations to be investigated in future experimental tests.


1996 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 308-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Durbin ◽  
M. D. Vangsness ◽  
D. R. Ballal ◽  
V. R. Katta

A prime requirement in the design of a modern gas turbine combustor is good combustion stability, especially near lean blowout (LBO), to ensure an adequate stability margin. For an aeroengine, combustor blow-off limits are encountered during low engine speeds at high altitudes over a range of flight Mach numbers. For an industrial combustor, requirements of ultralow NOx emissions coupled with high combustion efficiency demand operation at or close to LBO. In this investigation, a step swirl combustor (SSC) was designed to reproduce the swirling flow pattern present in the vicinity of the fuel injector located in the primary zone of a gas turbine combustor. Different flame shapes, structure, and location were observed and detailed experimental measurements and numerical computations were performed. It was found that certain combinations of outer and inner swirling air flows produce multiple attached flames, aflame with a single attached structure just above the fuel injection tube, and finally for higher inner swirl velocity, the flame lifts from the fuel tube and is stabilized by the inner recirculation zone. The observed difference in LBO between co- and counterswirl configurations is primarily a function of how the flame stabilizes, i.e., attached versus lifted. A turbulent combustion model correctly predicts the attached flame location(s), development of inner recirculation zone, a dimple-shaped flame structure, the flame lift-off height, and radial profiles of mean temperature, axial velocity, and tangential velocity at different axial locations. Finally, the significance and applications of anchored and lifted flames to combustor stability and LBO in practical gas turbine combustors are discussed.


Author(s):  
Holger Ax ◽  
Ulrich Stopper ◽  
Wolfgang Meier ◽  
Manfred Aigner ◽  
Felix Güthe

Experimental results from optical and laser spectroscopic measurements on a scaled industrial gas turbine burner at elevated pressure are presented. Planar laser induced fluorescence on the OH radical and OH∗ chemiluminescence imaging were applied to natural gas/air flames for a qualitative analysis of the position and shape of the flame brush, the flame front and the stabilization mechanism. The results exhibit two different ways of flame stabilization, a conical more stable flame and a pulsating opened flame. For quantitative results, one-dimensional laser Raman scattering was applied to these flames and evaluated on an average and single-shot basis in order to simultaneously determine the major species concentrations, the mixture fraction, and the temperature. The mixing of fuel and air, as well as the reaction progress, could thus be spatially and temporally resolved, showing differently strong variations depending on the flame stabilization mode and the location in the flame.


Author(s):  
Mark D. Durbin ◽  
Marlin D. Vangsness ◽  
Dilip R. Ballal ◽  
Viswanath R. Katta

A prime requirement in the design of a modem gas turbine combustor is good combustion stability, especially near lean blowout (LBO), to ensure an adequate stability margin. For an aeroengine, combustor blow-off limits are encountered during low engine speeds at high altitudes over a range of flight Mach numbers. For an industrial combustor, requirements of ultra-low NOx emissions coupled with high combustion efficiency demand operation at or close to LBO. In this investigation, a step swirl combustor (SSC) was designed to reproduce the swirling flow pattern present in the vicinity of the fuel injector located in the primary zone of a gas turbine combustor. Different flame shapes, structure and location were observed and detailed experimental measurements and numerical computations were performed. It was found that certain combinations of outer and inner swirling air flows produce multiple attached flames, a flame with a single attached structure just above the fuel injection tube, and finally for higher inner swirl velocity, the flame lifts from the fuel tube and is stabilized by the inner recirculation zone. The observed difference in LBO between co- and counter-swirl configurations is primarily a function of how the flame stabilizes i.e., attached vs. lifted. A turbulent combustion model correctly predicts the attached flame location(s), development of inner recirculation zone, a dimple-shaped flame structure, the flame lift-off height, and radial profiles of mean temperature, axial velocity, and tangential velocity at different axial locations. Finally, the significance and applications of anchored and lifted flames to combustor stability and LBO in practical gas turbine combustors are discussed.


Author(s):  
Piyush Thakre ◽  
Ivana Veljkovic ◽  
Vincent Lister ◽  
Graham Goldin

Abstract We present a robust, fast, and highly-automated Reactor Network model within a single simulation framework in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. An industrial gas turbine combustor operating at 3 bar is numerically investigated using the GRI 3.0 chemical mechanism. A baseline CFD solution with RANS and Flamelet Generated Manifold combustion model was used to create the network of reactors. A number of model variations have been investigated, such as the use of constant pressure vs. perfectly stirred reactors. Two options for the temperature solution are considered, namely temperature mapped from the CFD solution and temperature computed from an equation of state. Different numbers of reactors are investigated to understand the overall sensitivity on the key combustion results. It was found that with appropriate clustering variables, using a few thousand reactors provide a reasonable representation of the species fields. The simulation results are compared with the available experimental data for the combustor. The NOx and CO emissions predictions with the Reactor Network model perform better than the baseline CFD model. The Reactor Network model was about ∼3 orders of magnitude faster than a detailed chemistry CFD of the same combustor.


Author(s):  
J. Zelina ◽  
J. W. Blust ◽  
D. R. Ballal

The design and development of low-emissions, lean premixed aero, or industrial gas turbine combustors is very challenging because of a need to satisfy conflicting requirements of combustion performance and emissions. A toroidal well stirred reactor (WSR) provides a laboratory idealization of an efficient, highly compact primary zone of a gas turbine combustor and facilitates the study of combustion and emissions. The WSR was used to study emissions from heptane and JP-7 fuels. It was found that the measured concentrations of CO2 and O2 agreed closely with the predictions of the equilibrium concentration. CO emissions for ϕ > 0.77 followed the equilibrium predictions reasonably well. But for ϕ < 0.77, the measured CO values were much higher than the equilibrium values. NOx emission increased as equivalence ratio approaches unity. Tests conducted at a constant equivalence ratio and residence time demonstrated an appreciable increase in CO and a modest increase in NOx with an increase in the (C/H) mole ratio. Therefore, a combustor designer should be concerned that jet fuels with lower hydrogen content will produce increased emissions of gaseous pollutants.


Author(s):  
Andrei Secareanu ◽  
Dragan Stankovic ◽  
Laszlo Fuchs ◽  
Vladimir Milosavljevic ◽  
Jonas Holmborn

The airflow field and spray characteristics from an air blast type of injector in an industrial gas turbine (GT) combustor geometry have been investigated experimentally and numerically. The flame in the current combustor is stabilized by a highly swirling flow. The stabilization of the flame is strongly dependent on the stability of the flow field out from the injector and into the combustor. Liquid fuel spray formation in the current type of injector is highly dependent on the airflow from the internal swirler, which supplies the shear to break the liquid film, and form the spray. Experiments were performed in a Perspex model of a 12° sector of the combustor with airflow scaled to atmospheric conditions. The geometry was comprised of the air section including the full primary zone, injector, combustor swirler, front panel and primary air jets. The flow field was visualized using particles that were illuminated by a laser sheet. Quantitative characterization was done using LDA. The airflow field was characterized by the mean flow pattern covering the full cross-section of the flow field and additional long time measurements at a number of locations in order to capture frequency content of the flow. Isothermal spray measurements were performed in an unconfined geometry including the injector, swirl generator and front panel. The spray uniformity was qualitatively investigated using video camera and quantitatively characterized by PDA. The studies of the flow field and fuel atomization (droplet size and density) under different conditions are summarized below.


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