Flashback in a Swirl Burner With Cylindrical Premixing Zone

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jassin Fritz ◽  
Martin Kröner ◽  
Thomas Sattelmayer
Keyword(s):  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Swirling Flow ◽  
Laser Doppler Anemometry ◽  
Burning Velocity ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Mean Flow

Flame flashback from the combustion chamber into the mixing zone is one of the inherent problems of lean premixed combustion and essentially determines the reliability of low NOx burners. Generally, flashback can be initiated by one of the following four phenomena: flashback due to the conditions in the boundary layer, flashback due to turbulent flame propagation in the core flow, flashback induced by combustion instabilities and flashback caused by combustion induced vortex breakdown. In this study, flashback in a swirling tubular flow was investigated. In order to draw maximum benefit from the tests with respect to the application in gas turbines, the radial distribution of the axial and circumferential momentum in the tube was selected such that the typical character of a flow in mixing zones of premix burners without centerbody was obtained. A single burner test rig has been designed to provoke flashback with the preheating temperature, the equivalence ratio and the mean flow rate being the influencing parameters. The flame position within the mixing section is detected by a special optical flame sensor array, which allows the control of the experiment and furthermore the triggering of the measurement techniques. The burning velocity of the fuel has been varied by using natural gas or hydrogen. The characteristics of the flashback, the unsteady swirling flow during the flame propagation, the flame dynamics and the reaction zones have been investigated by applying High Speed Video recordings, the Laser Doppler Anemometry and the Laser Induced Fluorescence. The presented results show that a combustion induced vortex breakdown is the dominating mechansim of the observed flashback. This mechanism is very sensitive to the momentum distribution in the vortex core. By adding axial momentum around the mixing tube axis, the circumferential velocity gradient is reduced and flashback can be prevented.

Flashback in a Swirl Burner With Cylindrical Premixing Zone

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 276-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Fritz ◽  
M. Kro¨ner ◽  
T. Sattelmayer
Keyword(s):  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Swirling Flow ◽  
Laser Doppler Anemometry ◽  
Burning Velocity ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Mean Flow

Flame flashback from the combustion chamber into the mixing zone is one of the inherent problems of lean premixed combustion and essentially determines the reliability of low NOx burners. Generally, flashback can be initiated by one of the following four phenomena: flashback due to the conditions in the boundary layer, flashback due to turbulent flame propagation in the core flow, flashback induced by combustion instabilities and flashback caused by combustion induced vortex breakdown. In this study, flashback in a swirling tubular flow was investigated. In order to draw maximum benefit from the tests with respect to the application in gas turbines, the radial distribution of the axial and circumferential momentum in the tube was selected such that the typical character of a flow in mixing zones of premix burners without centerbody was obtained. A single burner test rig has been designed to provoke flashback with the preheating temperature, the equivalence ratio and the mean flow rate being the influencing parameters. The flame position within the mixing section is detected by a special optical flame sensor array, which allows the control of the experiment and furthermore the triggering of the measurement techniques. The burning velocity of the fuel has been varied by using natural gas or hydrogen. The characteristics of the flashback, the unsteady swirling flow during the flame propagation, the flame dynamics and the reaction zones have been investigated by applying high-speed video recordings, the laser Doppler anemometry and the laser induced fluorescence. The presented results show that a combustion induced vortex breakdown is the dominating mechanism of the observed flashback. This mechanism is very sensitive to the momentum distribution in the vortex core. By adding axial momentum around the mixing tube axis, the circumferential velocity gradient is reduced and flashback can be prevented.

Interaction of Flame Flashback Mechanisms in Premixed Hydrogen-Air Swirl Flames

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Sattelmayer ◽  
Christoph Mayer ◽  
Janine Sangl
Keyword(s):  
Flame Propagation ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Burning Velocity ◽  
Ambient Pressure ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Flame Stabilization ◽  
Bulk Flow ◽  
Wall Region

An experimental study is presented on the interaction of flashback originating from flame propagation in the boundary layer (1), from combustion driven vortex breakdown (2) and from low bulk flow velocity (3). In the investigations, an aerodynamically stabilized swirl burner operated with hydrogen-air mixtures at ambient pressure and with air preheat was employed, which previously had been optimized regarding its aerodynamics and its flashback limit. The focus of the present paper is the detailed characterization of the observed flashback phenomena with simultaneous high speed PIV/Mie imaging, delivering the velocity field and the propagation of the flame front in the mid plane, in combination with line-of-sight integrated OH*-chemiluminescence detection revealing the flame envelope and with ionization probes which provide quantitative information on the flame motion near the mixing tube wall during flashback. The results are used to improve the operational safety of the system beyond the previously reached limits. This is achieved by tailoring the radial velocity and fuel profiles near the burner exit. With these measures the resistance against flashback in the center as well as in the near wall region is becoming high enough to make turbulent flame propagation the prevailing flashback mechanism. Even at stoichiometric and preheated conditions this allows safe operation of the burner down to very low velocities of approx. 1/3 of the typical flow velocities in gas turbine burners. In that range the high turbulent burning velocity of hydrogen approaches the low bulk flow speed and, finally, the flame begins to propagate upstream once turbulent flame propagation becomes faster than the annular core flow. This leads to the conclusions that finally the ultimate limit for the flashback safety was reached with a configuration, which has a swirl number of approx. 0.45 and delivers NOx-emissions near the theoretical limit for infinite mixing quality, and that high fuel reactivity does not necessarily rule out large burners with aerodynamic flame stabilization by swirling flows.

scholarly journals Dynamic-Stability Characteristics of Premixed Methane Oxy-Combustion

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew P. Shroll ◽  
Santosh J. Shanbhogue ◽  
Ahmed F. Ghoniem
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Stability ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Burning Velocity ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Flame Temperature ◽  
Wave Mode ◽  
Oxygen Mixture ◽  
Quarter Wave ◽  
Fuel Mixtures

This work explores the dynamic stability characteristics of premixed CH4/O2/CO2 mixtures in a 50kW swirl stabilized combustor. In all cases, the methane-oxygen mixture is stoichiometric, with different fractions of carbon dioxide used to control the flame temperature (Tad). For the highest Tad’s, the combustor is unstable at the five-quarter wave mode. As the temperature is reduced, the combustor jumps to the three quarter mode and then to the quarter wave before eventually reaching blowoff. Similar to the case of CH4/air mixtures, the transition from one mode to another is predominantly a function of the Tad of the reactive mixture, despite significant differences in laminar burning velocity and/or strained flame consumption speed between air and oxy-fuel mixtures for a given Tad. High speed images support this finding by revealing similar vortex breakdown modes and thus similar turbulent flame geometries that change as a function of flame temperature.

Turbulent Flames in Enclosed Combustion Chambers: Characteristics and Visualization—A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdellatif M. Sadiq ◽  
Ahmad K. Sleiti ◽  
Samer F. Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Alternative Fuels ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Alternative Fuel ◽  
Turbulent Flames ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Combustion Characteristic

Abstract Remarkable progress has been achieved in measuring the flame propagation rate accurately under laminar conditions, which can be used to predict turbulent flame propagation rates using some correlations fitted to experimental data. However, such propagation rates, unlike the laminar case, cannot be unambiguously determined. Nevertheless, the advancement of laser imaging techniques has led to several definitions of turbulent burning rates (Roshan et al., 2010, “Simulation of Global Warming Effect on Outdoor Thermal Comfort Conditions,” Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol., 7(3), pp. 571–580). Recently, a unified scaling factor has been successfully demonstrated using data gathered from several fan-stirred bombs. Such results are promising in compiling a comprehensive database of turbulent propagation rates for potential and common fuels of interest to internal combustion engines (ICEs) and gas turbines alike. The strict worldwide legislation to reduce emissions has forced many industries to look into alternative fuels with less emissions. One such alternative fuel that has gained much interest recently is the gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel, which is being used in blended forms in several combustion applications. However, detailed combustion characteristic investigations are required before using this new alternative fuel widely in engines (Business, 2018, “Qatar’s Exporters Directory 2018”). In this study, the significant issues associated with the use of fan-stirred bombs are investigated. First, the effect of varying fan speed and geometry is reviewed, and then, the measurement techniques that are commonly used to track flame propagation are discussed. This is followed by the study of the effect of using different types of fuels on combustion characteristics. Furthermore, the use of diesel and gasoline optical engine setups as advanced flame visualization tools have been reviewed extensively.

scholarly journals Dynamic-Stability Characteristics of Premixed Methane Oxy-Combustion

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew P. Shroll ◽  
Santosh J. Shanbhogue ◽  
Ahmed F. Ghoniem
Keyword(s):  
Natural Frequency ◽  
Dynamic Stability ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Burning Velocity ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Flame Temperature ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Oxygen Mixture ◽  
Fuel Mixtures

This work explores the dynamic stability characteristics of premixed CH4/O2/CO2 mixtures in a 50 kW swirl stabilized combustor. In all cases, the methane-oxygen mixture is stoichiometric, with different dilution levels of carbon dioxide used to control the flame temperature (Tad). For the highest Tad’s, the combustor is unstable at the first harmonic of the combustor’s natural frequency. As the temperature is reduced, the combustor jumps to fundamental mode and then to a low-frequency mode whose value is well below the combustor’s natural frequency, before eventually reaching blowoff. Similar to the case of CH4/air mixtures, the transition from one mode to another is predominantly a function of the Tad of the reactive mixture, despite significant differences in laminar burning velocity and/or strained flame consumption speed between air and oxy-fuel mixtures for a given Tad. High speed images support this finding by revealing similar vortex breakdown modes and thus similar turbulent flame geometries that change as a function of flame temperature.

Interaction of Flame Flashback Mechanisms in Premixed Hydrogen–Air Swirl Flames

2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Sattelmayer ◽  
Christoph Mayer ◽  
Janine Sangl
Keyword(s):  
Flame Propagation ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Burning Velocity ◽  
Ambient Pressure ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Flame Stabilization ◽  
Bulk Flow ◽  
Wall Region

An experimental study is presented on the interaction of flashback originating from flame propagation in the boundary layer (1), from combustion driven vortex breakdown (2) and from low bulk flow velocity (3). In the investigations, an aerodynamically stabilized swirl burner operated with hydrogen–air mixtures at ambient pressure and with air preheat was employed, which previously had been optimized regarding its aerodynamics and its flashback limit. The focus of the present paper is the detailed characterization of the observed flashback phenomena with simultaneous high speed (HS) particle image velocimetry (PIV)/Mie imaging, delivering the velocity field and the propagation of the flame front in the mid plane, in combination with line-of-sight integrated OH*-chemiluminescence detection revealing the flame envelope and with ionization probes which provide quantitative information on the flame motion near the mixing tube wall during flashback. The results are used to improve the operational safety of the system beyond the previously reached limits. This is achieved by tailoring the radial velocity and fuel profiles near the burner exit. With these measures, the resistance against flashback in the center as well as in the near wall region is becoming high enough to make turbulent flame propagation the prevailing flashback mechanism. Even at stoichiometric and preheated conditions this allows safe operation of the burner down to very low velocities of approximately 1/3 of the typical flow velocities in gas turbine burners. In that range, the high turbulent burning velocity of hydrogen approaches the low bulk flow speed and, finally, the flame begins to propagate upstream once turbulent flame propagation becomes faster than the annular core flow. This leads to the conclusions that finally the ultimate limit for the flashback safety was reached with a configuration, which has a swirl number of approximately 0.45 and delivers NOx emissions near the theoretical limit for infinite mixing quality, and that high fuel reactivity does not necessarily rule out large burners with aerodynamic flame stabilization by swirling flows.

Experimental Investigation of the Flashback Limits and Flame Propagation Mechanisms for Premixed Hydrogen-Air Flames in Non-Swirling and Swirling Flow

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg Baumgartner ◽  
Thomas Sattelmayer
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Swirling Flow ◽  
Laser Sheet ◽  
Mie Scattering ◽  
Propagation Path ◽  
Wall Boundary Layer ◽  
Wall Boundary

In modern industrial gas turbines swirling flow is widely used for stabilizing flames at the transition from the burner to the combustor. In premixed combustion systems using highly reactive fuels, flashback due to combustion induced vortex breakdown (CIVB) has been observed frequently when swirl was present. This paper focuses on the effect of low swirl intensities on the flashback propensity and the predominant flashback mechanisms in a hydrogen-air tube burner. An existing test rig with a vertical quartz tube and a generic swirl generator has been used. At the tube exit the flame was stabilized in the free atmosphere. The turbulent flashback limits were measured for hydrogen-air mixtures at atmospheric conditions over a broad range of equivalence ratios for both non-swirling and swirling flow. The upstream flame propagation during flashback was observed through the OH*-chemiluminescence captured by two synchronized intensified high-speed cameras in a 90° arrangement, both looking at the flame from the side. In addition to that, a high-speed particle image velocimetry (PIV) system was used to insert a horizontal laser sheet into the vertical tube in order to investigate the propagation path of the leading flame tip through a time series of Mie-scattering images from the bottom. As expected, it turned out that the flame always flashes back along the wall boundary layer for non-swirling flow. For swirling flow it could be shown that again only boundary layer flashback takes place for equivalence ratios lower than ϕ≈0.75. In this rather lean region, the resistance against flashback is improved compared to non-swirling flow due to higher wall velocity gradients. For higher equivalence ratios, flashback is initiated through CIVB. That is, the flame enters the tube on the burner centerline until its tail gets in touch with the burner walls. Subsequently, there is a shift in flashback mechanism and the flame propagates further upstream along the wall boundary layer. For the given setup and these near-stoichiometric mixture compositions, this resulted in a significantly increased flashback propensity when compared with non-swirling flames. The present studies showed that imposing low swirl upon the burner flow can improve the resistance against boundary layer flashback for low and moderate equivalence ratios, whereas the change to the CIVB mechanism deteriorates the performance for high equivalence ratios.

scholarly journals Experimental Study of Transient Mechanisms of Bi-Stable Flame Shape Transitions in a Swirl Combustor

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Stöhr ◽  
Kilian Oberleithner ◽  
Moritz Sieber ◽  
Zhiyao Yin ◽  
Wolfgang Meier
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbines ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Hydrodynamic Instability ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Swirl Combustor ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core ◽  
Amplification Process ◽  
Flame Shape ◽  
Shape Transitions

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.

Investigation of the Dynamics of an Ultra Low NOx Injection System by POD Data Post-Processing

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Berrino ◽  
D. Lengani ◽  
F. Satta ◽  
M. Ubaldi ◽  
P. Zunino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Swirling Flow ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Injection System ◽  
Post Processing ◽  
Particle Image Velocimetry Technique ◽  
Annular Sector ◽  
Random Fluctuations

The present paper is focused on the investigation of the dynamics of the flow downstream of an Ultra Low NOx (ULN) injection system, designed to reduce NOx emissions and combustor axial length. Two rectangular flame tubes have been experimentally investigated: one aimed at simulating an unconfined exit flow, and another with the same transverse dimensions of the combustor annular sector, to simulate the confined flow field. The effects induced by the realistic flame tube presence are investigated comparing the flow field with that generated in the unconfined case. Particular attention is paid to the vortex breakdown phenomena associated with the flow generated by the two co-rotating swirlers constituting the injection system. Two different and complementary measurement techniques have been adopted to characterize the aerodynamics of the vortex breakdown. The hot-wire investigation results reveal the frequencies associated with the precession motion due to the vortex breakdown. The Particle Image Velocimetry technique has been coupled with Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) for data post-processing in order to reconstruct the swirling motion generated by the injection system. The property of POD, which consists of splitting temporal from spatial information of the flow field in analysis, allows the distinction between deterministic and random fluctuations without the need of an external trigger signal. This feature is fundamental for the better understanding of an highly-swirling flow.

Investigation of Fuel and Load Flexibility in a SGT-600/700/800 Burner Under Atmospheric Pressure Conditions Using High-Speed Oh-Plif and Oh Chemiluminescence Imaging

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arman Ahamed Subash ◽  
Haisol Kim ◽  
Sven-Inge Möller ◽  
Mattias Richter ◽  
Christian Brackmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Recirculation Zone ◽  
Burning Velocity ◽  
Flame Stabilization ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Optical Measurements ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Pilot Fuel

Abstract Experimental investigations were performed using a standard 3rd generation dry low emission (DLE) burner under atmospheric pressure to study the effect of central and pilot fuel addition, load variations and H2 enrichment in a NG flame. High-speed OH-PLIF and OH-chemiluminescence imaging were employed to investigate the flame stabilization, flame turbulence interactions, and flame dynamics. Along with the optical measurements, combustion emissions were recorded to observe the effect of changing operating conditions on NOX level. The burner is used in Siemens industrial gas turbines SGT-600, SGT-700 and SGT-800 with minor hardware differences. This study thus is a step to characterize fuel and load flexibility for these turbines. Without pilot and central fuel injections in the current burner configuration, the main flame is stabilized creating a central recirculation zone. Addition of the pilot fuel strengthens the outer recirculation zone (ORZ) and moves the flame slightly downstream, whereas the flame moves upstream without affecting the ORZ when central fuel injection is added. The flame was investigated utilizing H2/NG fuel mixtures where the H2 amount was changed from 0 to 100%. The flame becomes more compact, the anchoring position moves closer to the burner exit and the OH signal distribution becomes more distinct for H2 addition due to increased reaction rate, diffusivity, and laminar burning velocity. Changing the load from part to base, similar trends were observed in the flame behavior but in this case due to the higher heat release because of increased turbulence intensity.

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