Analysis of the Flame Structure in a Trapped Vortex Combustor Using Low and High-Speed OH-PLIF

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradip Xavier ◽  
Alexis Vandel ◽  
Gilles Godard ◽  
Bruno Renou ◽  
Frederic Grisch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Laser Diagnostics ◽  
Flame Structure ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Lean Combustion ◽  
Stage Combustion ◽  
Trapped Vortex

Operating with lean combustion has led to more efficient “Low-NOx” burners but has also brought several technological issues. The burner design geometry is among the most important element as it controls, in a general way, the whole combustion process, the pollutant emissions and the flame stability. Investigation of new geometry concepts associating lean combustion is still under development, and new solutions have to meet the future pollutant regulations. This paper reports the experimental investigation of an innovative staged lean premixed burner. The retained annular geometry follows the Trapped Vortex Combustor concept (TVC) which operates with a two stage combustion chamber: a main lean flame (1) is stabilized by passing past a vortex shape rich-pilot flame (2) located within a cavity. This concept, presented in GT2012-68451 and GT2013-94704, seems to be promising but exhibits combustion instabilities in certain cases, then leading to undesirable level of pollutant emissions and could possibly conduct to serious material damages. No precise information have been reported in the literature about the chain of reasons leading to such an operation. The aim of this paper is to have insights about the main parameters controlling the combustion in this geometry. The flame structure dynamics is examined and compared for two specific operating conditions, producing an acoustically self-excited and a stable burner. Low and high-speed OH-PLIF laser diagnostics (up to 10 kHz) are used to have access to the flame curvature and to time-resolved events. Results show that the cavity jets location can lead to flow-field oscillations and a non-constant flame’s heat release. The associated flame structure, naturally influenced by turbulence is also affected by hot gases thermal expansion. Achieving a good and rapid mixing at the interface between the cavity and the main channel leads to a stable flame.

An Investigation of the Effects of Fuel Staging on Flame Structure in a Gas Turbine Model Combustor

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Gounder ◽  
I. Boxx ◽  
P. Kutne ◽  
F. Biagioli ◽  
H. Luebcke
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Equivalence Ratio ◽  
Fuel Injection ◽  
Laser Diagnostics ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Flame Structure ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Fuel Staging ◽  
Turbine Model

Gas turbine (GT) flames at lean operating conditions are susceptible to instabilities that can lead to unsteady operation, flame extinction, and thermoacoustic oscillations. High speed (10 kHz) laser and optical diagnostic techniques have been used to investigate the effect of fuel staging on the mechanisms involved in such instabilities and the overall performance of a gas turbine model combustor. The GT burner used in this study consists of coaxial swirlers which allow for fuel staging capability, where the fuel is varied from 100% to 20% fuel injection in the inner swirler. The burner is equipped with a combustion chamber with large quartz windows, allowing for the application of optical and laser diagnostics. Simultaneous high speed OH Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) and OH* chemiluminescence (CL) imaging, exhaust gas sampling and acoustic measurements were applied to characterize the flames and determine the operability limits of the combustor. Methane air flames at atmospheric pressure have been investigated at a constant thermal power of 58 kW. The global equivalence ratio was kept constant, while the fuel staging was varied. The bulk flow velocity at the exit plane was kept constant at 20 m/s. Simultaneous high speed particle image velocity (PIV) and OH PLIF measurements were performed at a repetition rate of 10 kHz on specifically chosen flames with a fixed staging and equivalence ratio. This paper will present the flame and the flow field structure resolved using the kHz measurement technique. The interaction between the velocity field and the flame front marked by the OH LIF will be presented. The mean PIV image provides the location of the inner and outer recirculation zones. The flame structure presented in this paper will also show the effectiveness of fuel mixing as the staging is varied. The changes in flame shape with variation in fuel staging is determined using the OH* chemiluminescence images. As the fuel flow in the inner swirler is reduced, the NOx and CO emissions also reduce and reach a minimum at a staging of 45% fuel being injected in the inner swirler. As fuel injection in the outer swirler increases beyond 60% the NOx and CO emissions start also increasing.

scholarly journals Effect of Fuel and Air Dilution on Syngas Combustion in an Optical SI Engine

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1566 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.D. Martinez-Boggio ◽  
S.S. Merola ◽  
P. Teixeira Lacava ◽  
A. Irimescu ◽  
P.L. Curto-Risso
Keyword(s):  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Visible Spectrum ◽  
Propagation Speed ◽  
Fuel Mixture ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Inert Gases ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Si Engine ◽  
Lean Burn

To mitigate the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, energy production processes must change from fossil to renewable resources. Bioenergy utilization from agricultural residues can be a step towards achieving this goal. Syngas (fuel obtained from biomass gasification) has been proved to have the potential of replacing fossil fuels in stationary internal combustion engines (ICEs). The processes associated with switching from traditional fuels to alternatives have always led to intense research efforts in order to have a broad understanding of the behavior of the engine in all operating conditions. In particular, attention needs to be focused on fuels containing relatively high concentrations of hydrogen, due to its faster propagation speed with respect to traditional fossil energy sources. Therefore, a combustion study was performed in a research optical SI engine, for a comparison between a well-established fuel such as methane (the main component of natural gas) and syngas. The main goal of this work is to study the effect of inert gases in the fuel mixture and that of air dilution during lean fuelling. Thus, two pure syngas blends (mixtures of CO and H2) and their respective diluted mixtures (CO and H2 with 50vol% of inert gases, CO2 and N2) were tested in several air-fuel ratios (stoichiometric to lean burn conditions). Initially, the combustion process was studied in detail by traditional thermodynamic analysis and then optical diagnostics were applied thanks to the optical access through the piston crown. Specifically, images were taken in the UV-visible spectrum of the entire cycle to follow the propagation of the flame front. The results show that hydrogen promotes flame propagation and reduces its distortion, as well as resulting in flames evolving closer to the spark plug. All syngas blends show a stable combustion process, even in conditions of high air and fuel dilution. In the leanest case, real syngas mixtures present a decrease in terms of performance due to significant reduction in volumetric efficiency. However, this condition strongly decreases pollutant emissions, with nitrogen oxide (NOx) concentrations almost negligible.

scholarly journals Descriptive Statistical Analysis of Vegetable Oil Combustion in a Commercial Burner to Establish Optimal Operating Conditions

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 2372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio San José ◽  
Yolanda Arroyo ◽  
María Ascensión Sanz-Tejedor
Keyword(s):  
Vegetable Oil ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Airflow Rate ◽  
Optimal Operating ◽  
Combustion Performance ◽  
Fuel Flow ◽  
Oil Fuel ◽  
Descriptive Statistical Analysis

This article studies the combustion of refined sunflower, virgin sunflower and virgin rapeseed oils in a low-pressure auxiliary air fluid pulverization burner in order to establish the optimal operating conditions. The influence of varying the type of vegetable oil, fuel flow rate and secondary airflow rate in the combustion process was analyzed. These three factors are independent in the combustion process, which means having to carry out numerous assays, combining the various factors with one another. Given the amount of variables to be optimized and the existence of three factors, a statistical approach is adopted to help interpret the results obtained and to evaluate how each factor influences the combustion results. Optimal combustion is determined based on three criteria, minimum pollutant emissions (CO, NOx and CxHy), maximum combustion performance, and minimum excess air. The result of this study showed that airflow was the principal factor affecting emissions, whereas for combustion performance, both factors (airflow and fuel flow) were determinant. In general, admissible combustion performances were obtained, with CO and NOx emissions below permitted levels. The best combustion performance was achieved under conditions of maximum fuel flow and minimum airflow rates.

Observation on Solid Propellant Ignition Using High Speed Camera: The Effect of Hot Wire Position on the Combustion Flame Contour

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan Khairuddin Wan Ali ◽  
Ang Kiang Long ◽  
Mohammad Nazri Mohd. Jaafar
Keyword(s):  
Solid Propellant ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Flame Structure ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Ignition Process ◽  
High Speed Camera ◽  
Hot Wire ◽  
Composite Propellant ◽  
Burning Behavior ◽  
Insight Into

This paper reports on the discovery of unique flame structure of a composite propellant sample under hot wire ignition. The entire combustion process at atmospheric pressure condition was recorded using a high speed camera. Three hot wire orientations were chosen in this experiment for examining their effects on the propellant burning behavior. The results show that the wire orientations are crucial in propellant combustion process, as different flame patterns were observed when the hot wire orientation was altered. This paper provides an important insight into this specific ignition process that can be useful for researchers in the aerospace industry for better design and more realistic simulation results in ignition control.

scholarly journals Experimental and Computational Study of Trapped Vortex Combustor Sector Rig with High-Speed Diffuser Flow

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 375-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Hendricks ◽  
D. T. Shouse ◽  
W. M. Roquemore ◽  
D. L. Burrus ◽  
B. S. Duncan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Fuel Injection ◽  
Computational Study ◽  
Combustion Efficiency ◽  
Flame Stabilization ◽  
Performance Data ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Choked Flow ◽  
Trapped Vortex

The Trapped Vortex Combustor (TVC) potentially offers numerous operational advantages over current production gas turbine engine combustors. These include lower weight, lower pollutant emissions, effective flame stabilization, high combustion efficiency, excellent high altitude relight capability, and operation in the lean burn or RQL modes of combustion. The present work describes the operational principles of the TVC, and extends diffuser velocities toward choked flow and provides system performance data. Performance data include EINOx results for various fuel-air ratios and combustor residence times, combustion efficiency as a function of combustor residence time, and combustor lean blow-out (LBO) performance. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using liquid spray droplet evaporation and combustion modeling are performed and related to flow structures observed in photographs of the combustor. The CFD results are used to understand the aerodynamics and combustion features under different fueling conditions. Performance data acquired to date are favorable compared to conventional gas turbine combustors. Further testing over a wider range of fuel-air ratios, fuel flow splits, and pressure ratios is in progress to explore the TVC performance. In addition, alternate configurations for the upstream pressure feed, including bi-pass diffusion schemes, as well as variations on the fuel injection patterns, are currently in test and evaluation phases.

Dynamics and Stability Limits of Syngas Combustion in a Swirl-Stabilized Combustor

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond L. Speth ◽  
H. Murat Altay ◽  
Duane E. Hudgins ◽  
Ahmed F. Ghoniem
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Equivalence Ratio ◽  
Fluid Dynamic ◽  
Flame Structure ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Video Data ◽  
Combustion Dynamics ◽  
Lean Blowout ◽  
Operating Modes

The combustion dynamics, stability bands and flame structure of syngas flames under different operating conditions are investigated in an atmospheric pressure swirl-stabilized combustor. Pressure measurements and high-speed video data are used to distinguish several operating modes. Increasing the equivalence ratio makes the flame more compact, and in general increases the overall sound pressure level. Very close to the lean blowout limit, a long stable flame anchored to the inner recirculation zone is observed. At higher equivalence ratios, a low frequency, low amplitude pulsing mode associated with the fluid dynamic instabilities of axial swirling flows is present. Further increasing the equivalence ratio produces unstable flames oscillating at frequencies coupled with the acoustic eigenmodes. Additionally, a second unstable mode, coupled with a lower eigen-mode of the system, is observed for flames with CO concentration higher than 50%. As the amount of hydrogen in the fuel is increased, the lean flammability limit is extended and transitions between operating regimes move to lower equivalence ratios.

Fluid Dynamics and Detailed Kinetic Modeling of Pollutant Emissions From Lean Combustion Systems

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessio Frassoldati ◽  
Alberto Cuoci ◽  
Tiziano Faravelli ◽  
Eliseo Ranzi ◽  
Salvatore Colantuoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Reacting Flows ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Injection System ◽  
Turbulent Reacting Flows ◽  
Gas Temperature ◽  
Lean Combustion ◽  
Core Concepts ◽  
Detailed Kinetics

A methodology for computing steady turbulent reacting flows and the formation of pollutants in combustors for aeroengine applications is presented. The aim of this paper is to describe and to further validate the proposed computational approach. A 3-D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) proprietary code and a Kinetic Post-Processor (KPP) have been coupled and applied to calculate the gas temperature and pollutant emissions. The thermo-fluid dynamics results of the CFD code are post-processed by the KPP with the use of detailed kinetics for predicting pollutant emissions, with special emphasis on nitrogen oxides. A new application of the above calculation methodology has been carried out on an injection system based on Partial Evaporation and Rapid Mixing (PERM) concept, designed and developed in the frame of the EU program for NEW Aero engine Core concepts (NEWAC). This injection system was studied experimentally at Karlsruhe University and ONERA using a tubular combustor, in order to perform the first assessment in terms pollutant emissions at the outlet at different operating conditions. The model predictions are compared with experimental results and globally the agreement is satisfactory, especially for NOx emissions. The analysis of the data presented in this paper provides useful information for further improvements in both modeling and experimental activities.

Determination of Criteria for Flame Stability in an Annular Trapped Vortex Combustor

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradip Xavier ◽  
Mickael Pires ◽  
Alexis Vandel ◽  
Bruno Renou ◽  
Gilles Cabot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
Flux Ratio ◽  
Flame Stabilization ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Combustion Instabilities ◽  
Stability Maps ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Acoustic Instabilities ◽  
Trapped Vortex

Development of lean premixed (LP) combustion is still a challenge as it results in considerable constraints for the combustor design. Indeed, new combustors using LP combustion are more prone to flashback, blow-off, or even thermo-acoustic instabilities. A detailed understanding of mechanisms leading to such extreme conditions is then crucial to reduce pollutant emissions, widen the range of operating conditions, and reduce design time. This paper reports the experimental study of an innovative LP trapped vortex combustor (TVC). The TVC concept uses a recirculating rich flow trapped in a cavity to create a stable flame that continuously ignites a main lean mixture passing above the cavity. This concept gave promising performances but some workers highlighted the existence of combustion instabilities for some operating conditions. Detailed studies have therefore been carried out in order to understand the occurrence of these drastic operating conditions. Results showed that the cavity flow dynamics in conjunction with the location of the interfacial mixing zone (between the cavity and the mainstream) were the driving forces to obtain stable combustion regimes. The goal of this work has been to take advantage of these detailed recommendations to determine stability maps, trends, and dimensionless parameters which could be easily used as early-design rules. For this reason, the study introduced a simple and robust criterion, based on the global pressure fluctuation energy. The latter was used to distinguish stable and unstable modes. An aerodynamic momentum flux ratio and a chemical stratification ratio (taken between the cavity and the mainstream) were defined to scale all measurements. Results indicated that the mainstream velocity was critically important to confine the cavity and to prevent combustion instabilities. Remarkably, this trend was verified and even more pronounced for larger cavity powers. In addition, flame stabilization above the cavity resulted in the existence of specific stratification ratios, in order to obtain a soft gradient of gas composition between the rich and lean regions. Finally, a linear relation between the mainstream and cavity velocities became apparent, thereby making possible to simply predict the combustor stability.

Numerical Optimization of a Waste-to-Energy Plant Under Different Operating Conditions

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niko Samec ◽  
Miran Kapitler ◽  
Filip Kokalj
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Optimization ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Input Parameter ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
Energy Plant ◽  
Input Parameters

The combustion process for using municipal solid waste (MSW) as a fuel within a waste-to-energy plant calls for a detailed understanding of the following phenomena. Firstly, this process depends on many input parameters such as MSW proximate and ultimate analysis, the season of the year, primary and secondary air-inlet velocity and, secondly, on output parameters such as the temperatures or mass-flow rates (MFR) of the combustible products. The variability and mutual dependence of these parameters can be difficult to manage in practice. Moreover, another problem is how these parameters can be tuned to achieving optimal combustion with minimal pollutant emissions during the initial plant-design phase. In order to meet these goals, a waste-to-energy plant with bed-combustion was investigated by using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach with ANSYS CFX 12.0 code within a WORKBENCH 2 environment. In this paper, the adequate variable input boundary conditions based on the real measurement and practical calculations of known MSW composition compared with other authors are used and the whole computational work is updated using real plant geometry and the appropriate turbulence, combustion and heat transfer models. Furthermore, the operating parameters were optimized on output parameters through a trade-off study. The different operating conditions were varied and the fluid flow direction, residence time, temperature field, velocity-field, nitric oxide formation and combustion products through the plant’s combustion chamber and preheat intersection in 3D were predicted and visualized. Optimization in real-time has showed the amounts for each input parameter when meeting the optimal operating conditions. Finally, the response charts between the input and output parameters are presented in order to monitor the dependence among these parameters. Further simulations have to be done to include the geometry dimensions as input parameters when applying the CDF simulation and numerical optimization within the project phase.

A New Predictive ID Model for Advanced High Speed Direct Injection Diesel Engines

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lurun Zhong ◽  
Naeim A. Henein ◽  
Walter Bryzik
Keyword(s):  
Diesel Engines ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Direct Injection ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Injection System ◽  
Injection Timing ◽  
Common Rail Injection System ◽  
Common Rail Injection ◽  
Starting Conditions

Advance high speed direct injection diesel engines apply high injection pressures, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), injection timing and swirl ratios to control the combustion process in order to meet the strict emission standards. All these parameters affect, in different ways, the ignition delay (ID) which has an impact on premixed, mixing controlled and diffusion controlled combustion fractions and the resulting engine-out emissions. In this study, the authors derive a new correlation to predict the ID under the different operating conditions in advanced diesel engines. The model results are validated by experimental data in a single-cylinder, direct injection diesel engine equipped with a common rail injection system at different speeds, loads, EGR ratios and swirl ratios. Also, the model is used to predict the performance of two other diesel engines under cold starting conditions.

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