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

Author(s):  
Saarthak Gupta ◽  
Santosh Shanbhogue ◽  
Masayasu Shimura ◽  
Ahmed F. Ghoniem ◽  
Santosh Hemchandra

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 mode that induces precession of the vortex breakdown bubble (VBB) around the flow axis. We examine the impact of a centrebody on PVC dynamics in a non-reacting flow in a swirl nozzle combustor. Time resolved high speed stereoscopic PIV measurements are performed for two swirl numbers, S=0.67 and 1.17 and three centrebody diameters, 9.5mm, 4.73mm and 0 (i.e. no centrebody). The bulk flow velocity at the nozzle exit is kept constant as Ub=8m/s for all cases (Re~20,000). The data is analyzed using a new modal decomposition technique that combines the wavelet transform and proper orthogonal decomposition (WPOD). This gives insight into globally intermittent flow dynamics. A coherent PVC is present in the flow when there is no centrebody. Introducing a centrebody makes the PVC oscillations intermittent. The WPOD results show two qualitatively different intermittent behaviours at S=0.67 and 1.17. For S=0.67, the axial position of the VBB suggests that turbulence destabilizes the PVC mode by causing intermittent separation of the VBB and centrebody wake, resulting in PVC oscillations. For S=1.17, the VBB engulfs the centrebody and stabilizes the PVC mode. Therefore, in this case, PVC oscillations appear to be the flow response to broadband stochastic forcing of the time averaged flow by turbulence.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saarthak Gupta ◽  
Santosh Hemchandra ◽  
Masayasu Shimura ◽  
Santosh Shanbhogue ◽  
Ahmed Ghoniem

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2119 (1) ◽  
pp. 012014
Author(s):  
A S Lobasov

Abstract The present paper reports on the detailed investigation of the flow dynamics and unsteady heat transfer in an impinging jet in regimes with high swirl and vortex breakdown. A combination of the time-resolved stereoscopic PIV, time-resolved PLIF and high-speed IR-thermometry methods is used. Two cases of distances between the jet nozzle and impingement surface are considered, H = d and H = 2d. The Reynolds number is fixed as Re = 5000. The temperature distribution in the flow has a maximum on the jet axis near the surface in the region of the central recirculation zone. The data are processed using the POD method to extract coherent flow structures and quantify temperature fluctuations on the impact surface. The helical vortex structure in the case of H = d influences heat transfer between the swirling jet and the surface, the temperature fluctuations on the surface reach 0.05 degrees.


Author(s):  
Michael Stöhr ◽  
Kilian Oberleithner ◽  
Moritz Sieber ◽  
Zhiyao Yin ◽  
Wolfgang Meier

Sudden changes of flame shape are an undesired, yet poorly understood feature of swirl combustors used in gas turbines. The present work studies flame shape transition mechanisms of a bistable turbulent swirl flame in a gas turbine model combustor, which alternates intermittently between an attached V-form and a lifted M-form. Time-resolved velocity fields and 2D flame structures were measured simultaneously using high-speed stereo-PIV and OH-PLIF at 10 kHz. The data analysis is performed using two novel methods that are well adapted to the study of transient flame shape transitions: Firstly, the linear stability analysis (LSA) of a time-varying mean flow and secondly the recently proposed spectral proper orthogonal decomposition (SPOD). The results show that the transitions are governed by two types of instability, namely a hydrodynamic instability in the form of a precessing vortex core (PVC) and a thermoacoustic (TA) instability. The LSA shows that the V-M transition implies the transient formation of a PVC as the result of a self-amplification process. The V-M transition, on the other hand, is induced by the appearance of a TA instability that suppresses the PVC and thereby modifies the flow field such that the flame re-attaches at the nozzle. In summary these results provide novel insights into the complex interactions of TA and hydrodynamic instabilities that govern the shape of turbulent swirl-stabilized flames.


Author(s):  
Joseph Meadows ◽  
Ajay K. Agrawal

Combustion noise and thermo-acoustic instabilities are of primary importance in highly critical applications such as rocket propulsion systems, power generation, and jet propulsion engines. Mechanisms for combustion instabilities are extremely complex because they often involve interactions among several different physical phenomena such as unsteady flame propagation leading to unsteady flow field, acoustic wave propagation, natural and forced hydrodynamic instabilities, etc. In the past, we have utilized porous inert media (PIM) to mitigate combustion noise and thermo-acoustic instabilities in both lean premixed (LPM) and lean direct injection (LDI) combustion systems. While these studies demonstrated the efficacy of the PIM concept to mitigate noise and thermo-acoustic instabilities, the actual mechanisms involved have not been understood. The present study utilizes time-resolved particle image velocimetry to measure the turbulent flow field in a non-reacting swirl-stabilized combustor without and with PIM. Although the flow field inside the annulus of the PIM cannot be observed, measurements immediately downstream of the PIM provide insight into the turbulent structures. Results are analyzed using the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) method and show that the PIM alters the flow field in an advantageous manner by modifying the turbulence structures and eliminating the corner recirculation zones and precessing vortex core, which would ultimately affect the acoustic behavior in a favorable manner.


Author(s):  
Alexander L. Brown ◽  
Kurt E. Metzinger

Transportation accidents frequently involve liquids dispersing in the atmosphere. An example is that of aircraft impacts, which often result in spreading fuel and a subsequent fire. Predicting the resulting environment is of interest for design, safety, and forensic applications. This environment is challenging for many reasons, one among them being the disparate time and length scales that must be resolved for an accurate physical representation of the problem. A recent computational method appropriate for this class of problems has been developed for modeling the impact and subsequent liquid spread. This involves coupling a structural dynamics code to a turbulent computational fluid mechanics reacting flow code. Because the environment intended to be simulated with this capability is difficult to instrument and costly to test, the existing validation data are of limited scope, relevance, and quality. A rocket sled test is being performed where a scoop moving through a water channel is being used to brake a pusher sled. We plan to instrument this test to provide appropriate scale data for validating the new modeling capability. The intent is to get high fidelity data on the break-up and evaporation of the water that is ejected from the channel as the sled is braking. These two elements are critical to fireball formation for this type of event involving fuel in the place of water. We demonstrate our capability in this paper by describing the pre-test predictions which are used to locate instrumentation for the actual test. We also present a sensitivity analysis to understand the implications of length scale assumptions on the prediction results.


Author(s):  
Danielle Mason ◽  
Sean Clees ◽  
Mark Frederick ◽  
Jacqueline O’Connor

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.


Author(s):  
P. Jochmann ◽  
A. Sinigersky ◽  
R. Koch ◽  
H.-J. Bauer

In this paper, the flow in a gas-turbine combustor with a novel air blast atomizer configuration is studied by URANS (unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes) calculations and compared to experimental data. The flow is characterized by a Reynolds number of 52000, a swirl number of 0.52 and an expansion ratio of 5. It is well known that at this high swirl level, flows exhibit a vortex breakdown which is characterized by a sudden axial deceleration in combination with a radial expansion and the formation of a stagnation point followed by a recirculation zone. At high Reynolds numbers, like in the present case, the vortex breakdown is either of a quasi-axisymmetric bubble type or of a precessing spiral type. Previous experimental studies confirmed the presence of a spiral type vortex breakdown for the configuration under concern. For the non-reacting flow, the structure as well as the frequency of the precessing vortex core is captured almost perfectly by the URANS predictions which is demonstrated by a direct comparison to LDV (Laser-Doppler Velocimetry) measurements. However, it was found that a suitable discretization as well as full three-dimensional computations are crucial in order to successfully predict the precessing spiral structure. In this context also the impact of two-equation and full transport Reynolds-stress turbulence models is discussed. After validation of the URANS method, it has been applied for developing improved designs which aim to suppress the unsteady flow pattern. The investigation of different design variants revealed that, if the mean axial velocity distribution of the flow upstream of the stagnation point is jet-like, the flow is more stable and less susceptible to the spiral type vortex breakdown. This fact which is known from laminar vortex breakdown investigations seems to be also valid for the turbulent mean flow and can be used as a design guideline for achieving a stable nearly symmetric bubble-like recirculation zone.


Author(s):  
Lothar Rukes ◽  
Moritz Sieber ◽  
C. Oliver Paschereit ◽  
Kilian Oberleithner

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.


Author(s):  
Ana Sofia Moita ◽  
Pedro Pontes ◽  
Emanuele Teodori ◽  
António Luís Nobre Moreira

The present paper explores the use of time resolved infrared IR thermography combined with high-speed imagingto describe the liquid-surface interfacial heat transfer phenomena occurring at droplet/wall interactions. Custom made calibration and post-processing methods are proposed and discussed. The results show that the methodology proposed captures very well particular details on droplet dynamics and heat transfer, allowing to identify air bubble trapping at the impact region as well as the temperature variations at the formation of the rim. Furthermore, the calibration proposed here allowed amending some physically incorrect results that were often obtained with the IR camera’s default calibration. The combined analysis of droplet dynamics (e.g. the spreading factor) with the radial temperature profiles, heat flux and cooling effectiveness computation allowed establishing qualitative and quantitative trends on the effect of various parameters on the heat transfer occurring at droplet/wall interactions. Particularly, the effect of the initial surface temperature is observed to play a minor role, as long as it is low enough to prevent the occurrence of boiling. On the other hand, extreme wetting scenarios, such as superhydrophobicity limit the heat transfer between the spreading droplet and the surface. However, the thermal analysis reveals that a major reason for this is not related to the reduced contact time of the droplet on the surface (due to rebound) or air entrapment, but is rather associated to the reduced wetted area caused by thehigh contact angles.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/ILASS2017.2017.5012


Author(s):  
Roland Rückert ◽  
Mario Eck ◽  
Dieter Peitsch ◽  
Marc Lehmann

Abstract The present work is the first of two papers investigating the operation principle of stall warning quantities. It discusses the use and implementation of novel stall warning techniques based on experimental tests. Each of the addressed techniques is based upon integral statistical analysis of time-resolved wall pressures in close proximity to the leading edge of a compressor rotor. The experiments were conducted on a low speed axial compressor test rig at the Chair of Aeroengines at the Technische Universität Berlin. The compressor suffers from a specific type of pre-stall instability. The signature within the frequency spectrum of this semi-stable operating point is in itself unique and was observed by many within the scientific community on numerous occasions and various axial compressor types, both low and high speed. Strong evidence has been elaborated which indicate that each of those so called stall warning indicator’s functionality is based upon the existence of this prestall phenomena. The first of two indicators is time-dependent as it evaluates the as-is state against surrounding operating points during transient manoeuvres. Furthermore, the impact of varying geometrical boundary conditions, which are known to regularly arise in flight operations, were taken into account. The functionality of the indicator is assured if the instrumentation is adjusted accordingly. The second indicator is mainly a location-dependent quantity as it evaluates the pressure signature along the axial direction within the rotor passage at various aerodynamic loadings. The latter also gave rise to some fundamental and preliminary understanding of the physics behind so called prestall disturbances.


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