An Investigation of Turbine Erosion by Combustor Generated Carbon in a Light Weight Marine Gas Turbine

1978 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Russell ◽  
J. J. Witton

A study has been made of the turbine erosion problem encountered in a marinized aero gas turbine which arose from the change of fuel type necessitated by the marine application. The work has involved the development of a technique for collecting carbon shed from the combustion chamber under engine operating conditions. Tests using the collector were made with a single combustor test rig and compared to engine experience. Combustion chamber modifications were developed having low solids emissions and their emissions characterized using the collector. The data from the collector show that smaller particles than hitherto collected can produce significant long-term erosion and that reduction on both size and quantity of particles is necessary to reduce erosion to acceptable levels. The data obtained in this study are compared with other published information on the basic erosion process and erosion in gas turbines by natural mineral dusts. The implications of the results to current and future engines are discussed.

Author(s):  
Marek Dzida ◽  
Krzysztof Kosowski

In bibliography we can find many methods of determining pressure drop in the combustion chambers of gas turbines, but there is only very few data of experimental results. This article presents the experimental investigations of pressure drop in the combustion chamber over a wide range of part-load performances (from minimal power up to take-off power). Our research was carried out on an aircraft gas turbine of small output. The experimental results have proved that relative pressure drop changes with respect to fuel flow over the whole range of operating conditions. The results were then compared with theoretical methods.


Author(s):  
Stefan Bauer ◽  
Balbina Hampel ◽  
Thomas Sattelmayer

Abstract Vortex generators are known to be effective in augmenting the mixing of fuel jets with air. The configuration investigated in this study is a tubular air passage with fuel injection from one single orifice placed in the side wall. In the range of typical gas turbine combustor inlet temperatures, the performance vortex generator premixers (VGPs) have already been investigated for natural gas as well as for blends of natural gas and hydrogen. However, for highly reactive fuels, the application of VGPs in recuperated gas turbines is particularly challenging because the high combustor inlet temperature leads to potential risk with regard to premature self-ignition and flame flashback. As the current knowledge does not cover the temperature range far above the self-ignition temperature, an experimental investigation of the operational limits of VGPs is currently being conducted at the Thermodynamics Institute of the Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany, which is particularly focused on reactive fuels and the thermodynamic conditions present in recuperated gas turbines with pressure ratios of 4–5. For the study presented in this paper, an atmospheric combustion VGP test rig has been designed, which facilitates investigations in a wide range of operating conditions in order to comply with the situation in recuperated microgas turbines (MGT), namely, global equivalence ratios between 0.2 and 0.7, air preheating temperatures between 288 K and 1100 K, and air bulk flow rates between 6 and 16 g/s. Both the entire mixing zone in the VGP and the primary combustion zone of the test rig are optically accessible. High-speed OH* chemiluminescence imaging is used for the detection of the flashback and blow-off limits of the investigated VGPs. Flashback and blow-off limits of hydrogen in a wide temperature range covering the autoignition regime are presented, addressing the influences of equivalence ratio, air preheating temperature, and momentum ratio between air and hydrogen on the operational limits in terms of bulk flow velocity. It is shown that flashback and blow-off limits are increasingly influenced by autoignition in the ultrahigh temperature regime.


Author(s):  
N. Rasooli ◽  
S. Besharat Shafiei ◽  
H. Khaledi

Whereas Gas Turbines are the most important producers of Propulsion and Power in the world and with attention to the importance of combustion chamber as one of the three basic components of Gas Turbine, various activities in different levels have been done on this component. Because of the environmental limitations and laws related to the pollutants such as NOx and CO, Lean Premixed Combustion Chambers are specially considered in gas turbine industries. This study is part of a Multi-Layer simulation of the whole gas turbine cycle in MPG Company. In this work, the combination of a general 1D code and CFD is used for deriving appropriate performance curves for a 1D and 0D gas turbine design, off-design and dynamic cycle code. This 1D code is a general code which has been developed for different combustion chambers; annular, can-annular, can type and silo type combustion chambers. The purpose of generating this 1D code is the possibility of fast analysis of combustors in different operating conditions and reaching required outputs. This 1D code is a part of a general simulation 1D code for gas turbine and was used for a silo type combustor performance prediction. This code generates required quantities such as pressure loss, exit temperature, liner temperature and mass distribution through the combustion chamber. Mass distribution and pressure loss are analyzed and determined with an electrical analogy. Results derived from 1D code are validated with empirical data available for different combustors. There is appropriate agreement between these experimental and analytical results. Drag coefficients for liner holes are available from experimental data and for burner are calculated as a curve with CFD simulations. What differs this code from other 1D codes for gas turbine combustors is the advantage of using combustion efficiencies evolved from numerical simulation results in different loads. These efficiencies are determined with CFD simulations and are available as maps and inserted into the gas temperature calculation algorithm of 1D code. In other 1D codes in this field, empirical correlations are used for combustion efficiency determination. Combustion efficiency curves for design and off-design conditions in this study are achieved by 2D and 3D simulation of combustion chamber with application of EBU/Finite Rate model and 8 step reactions of CH4 burning. Diffusion flame in low loads and premixed flame in high loads are considered. Flame stability and Lean Blow Out charts are evolved from CFD simulation and Heat transfer is applied with empirical correlations.


Author(s):  
Stefan Bauer ◽  
Balbina Hampel ◽  
Thomas Sattelmayer

Vortex generators are known to be effective in augmenting the mixing of fuel jets with air. The configuration investgated in this study is a tubular air passage with fuel injection from one single orifice placed in the side wall. In the range of typical gas turbine combustor inlet temperatures, the performance vortex generator premixers (VGPs) have already been investigated for natural gas as well as for blends of natural gas and hydrogen. However, for highly reactive fuels, the application of VGPs in recuperated gas turbines is particularly challenging because the high combustor inlet temperature leads to potential risk with regard to premature self-ignition and flame flashback. As the current knowledge does not cover the temperature range far above the self-ignition temperature, an experimental investigation of the operational limits of VGPs is currently being conducted at the Thermodynamics Institute of the Technical University of Munich, which is particularly focused on reactive fuels and the thermodynamic conditions present in recuperated gas turbines with pressure ratios of 4–5. For the study presented in the paper, an atmospheric combustion VGP test rig has been designed, which facilitates investigations in a wide range of operating conditions in order to comply with the situation in recuperated micro gas turbines, namely global equivalence ratios between 0.2 and 0.7, air preheating temperatures between 288K and 1100K, and air bulk flow rates between 6–16 g/s. Both the entire mixing zone in the VGP and the primary combustion zone of the test rig are optically accessible. High speed OH* chemiluminescence imaging is used for the detection of the flashback and blow-off limits of the investigated VGPs. Flashback and blow-off limits of hydrogen in a wide temperature range covering the auto-ignition regime are presented, addressing the influences of equivalence ratio, air preheating temperature and momentum ratio between air and hydrogen on the operational limits in terms of bulk flow velocity. It is shown that flashback and blow-off limits are increasingly influenced by auto-ignition in the ultra-high temperature regime.


Author(s):  
R. L. G. M. Eggels

To obtain a better understanding of the internal combustion processes of gas turbines, CFD computations of a combustion chamber, based on a Rolls-Royce industrial gas turbine, were performed. Minor simplifications are made to generate a 3-D rotational symmetric geometry. Computations are performed at typical gas turbine conditions and natural gas is used as the fuel. An internal Rolls-Royce CFD code is applied to perform the computations. This paper explains the models used for the CFD computations and describes the advantages and limitations on the applied models. The combustion process has been modelled using a two-step global reaction mechanism and Intrinsic Low Dimensional Manifold (ILDM) reduced reaction mechanisms. The global reaction mechanisms are optimised for the considered operating conditions by modification of the reaction rates so that the same burning velocity and the amplitude CO-peak are obtained as predicted by detailed reaction mechanism (GRI 2.11, Bowman 1995). This optimisation is done considering a one-dimensional laminar flame. Although the global reaction mechanism is optimised for one particular operating condition, it appears that it is suitable for use over the entire range of operating conditions. The ILDM reduced reaction mechanisms are derived from GRI 2.11. Two ILDM tables are used to model two operating conditions, as they are specific for the pressure and inlet temperature. The interaction between turbulence and chemistry is modelled using presumed Probability Density Functions (PDF). The flow field in the combustion chamber is studied at isothermal and combusting conditions. It appeared that the flow field for burning and non-burning circumstances is quite different. There is a lack of experimental data so that it is not possible to verify the CFD results in detail. However, there is knowledge about the mechanisms by which the flame is stabilised and emissions are measured in the exhaust. The predicted flame front position agrees with that which is experimentally observed. The predicted increase of CO at low power is at the same order of magnitude as the measured emissions.


Author(s):  
Houman Hanachi ◽  
Jie Liu ◽  
Avisekh Banerjee ◽  
Ying Chen ◽  
Ashok Koul

Gas turbines are often used under variable ambient conditions and power demands, which also may be off their design points. Such operating scenarios affect the typical performance parameters, such as thermal efficiency, mass flow and power. As a result, such parameters may fail to accurately indicate the structural degradation of a gas turbine. The objective of this study is to develop a robust physics-based performance indicator for a gas turbine to demonstrate the short term recoverable as well as long term non-recoverable degradation level of the engine, independent of the operating conditions. A comprehensive physics-based thermodynamic model for the gas path of a single shaft gas turbine is developed to accurately predict the cycle parameters based on limited actual operating data. Consequently, for the given ambient condition, demanded power and shaft speed, the model predicts the cycle parameters for the gas turbine in a healthy condition as the baseline. In reality, the measured parameters gradually deviate from the model, which reflects the performance deterioration of the engine caused by degradation mechanisms. In order to capture this performance deterioration, the ratio of the excess exhaust heat power with respect to the design point power, called Excess Heat Ratio (EH) is being proposed as an effective indicator. The effectiveness of the Excess Heat Ratio is examined by using 38-month operating data of an industrial gas turbine between two major overhauls. The trends of EH clearly shows its capability to capture the short term recoverable degradations and subsequent retrievals, arising from compressor fouling and subsequent wash. In addition, EH is also able to capture the trend of the long term non-recoverable degradations. The proposed indicator has the following advantages: 1) only limited data from the operating system of a gas turbine is required without the need of additional instrumentation; 2) the both short and long term degradations of the gas turbine can be quantified by a single indicator that is independent from the operating conditions; and 3) it is practically applicable for real-time monitoring and maintenance planning.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 389
Author(s):  
Jinfu Liu ◽  
Zhenhua Long ◽  
Mingliang Bai ◽  
Linhai Zhu ◽  
Daren Yu

As one of the core components of gas turbines, the combustion system operates in a high-temperature and high-pressure adverse environment, which makes it extremely prone to faults and catastrophic accidents. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the combustion system to detect in a timely way whether its performance has deteriorated, to improve the safety and economy of gas turbine operation. However, the combustor outlet temperature is so high that conventional sensors cannot work in such a harsh environment for a long time. In practical application, temperature thermocouples distributed at the turbine outlet are used to monitor the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) to indirectly monitor the performance of the combustion system, but, the EGT is not only affected by faults but also influenced by many interference factors, such as ambient conditions, operating conditions, rotation and mixing of uneven hot gas, performance degradation of compressor, etc., which will reduce the sensitivity and reliability of fault detection. For this reason, many scholars have devoted themselves to the research of combustion system fault detection and proposed many excellent methods. However, few studies have compared these methods. This paper will introduce the main methods of combustion system fault detection and select current mainstream methods for analysis. And a circumferential temperature distribution model of gas turbine is established to simulate the EGT profile when a fault is coupled with interference factors, then use the simulation data to compare the detection results of selected methods. Besides, the comparison results are verified by the actual operation data of a gas turbine. Finally, through comparative research and mechanism analysis, the study points out a more suitable method for gas turbine combustion system fault detection and proposes possible development directions.


Author(s):  
George M. Koutsothanasis ◽  
Anestis I. Kalfas ◽  
Georgios Doulgeris

This paper presents the benefits of the more electric vessels powered by hybrid engines and investigates the suitability of a particular prime-mover for a specific ship type using a simulation environment which can approach the actual operating conditions. The performance of a mega yacht (70m), powered by two 4.5MW recuperated gas turbines is examined in different voyage scenarios. The analysis is accomplished for a variety of weather and hull fouling conditions using a marine gas turbine performance software which is constituted by six modules based on analytical methods. In the present study, the marine simulation model is used to predict the fuel consumption and emission levels for various conditions of sea state, ambient and sea temperatures and hull fouling profiles. In addition, using the aforementioned parameters, the variation of engine and propeller efficiency can be estimated. Finally, the software is coupled to a creep life prediction tool, able to calculate the consumption of creep life of the high pressure turbine blading for the predefined missions. The results of the performance analysis show that a mega yacht powered by gas turbines can have comparable fuel consumption with the same vessel powered by high speed Diesel engines in the range of 10MW. In such Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) environment the gas turbine provides a comprehensive candidate as a prime mover, mainly due to its compactness being highly valued in such application and its eco-friendly operation. The simulation of different voyage cases shows that cleaning the hull of the vessel, the fuel consumption reduces up to 16%. The benefit of the clean hull becomes even greater when adverse weather condition is considered. Additionally, the specific mega yacht when powered by two 4.2MW Diesel engines has a cruising speed of 15 knots with an average fuel consumption of 10.5 [tonne/day]. The same ship powered by two 4.5MW gas turbines has a cruising speed of 22 knots which means that a journey can be completed 31.8% faster, which reduces impressively the total steaming time. However the gas turbine powered yacht consumes 9 [tonne/day] more fuel. Considering the above, Gas Turbine looks to be the only solution which fulfills the next generation sophisticated high powered ship engine requirements.


Author(s):  
Dieter Bohn ◽  
James F. Willie ◽  
Nils Ohlendorf

Lean gas turbine combustion instability and control is currently a subject of interest for many researchers. The motivation for running gas turbines lean is to reduce NOx emissions. For this reason gas turbine combustors are being design using the Lean Premixed Prevaporized (LPP) concept. In this concept, the liquid fuel must first be atomized, vaporized and thoroughly premixed with the oxidizer before it enters the combustion chamber. One problem that is associated with running gas turbines lean and premixed is that they are prone to combustion instability. The matrix burner test rig at the Institute of Steam and Gas Turbines at the RWTH Aachen University is no exception. This matrix burner is suitable for simulating the conditions prevailing in stationary gas turbines. Till now this burner could handle only gaseous fuel injection. It is important for gas turbines in operation to be able to handle both gaseous and liquid fuels though. This paper reports the modification of this test rig in order for it to be able to handle both gaseous and liquid primary fuels. Many design issues like the number and position of injectors, the spray angle, nozzle type, droplet size distribution, etc. were considered. Starting with the determination of the spray cone angle from measurements, CFD was used in the initial design to determine the optimum position and number of injectors from cold flow simulations. This was followed by hot flow simulations to determine the dynamic behavior of the flame first without any forcing at the air inlet and with forcing at the air inlet. The effect of the forcing on the atomization is determined and discussed.


1974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marv Weiss

A unique method for silencing heavy-duty gas turbines is described. The Switchback exhaust silencer which utilizes no conventional parallel baffles has at operating conditions measured attenuation values from 20 dB at 63 Hz to 45 dB at higher frequencies. Acoustic testing and analyses at both ambient and operating conditions are discussed.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document