Numerical Investigations of a Swirl-Stabilized Premixed Flame at Ultra-Wet Conditions

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Kru¨ger ◽  
Katharina Go¨ckeler ◽  
Sebastian Go¨ke ◽  
Christian Oliver Paschereit ◽  
Christophe Duwig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Turbulent Energy ◽  
Dominant Frequency ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Reacting Flow ◽  
Steam Content ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core ◽  
Reduced Mechanism ◽  
Flow Features

The present study focuses on the numerical investigation of a generic swirl-stabilized burner operated with methane at ultra-wet conditions. The burner is fed with a preheated homogeneous mixture formed by steam and air. As a set of operating conditions atmospheric pressure, inlet temperature of 673K, equivalence ratio of 0.85 and a steam content of 30% is applied. Large eddy simulations have been performed to investigate the flow features. In a first step the non-reacting flow field was investigated with water as working medium. Comparison with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Laser-Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) measurements conducted in a water tunnel facility showed that an excellent agreement within the experimental uncertainty is obtained for the flow field. A dominant frequency in the turbulent energy spectrum was identified, which corresponds to the motion associated with a precessing vortex core (PVC). In order to investigate the reactive flow in a second step, a customized solver for handling low Mach number reacting flows based on an implicit LES approach was developed. As reaction mechanism a reduced 4 steps / 7 species global scheme was used. To compare the simulations qualitatively with a wet flame, OH chemiluminescence pictures serve as a reference. The simulations showed a more compact flame compared to the OH pictures. Nevertheless, the prolongation and position of the flame were found to be reasonable. The reduced mechanism captures the main effects, such as the reduction of the peak and mean temperatures. Furthermore, the presence of a PVC in the reacting flow could be determined and was not suppressed by heat-release.

Experimental investigation of isothermal and reacting flow characteristics downstream of axisymmetric bluff body stabilizers under stratified or fully premixed inlet mixture conditions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Γεώργιος Πατεράκης
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Bluff Body ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Reacting Flow ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Flow Features ◽  
Air Mixing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Stratified Flames

The current work describes an experimental investigation of isothermal and turbulent reacting flow field characteristics downstream of axisymmetric bluff body stabilizers under a variety of inlet mixture conditions. Fully premixed and stratified flames established downstream of this double cavity premixer/burner configuration were measured and assessed under lean and ultra-lean operating conditions. The aim of this thesis was to further comprehend the impact of stratifying the inlet fuelair mixture on the reacting wake characteristics for a range of practical stabilizers under a variety of inlet fuel-air settings. In the first part of this thesis, the isothermal mean and turbulent flow features downstream of a variety of axisymmetric baffles was initially examined. The effect of different shapes, (cone or disk), blockage ratios, (0.23 and 0.48), and rim thicknesses of these baffles was assessed. The variations of the recirculation zones, back flow velocity magnitude, annular jet ejection angles, wake development, entrainment efficiency, as well as several turbulent flow features were obtained, evaluated and appraised. Next, a comparative examination of the counterpart turbulent cold fuel-air mixing performance and characteristics of stratified against fully-premixed operation was performed for a wide range of baffle geometries and inlet mixture conditions. Scalar mixing and entrainment properties were investigated at the exit plane, at the bluff body annular shear layer, at the reattachment region and along the developing wake were investigated. These isothermal studies provided the necessary background information for clarifying the combustion properties and interpreting the trends in the counterpart turbulent reacting fields. Subsequently, for selected bluff bodies, flame structures and behavior for operation with a variety of reacting conditions were demonstrated. The effect of inlet fuel-air mixture settings, fuel type and bluff body geometry on wake development, flame shape, anchoring and structure, temperatures and combustion efficiencies, over lean and close to blow-off conditions, was presented and analyzed. For the obtained measurements infrared radiation, particle image velocimetry, laser doppler velocimetry, chemiluminescence imaging set-ups, together with Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy, thermocouples and global emission analyzer instrumentation was employed. This helped to delineate a number of factors that affectcold flow fuel-air mixing, flame anchoring topologies, wake structure development and overall burner performance. The presented data will also significantly assist the validation of computational methodologies for combusting flows and the development of turbulence-chemistry interaction models.

Time-Resolved PIV Measurements of Non-Reacting Flow Field in a Swirl-Stabilized Combustor Without and With Porous Inserts for Acoustic Control

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Meadows ◽  
Ajay K. Agrawal
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Direct Injection ◽  
Combustion Noise ◽  
Reacting Flow ◽  
Turbulent Structures ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Turbulence Structures ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core ◽  
Acoustic Control ◽  
Acoustic Instabilities

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.

Impact of the Expansion Ratio on the Unsteady Aerodynamics and Performance of a HP Axial Turbine

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Gaetani ◽  
G. Persico ◽  
A. Spinelli ◽  
A. Mora
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Incidence Angle ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Unsteady Aerodynamics ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Expansion Ratio ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
And Performance

In the frame of the European research project RECORD, the flow field within a HP axial-flow turbine model was investigated experimentally for several operating conditions. A number of studies on stator-rotor interaction in HP turbines for subsonic as well as transonic/supersonic conditions were proposed in the last decades, but none of them compared different conditions for the same geometry. In this paper, the transonic condition is investigated and compared to three subsonic ones, in the frame of an entirely new experimental campaign. The research was performed at the Laboratorio di Fluidodinamica delle Macchine of the Politecnico di Milano (Italy), where a cold-flow, closed-loop test rig is available for detailed studies on turbines and compressors. The boundary conditions resulted in keeping constant both the turbine inlet temperature and the stage outlet absolute flow direction; so far, while the expansion ratio was varied, the rotational speed was also modified accordingly. The analysis was performed by means of a conventional five hole probe in the stator – rotor axial gap and by a fast response aerodynamic probe downstream of the rotor. The local time-averaged and phase-resolved flow field was then derived and used to analyze the stage aerodynamics and performance. Results show that the stage expansion ratio has a dramatic impact on both the rotor aerodynamics and stage performance. In particular, Mach number effects are recognized in the stator cascade that passes from transonic to low subsonic conditions. On the rotor cascade the reduction of expansion ratio reduces significantly the Mach and Reynolds numbers and increases the incidence angle as well; the rotor loss mechanics as well as the vane-rotor interaction are greatly amplified. Correspondingly a significant variation of stage overall efficiency is recorded.

Evaluation of Flow Behavior for Clearance Brush Seals

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yahya Dogu ◽  
Mahmut F. Aksit ◽  
Mehmet Demiroglu ◽  
Osman Saim Dinc
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Brush Seal ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis ◽  
Flow Features ◽  
Brush Seals ◽  
Initial Clearance

The industrial applications of brush seals have been increasing due to their superior sealing performance. Advances in the understanding of seal behavior have been pushing the design limits to higher-pressure load, temperature, surface speed, and rotor excursion levels. The highest sealing performance can be achieved when the bristle pack maintains contact with the rotor surface. However, due to many design and operational constraints, most seals operate with some clearance. This operating clearance cannot be avoided due to rotor runouts, transient operating conditions, or excessive bristle wear. In some applications, a minimum initial clearance is required to ensure a certain amount of flow rate for component cooling or purge flow. Typically, brush seal failure occurs in the form of degraded sealing performance due to increasing seal clearance. The seal performance is mainly characterized by the flow field in close vicinity of the bristle pack, through the seal-rotor clearance, and within the bristle pack. This work investigates the flow field for a brush seal operating with some bristle-rotor clearance. A nonlinear form of the momentum transport equation for a porous medium of the bristle pack has been solved by employing the computational fluid dynamics analysis. The results are compared with prior experimental data. The flow field for the clearance seal is observed to have different characteristics compared to that for the contact seal. Outlined as well are the flow features influencing the bristle dynamics.

A NOx Prediction Scheme for Lean-Premixed Gas Turbine Combustion Based on Detailed Chemical Kinetics

1996 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. 765-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Polifke ◽  
K. Do¨bbeling ◽  
T. Sattelmayer ◽  
D. G. Nicol ◽  
P. C. Malte
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Concentration Field ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Chemical Mechanism ◽  
Reacting Flow ◽  
Oxides Of Nitrogen ◽  
Detailed Chemical Kinetics ◽  
Nox Formation ◽  
Lean Premixed

The lean-premixed technique has proven very efficient in reducing the emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from gas turbine combustors. The numerical prediction of NOx levels in such combustors with multidimensional CFD codes has only met with limited success so far. This is to some extent due to the complexity of the NOx formation chemistry in lean-premixed combustion, i.e., all three known NOx formation routes (Zeldovich, nitrous, and prompt) can contribute significantly. Furthermore, NOx formation occurs almost exclusively in the flame zone, where radical concentrations significantly above equilibrium values are observed. A relatively large chemical mechanism is therefore required to predict radical concentrations and NOx formation rates under such conditions. These difficulties have prompted the development of a NOx postprocessing scheme, where rate and concentration information necessary to predict NOx formation is taken from one-dimensional combustion models with detailed chemistry and provided—via look-up tables—to the multidimensional CFD code. The look-up tables are prepared beforehand in accordance with the operating conditions and are based on CO concentrations, which are indicative of free radical chemistry. Once the reacting flow field has been computed with the main CFD code, the chemical source terms of the NO transport equation, i.e., local NO formation rates, are determined from the reacting flow field and the tabulated chemical data. Then the main code is turned on again to compute the NO concentration field. This NOx submodel has no adjustable parameters and converges very quickly. Good agreement with experiment has been observed and interesting conclusions concerning superequilibrium O-atom concentrations and fluctuations of temperature could be drawn.

Experimental Investigation on Ignition Performance of LESS Combustor

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenbo Fu ◽  
Yuzhen Lin ◽  
Jibao Li ◽  
Chih-Jen Sung
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Civil Aviation ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Reacting Flow ◽  
Main Stage ◽  
Minor Effect ◽  
Swirl Atomizer ◽  
Pressure Swirl ◽  
Pressure Swirl Atomizer

In the design of next-generation civil aviation gas turbine combustors, there is high demand to improve the efficiency of combustion technology to decrease the amount of fuel consumed and to reduce the emissions in an effort to lessen the environmental impacts. This paper introduces a novel, ultra-low emissions combustor, namely Low Emission Stirred Swirl (LESS) combustor, employing the lean premixed prevaporized (LPP) approach. The LESS combustor is a single annular layout. Its dome is comprised of two stages — the pilot stage and the main stage. The pilot stage is a typical swirl cup design which uses a pressure swirl atomizer with dual counter-rotating radial swirlers to atomize the fuel and form a diffusion flame, and is located in the centerline of the combustion chamber. The main stage surrounding coaxially the pilot stage includes one annulus as premixer and 14 plain orifice atomizers with 14 small dual counter-rotating radial swirlers arranged uniformly on the dome of the annulus, which lead to the main premixed flame. Five different igniter locations are chosen according to the CFX-simulated non-reacting flow field of a simplified mainstage combustor. Only the pilot pressure swirl atomizer is operated in the present ignition performance tests. The model combustor is a single module rectangular combustor with normal inlet temperature and normal inlet pressure. Under the test conditions of air pressure drop of 0.5%–9%, the ignition performance of the model LESS combustor is analyzed. The lean lightoff fuel/air ratio (LLO FAR), characterizing the ignition performance of a combustor, is investigated herein. In addition, the effects of igniter locations and pilot fuel nozzles on LLO FAR are studied. Specific to the LESS combustor, the igniter location has minor effect on the LLO FAR values. However, as expected, the combustor dome pressure drop and attendant reference velocity along with spray SMD impact LLO FAR. Furthermore, CFX-simulated results of the flow field, spray characteristics, and gas-liquid interactions under the typical condition of combustor operation are presented and discussed to provide insight into the ignition processes and performance.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Ultra-Wet Methane Combustion Technique for Power Generation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Zhang ◽  
Simeon Dybe ◽  
Yazhou Shen ◽  
Sebastian Schimek ◽  
Christian Oliver Paschereit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flame Temperature ◽  
Ccd Camera ◽  
Methane Combustion ◽  
High Heat ◽  
Flame Stabilization ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Reacting Flow ◽  
Single Digit ◽  
Steam Content ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core

Abstract Using steam as heat carrier and working media has merits to increase electric efficiency up to 60% and decrease NOx emission to single-digit compared to dry gas turbine cycles. These attribute to the physical properties of steam as having high heat capacity to reduce local flame temperature, and hence reduce emissions by inhibiting thermal NOx forward reaction rate. In this work, ultra-high steam content with steam-to-air mass ratio up to 40% is premixed with methane air mixture before entering a swirl-stabilized HP-burner for combustion. Significant change of flame from V-shape (attached) to M shape (detached) is observed through a transparent combustion chamber. The measurement of chemiluminescence OH* is conducted with an intensified CCD-camera band-pass filtered at 320nm. Large eddy simulation is used to capture reacting flow features. Reasonably well agreements between experimental data and numerical results are obtained for both attached and detached flames in terms of OH* distribution. Distributed flame front is clearly identified with LES for wet methane combustion associated with 35% steam-to-air ratio corresponding to a high Karlovitz number flame. Slightly unstable combustion is observed when steam-to-air ratio exceeds 40% featuring an onset of flame blow-off. Interaction between precessing vortex core and the flame is presented at different level of steam dilution, and conclusions are drawn regarding flame stabilization. The in-depth understanding of ultra-wet combustion is an important step towards the use of sustainable, steam-diluted bio-syngas for electricity production.

Experimental Investigation of a RQL Burner With Jet in Cross Flow Fuel Injection: Characterization of the Reacting Flow Field at Realistic Operating Conditions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Soworka ◽  
T. Behrendt ◽  
C. Hassa ◽  
J. Heinze ◽  
E. Magens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Fuel Injection ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Mie Scattering ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Reacting Flow ◽  
Axial Location ◽  
Primary Zone ◽  
Jet In Cross Flow

Abstract Future rich-burn/quick-quench/lean-burn (RQL) burners for aero engines face the challenge to further reduce the emission of soot. Alternative ways of fuel injection are therefore in the focus of modern RQL combustion systems. This contribution aims to investigate experimentally the influence of fuel injection on the reacting flow field, with the emphasis on soot production in the primary zone. For the test, a Rolls-Royce prototype burner was used in two different configurations which differ only in the axial location of jet in cross flow fuel injection and thereby provoke different ways of fuel atomization. In the upstream configuration the burner features characteristics of a pre-filming airblast atomizer. Whereas with the fuel tip in downstream position solely Jet-in-Cross-Flow fuel atomisation is expected. The burner was tested at realistic aero engine combustor conditions (p30 = 9.28 bar, T30 = 603 K, AFR = 7.6). Several optical measurement techniques were used to characterise the reacting flow field. Their difficult application in a rich burn environment is described briefly. The structure of the reacting flow field is illustrated by Particle-Image-Velocimetry (PIV). Planar Mie scattering and Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) are used to characterise the placement of liquid and gaseous fuel respectively. The location and structure of heat release zones are captured in terms of OH* and CO2* chemiluminescence. Finally Laser-Induced-Incandescence (LII) is used to obtain three dimensional soot distributions in the primary zone. On this basis 20% less soot was measured for the upstream configuration at the axial location of maximal soot concentration. This remarkable difference could be attributed to the different placement of liquid fuel and the resulting better mixing.

Global and Local Hydrodynamic Stability Analysis as a Tool for Combustor Dynamics Modeling

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Paredes ◽  
Vassilis Theofilis ◽  
Steffen Terhaar ◽  
Kilian Oberleithner ◽  
Christian Oliver Paschereit
Keyword(s):  
Stability Analysis ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Global Analysis ◽  
Local Analysis ◽  
Reacting Flow ◽  
Dynamics Modeling ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Global Mode ◽  
Precessing Vortex Core

Coherent flow structures in shear flows are generated by instabilities intrinsic to the hydrodynamic field. In a combustion environment, these structures may interact with the flame and cause unsteady heat release rate fluctuations. Prediction and modeling of these structures is thereby highly wanted for thermo-acoustic prediction models. In this work we apply hydrodynamic linear stability analysis to the time-averaged flow field of swirl-stabilized combustors obtained from experiments. Recent fundamental investigations have shown that the linear eigenmodes of the mean flow accurately represent the growth and saturation of the coherent structures. In this work biglobal and local stability analysis is applied to the reacting flow in an industry-relevant combustion system. Both the local and the biglobal analysis accurately predicts the onset and structure of a self-excited global instability that is known in the combustion community as a precessing vortex core (PVC). However, only the global analysis accurately predicts a globally stable flow field for the case without the oscillation, while the local analysis wrongly predicts an unstable global growth rate. The predicted spatial distribution of the amplitude functions using both analysis agree very well to the experimentally identified global mode. The presented tools are considered as very promising for the understanding of the PVC and physics based flow control.

PIV Investigation of a High Speed Centrifugal Compressor Diffuser: Spanwise and Loading Variations

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beni Cukurel ◽  
Patrick B. Lawless ◽  
Sanford Fleeter
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Vaned Diffuser ◽  
Operation Conditions ◽  
Diffuser Flow ◽  
Transonic Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Flow Features

An efficient diffuser is essential to a modern compressor stage, due to its significance in stage performance, durability and operability. To address the need for data that describe the complex, unsteady flow field in a vaned diffuser, Particle Image Velocity is utilized to characterize the spanwise and circumferential variations of the flow features in the vaned diffuser passage of a transonic centrifugal compressor. The spanwise variation in the diffuser flow field is further investigated by comparison of 3 different operating conditions representative of low, nominal and high loading. These data demonstrate that not only the diffuser flow field is highly dependent on the operation conditions, e.g. hub-to-shroud variation increases with loading, but also the circumferential periodicity, created by the highly three dimensional impeller discharge flow, generates a larger unsteadiness towards the hub region of the vaned diffuser.

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