The Role of the Centerbody Wake on the Precessing Vortex Core Dynamics of a Swirl Nozzle

2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnab Mukherjee ◽  
Nishanth Muthichur ◽  
Chaitali More ◽  
Saarthak Gupta ◽  
Santosh Hemchandra
Keyword(s):  
Stability Analysis ◽  
Nozzle Exit ◽  
Vortex Core ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Spatial Separation ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Swirling Jets ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Structural Sensitivity Analysis

Abstract The precessing vortex core (PVC) phenomenon in swirling jets is a helical instability in the flow driven by the coherent precession of the vortex breakdown bubble (VBB) around the flow axis, resulting in the helical rollup of the shear layer. This instability is driven by flow processes in the region upstream of the VBB. Centerbodies, commonly employed in combustor nozzles, create a centerbody wake recirculation zone (CWRZ) that can interfere with VBB precession and hence suppress the PVC. We study this phenomenon in a swirl nozzle with a centerbody whose end face is flush with the nozzle exit plane, using large eddy simulations (LES) and linear hydrodynamic stability analysis for flow Reynolds numbers Re = 48,767 and 82,751, based on nozzle exit diameter and bulk flow velocity. For one of the Re = 82,751 cases, the centerbody end face diameter is halved, resulting in the onset of coherent VBB precession. Linear stability analysis reveals a marginally unstable mode in this case. The same mode is found to be stable in the nominal cases. Structural sensitivity analysis shows that the VBB precession eigenmode is sensitive to changes in the time-averaged flow in the VBB-CWRZ merger region. This suggests that the reduction in CWRZ length due to halving the centerbody end face diameter is the reason for the onset of VBB precession. These results suggest that in general, spatial separation between the CWRZ and VBB can result in the onset of VBB precession and the emergence of PVC oscillations in flows with swirl.

The Role of the Centerbody Wake on the Precessing Vortex Core Dynamics of a Swirl Nozzle

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnab Mukherjee ◽  
Nishanth Muthichur ◽  
Chaitali More ◽  
Saarthak Gupta ◽  
Santosh Hemchandra
Keyword(s):  
Stability Analysis ◽  
Nozzle Exit ◽  
Vortex Core ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Spatial Separation ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Swirling Jets ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core ◽  
Swirl Flows ◽  
Structural Sensitivity Analysis

Abstract The precessing vortex core (PVC) phenomenon in swirling jets is a helical instability in the flow driven by the coherent precession of the vortex breakdown bubble (VBB) around the flow axis, resulting in the helical rollup of the shear layer. This instabilitty is driven mainly by flow processes in the region upstream of the VBB. Centerbodies, commonly employed in combustor nozzles create a central wake recirculation zone (CWRZ) that can interfere with VBB precession and hence suppress the PVC. We study this phenomenon in a swirl nozzle with a centerbody whose end face is flush with the nozzle exit plane, using large eddy simulations (LES) and linear hydrodynamic stability analysis for flow Reynolds numbers Re = 48,767 and 82,751, based on nozzle exit diameter and bulk flow velocity. For one of the Re = 82,751 cases the centerbody end face diameter is halved resulting in the onset of coherent VBB precession. Linear stability analysis reveals a marginally unstable mode in this case. The same mode is found to be stable in the nominal cases. Structural sensitivity analysis for these two cases, shows that the VBB precession eigenmode is sensitive to changes in the time averaged flow in the VBB-CWRZ merger region. This suggests that the reduction in CWRZ length due to halving the centerbody end face diameter is the reason for the onset of VBB precession. These results suggest that in general, spatial separation between the CWRZ and VBB can result in the onset of VBB precession and the emergence of PVC oscillations in swirl flows.

scholarly journals Stability and Sensitivity Analysis of Hydrodynamic Instabilities in Industrial Swirled Injection Systems

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Kaiser ◽  
Thierry Poinsot ◽  
Kilian Oberleithner
Keyword(s):  
Stability Analysis ◽  
Linear Stability ◽  
Linear Stability Analysis ◽  
Vortex Core ◽  
Large Eddy Simulations ◽  
Mode Shapes ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Good Agreement

The hydrodynamic instability in an industrial, two-staged, counter-rotative, swirled injector of highly complex geometry is under investigation. Large eddy simulations show that the complicated and strongly nonparallel flow field in the injector is superimposed by a strong precessing vortex core. Mean flow fields of large eddy simulations, validated by experimental particle image velocimetry measurements are used as input for both local and global linear stability analysis. It is shown that the origin of the instability is located at the exit plane of the primary injector. Mode shapes of both global and local linear stability analysis are compared to a dynamic mode decomposition based on large eddy simulation snapshots, showing good agreement. The estimated frequencies for the instability are in good agreement with both the experiment and the simulation. Furthermore, the adjoint mode shapes retrieved by the global approach are used to find the best location for periodic forcing in order to control the precessing vortex core.

Investigations into the Precessing Vortex Core Phenomenon in Cyclone Dust Separators

1994 ◽  
Vol 208 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Yazdabadi ◽  
A J Griffiths ◽  
N Syred
Keyword(s):  
Vortex Core ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Frequency Parameter ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Swirl Number ◽  
Significant Drop ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core ◽  
Dust Separator ◽  
The Relationship

Experimental investigations have been carried out to examine the effect of downstream pipework configurations on the precessing vortex core (PVC) generated within the exhaust region of a cyclone dust separator. Characterization of the PVC using a non-dimensionalized frequency parameter (NDFP) was used to determine the relationship between Reynolds number and geometrical swirl number of the cyclone. The results show that the NDFP tends towards an asymptotic value for Reynolds numbers of about 50 000 and high swirl numbers (> 3.043). This value is reached earlier with lower swirl numbers. It was concluded that any exhaust pipework configuration produced a significant drop in the PVC frequency, and certain configurations either delayed or promoted the development of the PVC.

Impact of Precessing Vortex Core Dynamics on Shear Layer Response in a Swirling Jet

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Frederick ◽  
Kiran Manoharan ◽  
Joshua Dudash ◽  
Brian Brubaker ◽  
Santosh Hemchandra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stability Analysis ◽  
Shear Layer ◽  
Linear Stability ◽  
Linear Stability Analysis ◽  
Vortex Core ◽  
Combustion Instability ◽  
Forced Response ◽  
Longitudinal Acoustic ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core ◽  
Acoustic Forcing

Combustion instability, the coupling between flame heat release rate oscillations and combustor acoustics, is a significant issue in the operation of gas turbine combustors. This coupling is often driven by oscillations in the flow field. Shear layer roll-up, in particular, has been shown to drive longitudinal combustion instability in a number of systems, including both laboratory and industrial combustors. One method for suppressing combustion instability would be to suppress the receptivity of the shear layer to acoustic oscillations, severing the coupling mechanism between the acoustics and the flame. Previous work suggested that the existence of a precessing vortex core (PVC) may suppress the receptivity of the shear layer, and the goal of this study is to first, confirm that this suppression is occurring, and second, understand the mechanism by which the PVC suppresses the shear layer receptivity. In this paper, we couple experiment with linear stability analysis to determine whether a PVC can suppress shear layer receptivity to longitudinal acoustic modes in a nonreacting swirling flow at a range of swirl numbers. The shear layer response to the longitudinal acoustic forcing manifests as an m = 0 mode since the acoustic field is axisymmetric. The PVC has been shown both in experiment and linear stability analysis to have m = 1 and m = −1 modal content. By comparing the relative magnitude of the m = 0 and m = −1,1 modes, we quantify the impact that the PVC has on the shear layer response. The mechanism for shear layer response is determined using companion forced response analysis, where the shear layer disturbance growth rates mirror the experimental results. Differences in shear layer thickness and azimuthal velocity profiles drive the suppression of the shear layer receptivity to acoustic forcing.

scholarly journals Numerical study of the vortex breakdown and vortex reconnection in the flow path of high-pressure water turbine

2021 ◽  
Vol 2088 (1) ◽  
pp. 012040
Author(s):  
A V Sentyabov ◽  
D V Platonov ◽  
A V Minakov ◽  
A S Lobasov
Keyword(s):  
Vortex Core ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Hydraulic Turbine ◽  
Sliding Mesh ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core ◽  
Vortex Reconnection ◽  
Water Turbine ◽  
Pressure Water

Abstract The paper presents a study of the instability of the precessing vortex core in the model of the draft tube of a hydraulic turbine. The study was carried out using numerical modeling using various approaches: URANS, RSM, LES. The best agreement with the experimental data was shown by the RSM and LES methods with the modelling of the runner rotation by the sliding mesh method. In the regime under consideration, the precessing vortex rope is subject to instability, which leads to reconnection of its turns and the formation of an isolated vortex ring. Reconnection of the vortex core leads to aperiodic and intense pressure fluctuations recorded on the diffuser wall.

The Effects of Exit Boundary Condition on Precessing Vortex Core Dynamics

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Mason ◽  
Sean Clees ◽  
Mark Frederick ◽  
Jacqueline O’Connor
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Condition ◽  
Vortex Core ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Eigenvalue Decomposition ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core ◽  
Swirling Jet ◽  
Exit Boundary ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Many industrial combustion systems, especially power generation gas turbines, use fuel-lean combustion to reduce NOx emissions. However, these systems are highly susceptible to combustion instability, the coupling between combustor acoustics and heat release rate oscillations of the flame. It has been shown in previous work by the authors that a precessing vortex core (PVC) can suppress shear layer receptivity to external perturbations, reducing the potential for thermoacoustic coupling. The goal of this study is to understand the effect of combustor exit boundary condition on the flow structure of a swirling jet to increase fundamental understanding of how combustor design impacts PVC dynamics. The swirling jet is generated with a radial-entry, variable-angle swirler, and a quartz cylinder is fixed on the dump plane for confinement. Combustor exit constriction plates of different diameters are used to determine the impact of exit boundary condition on the flow field. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) is used to capture the velocity field inside the combustor. Spectral proper orthogonal decomposition, a frequency-resolved eigenvalue decomposition that can identify energetic structures in the flow, is implemented to identify the PVC at each condition in both energy and frequency space. We find that exit boundary diameter affects both the structure of the flow and the dynamics of the PVC. Higher levels of constriction (smaller diameters) force the downstream stagnation point of the vortex breakdown bubble upstream, resulting in greater divergence of the swirling jet. Further, as the exit diameter decreases, the PVC becomes less energetic and less spatially defined. Despite these changes in the base flow and PVC coherence, the PVC frequency is not altered by the exit boundary constriction. These trends will help inform our understanding of the impact of boundary conditions on both static and dynamic flame stability.

Methods for the Extraction and Analysis of the Global Mode in Swirling Jets Undergoing Vortex Breakdown

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lothar Rukes ◽  
Moritz Sieber ◽  
C. Oliver Paschereit ◽  
Kilian Oberleithner
Keyword(s):  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Flame Stabilization ◽  
Global Mode ◽  
Swirling Jets ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core ◽  
Finite Time Lyapunov Exponent ◽  
Image Velocimetry ◽  
The Impact

Swirling jets undergoing vortex breakdown are widely used in combustion applications, due to their ability to provide aerodynamic flame stabilization. It is well known that vortex breakdown is accompanied by a dominant coherent structure, the so called precessing vortex core (PVC). Reports on the impact of the PVC on the combustion process range from beneficial to detrimental. In any event, efficient methods for the analysis of the PVC help to increase the benefit or reduce the penalty resulting from it. This study uses Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements of a generic non-isothermal swirling jet to demonstrate the use of advanced data analysis techniques. In particular, the Finite Time Lyapunov Exponent (FTLE) and local linear stability analysis (LSA) are shown to reveal deep insight into the physical mechanisms that drive the PVC. Particularly, it is demonstrated that the PVC amplitude is strongly reduced, if heating is applied at the wavemaker of the flow. These techniques are complemented by the traditionally used Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) and spatial correlation techniques. It is demonstrated how these methods complement each other and lead to a comprehensive understanding of the PVC that lays out the path to efficient control strategies.

scholarly journals Coherent structures in a swirl injector at Re  = 4800 by nonlinear simulations and linear global modes

2016 ◽  
Vol 792 ◽  
pp. 620-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Tammisola ◽  
M. P. Juniper
Keyword(s):  
Shear Layer ◽  
Vortex Core ◽  
Eddy Viscosity ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Turbulent Viscosity ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Turbulent Dissipation ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core ◽  
Global Modes

The large-scale coherent motions in a realistic swirl fuel-injector geometry are analysed by direct numerical simulations (DNS), proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), and linear global modes. The aim is to identify the origin of instability in this turbulent flow in a complex internal geometry. The flow field in the nonlinear simulation is highly turbulent, but with a distinguishable coherent structure: the precessing vortex core (a spiralling mode). The most energetic POD mode pair is identified as the precessing vortex core. By analysing the fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the time coefficients of the POD modes, we conclude that the first four POD modes contain the coherent fluctuations. The remaining POD modes (incoherent fluctuations) are used to form a turbulent viscosity field, using the Newtonian eddy model. The turbulence sets in from convective shear layer instabilities even before the nonlinear flow reaches the other end of the domain, indicating that equilibrium solutions of the Navier–Stokes are never observed. Linear global modes are computed around the mean flow from DNS, applying the turbulent viscosity extracted from POD modes. A slightly stable discrete $m=1$ eigenmode is found, well separated from the continuous spectrum, in very good agreement with the POD mode shape and frequency. The structural sensitivity of the precessing vortex core is located upstream of the central recirculation zone, identifying it as a spiral vortex breakdown instability in the nozzle. Furthermore, the structural sensitivity indicates that the dominant instability mechanism is the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability at the inflection point forming near vortex breakdown. Adjoint modes are strong in the shear layer along the whole extent of the nozzle, showing that the optimal initial condition for the global mode is localized in the shear layer. We analyse the qualitative influence of turbulent dissipation in the stability problem (eddy viscosity) on the eigenmodes by comparing them to eigenmodes computed without eddy viscosity. The results show that the eddy viscosity improves the complex frequency and shape of global modes around the fuel-injector mean flow, while a qualitative wavemaker position can be obtained with or without turbulent dissipation, in agreement with previous studies. This study shows how sensitivity analysis can identify which parts of the flow in a complex geometry need to be altered in order to change its hydrodynamic stability characteristics.

scholarly journals Impact of a Centrebody on the Unsteady Flow Dynamics of A Swirl Nozzle: Intermittency of PVC Oscillations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saarthak Gupta ◽  
Santosh Hemchandra ◽  
Masayasu Shimura ◽  
Santosh Shanbhogue ◽  
Ahmed Ghoniem
Keyword(s):  
Nozzle Exit ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Flow Dynamics ◽  
Reacting Flow ◽  
Exit Plane ◽  
Swirl Combustor ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The precessing vortex core (PVC) is a self-excited flow oscillation state occurring in swirl nozzles. This is caused by the presence of a marginally unstable hydrodynamic helical mode that induces precession of the vortex breakdown bubble (VBB) around the flow axis. The PVC can impact emissions and thermoacoustic stability characteristics of combustors in various ways, as several prior studies have shown. In this paper, we examine the impact of centrebody diameter (Dc) on the PVC in a non-reacting flow in a single nozzle swirl combustor. Time resolved high speed stereoscopic PIV (sPIV) measurements are performed for combinations of two swirl numbers, S = 0.67 and 1.17 and Dc = 9.5 mm, 4.73 mm and 0 (i.e. no centrebody). The bulk flow velocity at the nozzle exit plane is kept constant as Ub = 8 m/s for all cases (Re ∼ 20,000). The centrebody end face lies in the nozzle exit plane. A new modal decomposition technique based on wavelet filtering and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) provides insight into flow dynamics in terms of global modes extracted from the data. The results show that without a centrebody, a coherent PVC is present in the flow as expected. The introduction of a centrebody makes the PVC oscillations intermittent. These results suggest two routes to intermittency as follows. For S = 0.67, the vortex breakdown bubble (VBB) and centrebody wake recirculation zone (CWRZ) regions are nominally distinct. Intermittent separation and merger due to turbulence result in PVC oscillations due to the de-stabilization of the hydrodynamic VBB precession mode of the flow. In the S = 1.17 case, the time averaged VBB position causes it to engulf the centrebody. In this case, the emergence of intermittent PVC oscillations is a result of the response of the flow to broadband stochastic forcing imposed on the time averaged vorticity field due to turbulence.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document