Application of a Partially Premixed Laminar Flamelet Model to a Low Emissions Gas Turbine Combustor

Author(s):  
T. J. Held ◽  
H. C. Mongia

Computational combustion dynamics simulations have been used widely for the design and analysis of conventional rich dome combustors using a fast chemistry assumed shape PDF approach (Shyy et al. 1986) and/or an eddy-breakup model (Valachovic, 1993, Danis et al., 1996). The application of these tools to ultra-low emissions combustors such as the GE LM6000 DLE has been hampered by the inadequacies of the eddy break-up combustion model. In the present work, a partially-premixed laminar flamelet combustion model, based initially on the model of Müller et al. (1994), is applied to an LM6000 single cup combustor. The basic fluid mechanical code is ACC, using the k-ε turbulence model (Prakash, et al., 1998). Assumed-shape PDF models are used for mixture fraction Z(x), and the scalar field G(x), whose level surfaces G = G0 represent the flame location. The model includes the effects of local strain rate on flame propagation rate and extinction through modification of the turbulent flame speed correlation, which determines the rate of propagation of the scalar field variable G. The effects of variable inlet fuel/air ratio variance (unmixedness) on predicted NOx emissions are included through the moments of a calculated NO source term on the PDF’s of Z, and include the contributions of flame-front production of NO in premixed flames. Comparisons to measured velocity and emissions data are shown.

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Goldin ◽  
Dipankar Choudhury

Abstract Two steady-state simulations of a benchmark (Sandia Flame D) methane-air, turbulent, partially premixed flame are compared. The first uses an equilibrium mixture fraction model for the thermo-chemistry, while the second uses a steady, strained laminar-flamelet model. These non-premixed combustion models are coupled with a premixed reaction progress model to simulate a partially premixed jet flame. The laminar-flamelet approach predicts CO and H2 more accurately than the equilibrium model by accounting for the unbumt premixed stream within individual flamelets, and improved radical (such as OH) predictions by incorporating non-equilibrium chemistry effects due aerodynamic strain (fluid shear).


Fluids ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Zhang ◽  
Ali Ghobadian ◽  
Jamshid M. Nouri

The scale-resolving simulation of a practical gas turbine combustor is performed using a partially premixed finite-rate chemistry combustion model. The combustion model assumes finite-rate chemistry by limiting the chemical reaction rate with flame speed. A comparison of the numerical results with the experimental temperature and species mole fraction clearly showed the superiority of the shear stress transport, K-omega, scale adaptive turbulence model (SSTKWSAS). The model outperforms large eddy simulation (LES) in the primary region of the combustor, probably for two reasons. First, the lower amount of mesh employed in the simulation for the industrial-size combustor does not fit the LES’s explicit mesh size dependency requirement, while it is sufficient for the SSTKWSAS simulation. Second, coupling the finite-rate chemistry method with the SSTKWSAS model provides a more reasonable rate of chemical reaction than that predicted by the fast chemistry method used in LES simulation. Other than comparing with the LES data available in the literature, the SSTKWSAS-predicted result is also compared comprehensively with that obtained from the model based on the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) simulation approach. The superiority of the SSTKWSAS model in resolving large eddies is highlighted. Overall, the present study emphasizes the effectiveness and efficiency of coupling a partially premixed combustion model with a scale-resolving simulation method in predicting a swirl-stabilized, multi-jets turbulent flame in a practical, complex gas turbine combustor configuration.


Author(s):  
Holler Tadej ◽  
Ed M. J. Komen ◽  
Kljenak Ivo

The paper presents the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) combustion modeling approach based on two combustion models. This modeling approach was applied to a hydrogen deflagration experiment conducted in a large-scale confined experimental vessel. The used combustion models were Zimont's turbulent flame-speed closure (TFC) model and Lipatnikov's flame-speed closure (FSC) model. The conducted simulations are aimed to aid identifying and evaluating the potential hydrogen risks in nuclear power plant (NPP) containment. The simulation results show good agreement with experiment for axial flame propagation using the Lipatnikov combustion model. However, substantial overprediction in radial flame propagation is observed using both combustion models, which consequently results also in overprediction of the pressure increase rate and overall combustion energy output. As assumed for a large-scale experiment without any turbulence inducing structures, the combustion took place in low-turbulence regimes, where the Lipatnikov combustion model, due to its inclusion of quasi-laminar source term, has advantage over the Zimont model.


Author(s):  
Tadej Holler ◽  
Varun Jain ◽  
Ed M. J. Komen ◽  
Ivo Kljenak

The CFD combustion modeling approach based on two combustion models was applied to a hydrogen deflagration experiment conducted in a large-scale confined experimental vessel. The used combustion models were Zimont’s Turbulent Flames Speed Closure (TFC) model and Lipatnikov’s Flame Speed Closure (FSC) model. The conducted simulations are aimed to aid identifying and evaluating the potential hydrogen risks in Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) containment. The simulation results show good agreement with experiment for axial flame propagation using the Lipatnikov combustion model. However substantial overprediction in radial flame propagation is observed using both combustion models, which consequently results also in overprediction of the pressure increase rate and overall combustion energy output. As assumed for a large-scale experiment without any turbulence inducing structures, the combustion took place in low-turbulence regimes, where the Lipatnikov combustion model, due to its inclusion of quasi-laminar source term, has advantage over the Zimont model.


Author(s):  
Jan M. Boyde ◽  
Massimiliano Di Domenico ◽  
Berthold Noll ◽  
Manfred Aigner

This paper presents a numerical investigation of ignition phenomena in turbulent partially premixed methane/air flames. In this work, a turbulent flame speed closure model (TFC) is employed with an ignition delay module extension. The model is applied to two partially premixed test cases under standard conditions in the configuration of a shearless flame and a counter flow flame, respectively. For both setups, the flame kernel propagation and consequent establishment or extinction of the flame are examined. A shearless configuration represents the first test case under investigation. The study demonstrates the large influence of the mean flow parameters on achieving a successful ignition of the domain. The second test case under examination is a counterflow geometry. A sensitivity analysis with respect to spark ignition position and ignition energy is performed. The simulations show that flame kernel spreading is largely influenced by the magnitude of turbulence occurring in the flow, leading to an enhanced propagation in areas with a moderate turbulence degree, whereas high turbulence can be detrimental for the flame establishment due to extensive heat losses. Another observation is that a successful ignition of the domain can occur, even in cases in which the ignition energy is not placed in an area with flammable mixture. The comparison with experimental data shows a good agreement, both in terms of successful ignition and flame kernel propagation.


2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 464-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Udo Gerke ◽  
Konstantinos Boulouchos

The mixture formation and combustion process of a hydrogen direct-injection internal combustion engine is computed using a modified version of a commercial three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics code. The aim of the work is the evaluation of hydrogen laminar flame speed correlations and turbulent flame speed closures with respect to combustion of premixed and stratified mixtures at various levels of air-to-fuel equivalence ratio. Heat-release rates derived from in-cylinder pressure traces are used for the validation of the combustion simulations. A turbulent combustion model with closures for a turbulent flame speed is investigated. The value of the computed heat-release rates mainly depends on the quality of laminar burning velocities and standard of turbulence quantities provided to the combustion model. Combustion simulations performed with experimentally derived laminar flame speed data give better results than those using laminar flame speeds obtained from a kinetic scheme. However, experimental data of hydrogen laminar flame speeds found in the literature are limited regarding the range of pressures, temperatures and air-to-fuel equivalence ratios, and do not comply with the demand of high-pressure engine-relevant conditions.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4210
Author(s):  
Alessandro d’Adamo ◽  
Clara Iacovano ◽  
Stefano Fontanesi

Turbulent combustion modelling in internal combustion engines (ICEs) is a challenging task. It is commonly synthetized by incorporating the interaction between chemical reactions and turbulent eddies into a unique term, namely turbulent flame speed sT. The task is very complex considering the variety of turbulent and chemical scales resulting from engine load/speed variations. In this scenario, advanced turbulent combustion models are asked to predict accurate burn rates under a wide range of turbulence–flame interaction regimes. The framework is further complicated by the difficulty in unambiguously evaluating in-cylinder turbulence and by the poor coherence of turbulent flame speed (sT) measurements in the literature. Finally, the simulated sT from combustion models is found to be rarely assessed in a rigorous manner. A methodology is presented to objectively measure the simulated sT by a generic combustion model over a range of engine-relevant combustion regimes, from Da = 0.5 to Da = 75 (i.e., from the thin reaction regime to wrinkled flamelets). A test case is proposed to assess steady-state burn rates under specified turbulence in a RANS modelling framework. The methodology is applied to a widely adopted combustion model (ECFM-3Z) and the comparison of the simulated sT with experimental datasets allows to identify modelling improvement areas. Dynamic functions are proposed based on turbulence intensity and Damköhler number. Finally, simulations using the improved flame speed are carried out and a satisfactory agreement of the simulation results with the experimental/theoretical correlations is found. This confirms the effectiveness and the general applicability of the methodology to any model. The use of grid/time resolution typical of ICE combustion simulations strengthens the relevance of the proposed dynamic functions. The presented analysis allows to improve the adherence of the simulated burn rate to that of literature turbulent flames, and it unfolds the innovative possibility to objectively test combustion models under any prescribed turbulence/flame interaction regime. The solid data-driven representation of turbulent combustion physics is expected to reduce the tuning effort in ICE combustion simulations, providing modelling robustness in a very critical area for virtual design of innovative combustion systems.


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