The Impact of Representative Aerodynamic Flow Fields on Liquid Fuel Atomisation in Modern Gas Turbine Fuel Injectors

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Barker ◽  
J. F. Carrotte
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Swirling Flow ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Far Field ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Swirl Vane ◽  
The Impact

In modern gas turbine engines swirl is typically imparted to the airflow as it enters the region of heat release to stabilize the flame. This swirling airstream is often highly turbulent and contains non-uniformities such as swirl vane wakes. However, it is within this environment that fuel atomization takes place. This paper is concerned with the potential effect of these airstream characteristics on the atomization process. Such a flow field is difficult to capture within simplified geometries and so measurements have been made within, and downstream of, injector representative geometries. This is experimentally challenging and required the application of a variety of techniques. The geometry considered is thought typical of an air-blast style injector, as may be used within current or future applications, whereby liquid fuel is introduced onto a pre-filming surface over which an airstream passes. Data is presented which characterizes the atomizing airstream presented to the pre-filming region. This includes significant flow field non-uniformities and turbulence characteristics that are mainly associated with the swirling flow along with the vanes used to impart this swirl. The subsequent development of these aerodynamic features over the pre-filming surface is also captured with, for example, swirl vane wakes being evident through the injector passage and into the downstream flow field. It is argued these characteristics will be common to many injector designs. Measurements with and without fuel indicate the effect of the liquid film, on the non-dimensional aerodynamic flow field upstream of the pre-filming region, is minimal. However, the amount of airflow passing through the pre-filming passage is affected. In addition to characterization of the airstream, its impact on the liquid fuel film and its development along the pre-filming surface is visualized. Furthermore, PDA measurements downstream of the fuel injector (i.e. the injector ‘far-field) are presented and the observed spray characteristics spatially correlated with the upstream aerodynamic atomizing flow field. Hence for the first time a series of experimental techniques have been used to capture and correlate both near and far field atomization characteristics within an engine representative aerodynamic flow field.

scholarly journals Rapid Liquid Fuel Mixing for Lean-Burning Combustors: Low-Power Performance

2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 574-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Y. Leong ◽  
C. S. Smugeresky ◽  
V. G. McDonell ◽  
G. S. Samuelsen
Keyword(s):  
Low Power ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Direct Injection ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Power Performance ◽  
Lean Burn ◽  
Engine Operation ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Lean Direct Injection

Designers of advanced gas turbine combustors are considering lean direct injection strategies to achieve low NOx emission levels. In the present study, the performance of a multipoint radial airblast fuel injector Lean Burn injector (LBI) is explored for various conditions that target low-power gas turbine engine operation. Reacting tests were conducted in a model can combustor at 4 and 6.6 atm, and at a dome air preheat temperature of 533 K, using Jet-A as the liquid fuel. Emissions measurements were made at equivalence ratios between 0.37 and 0.65. The pressure drop across the airblast injector holes was maintained at 3 and 7–8 percent. The results indicate that the LBI performance for the conditions considered is not sufficiently predicted by existing emissions correlations. In addition, NOx performance is impacted by atomizing air flows, suggesting that droplet size is critical even at the expense of penetration to the wall opposite the injector. The results provide a baseline from which to optimize the performance of the LBI for low-power operation.

Flow Field Derived Equivalent Reactor Networks for Accurate Chemistry Simulation in Gas Turbine Combustors

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott A. Drennan ◽  
Chen-Pang Chou ◽  
Anthony F. Shelburn ◽  
Devin W. Hodgson ◽  
Cheng Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Flame Structure ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Accurate Analysis ◽  
Detailed Chemistry ◽  
Reactor Networks ◽  
Detailed Kinetics ◽  
Time Required

A method has been developed in which the flow field predicted by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is automatically condensed into an Equivalent Reactor Network (ERN), composed of well stirred reactors, allowing rapid and accurate analysis of emissions. This paper presents the effectiveness of utilizing an ERN that is a direct abstraction of the computational flow field for combustion analysis. The CFD results are divided into reactors using various filters on flow-field variables to construct an ERN that represents the 3-D combustor flow field and flame structure. Detailed kinetics can then be used in ERN simulations to analyze effects of fuel composition and operating condition on emissions. The technique is applied to a commercial industrial gas turbine combustor fuel injector and compared against experimental emissions results. Sensitivity of emissions predictions to different parameters in the network extraction is also presented. Parameter variations in fuel flow rate are applied to the ERN to obtain relative impacts of fuel-air ratio on the emissions of NOx without requiring new CFD solutions. This automatic approach has been found to reduce the time required to construct and analyze flow field derived ERNs with detailed chemistry by 90%. A local calculation of Damko¨hler number, important for stability analysis, is also presented. This calculation also uses abstracted information from the CFD flow field and detailed-kinetics simulations for more accurate, cost-effective analysis.

Investigation of Swirling Air Flows Generated by Axial Swirlers in a Flame Tube

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farhad Davoudzadeh ◽  
Nan-Suey Liu ◽  
Jeffrey P. Moder
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Recirculation Zone ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Civil Aviation ◽  
Single Element ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Flame Tube ◽  
Refined Grid

An unstructured and massively parallel Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) code is used to simulate 3-D, turbulent, non-reacting, and confined swirling flow field associated with a single-element and a nine-element Lean Direct Injection (LDI) combustor. In addition, the computed results are compared with the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) results and are also validated against the experimental data. The LDI combustors are a new generation of liquid fuel combustors developed to reduce aircraft NOx emission to 70% below the 1996 International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and to maintain carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons at their current low levels at low power conditions. The concern in the stratosphere is that NOx would react with the ozone and deplete the ozone layer. This paper investigates the non-reacting aerodynamics characteristics of the flow associated with these new combustors using a RANS computational method. For the single-element LDI combustor, the experimental model consists of a cylindrical air passage with air swirlers and a converging-diverging venturi section, extending to a confined 50.8-mm square flame tube. The air swirlers have helical, axial vanes with vane angles of 60 degree. The air is highly swirled as it passes through the 60 degree swirlers and enters the flame tube. The nine-element LDI combustor is comprised of 9 elements that are designed to fit within a 76 mm 76 mm flametube combustor. In the experimental work, the jet-A liquid fuel is supplied through a small diameter fuel injector tube and is atomized as it exits the tip and enters the flame tube. The swirling and mixing of the fuel and air induces recirculation zone that anchors the combustion process, which is maintained as long as a flammable mixture of fuel and air is supplied. It should be noted that in the numerical simulation reported in this paper, only the non-reacting flow is considered. The numerical model encompasses the whole experimental flow passage, including the flow development sections for the air swirlers, and the flame tube. A low Reynolds number K-e turbulence model is used to model turbulence. Several RANS calculations are performed to determine the effects of the grid resolution on the flow field. The grid is refined several times until no noticeable change in the computed flow field occurred; the final refined grid is used for the detailed computations. The results presented are for the final refined grid. The final grids are all hexahedron grids containing approximately 861,823 cells for the single-element and 1,567,296 cells for the nine-element configuration. Fine details of the complex flow structure such as helical-ring vortices, re-circulation zones and vortex cores are well captured by the simulation. Consistent with the non-reacting experimental results, the computation model predicts a major re-circulation zone in the central region, immediately downstream of the fuel nozzle, and a second, recirculation zone in the upstream corner of the combustion chamber. Further, the computed results predict the experimental data with reasonable accuracy.

scholarly journals Rapid Liquid Fuel Mixing for Lean-Burning Combustors: Low-Power Performance

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
May Y. Leong ◽  
Craig S. Smugeresky ◽  
Vincent G. McDonell ◽  
G. Scott Samuelsen
Keyword(s):  
Low Power ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Direct Injection ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Power Performance ◽  
Lean Burn ◽  
Engine Operation ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Lean Direct Injection

Designers of advanced gas turbine combustors are considering lean direct injection strategies to achieve low NOx emission levels. In the present study, the performance of a multipoint radial airblast fuel injector (“Lean Burn Injector—LBI”) is explored for various conditions that target low-power gas turbine engine operation. Reacting tests were conducted in a model can combustor at 4 atm and 6.6 atm, and at a dome air preheat temperature of 533 K, using Jet-A as the liquid fuel. Emissions measurements were made at equivalence ratios between 0.37 and 0.65. The pressure drop across the airblast injector holes was maintained at 3% and 7–8%. The results indicate that the LBI performance for the conditions considered is not sufficiently predicted by existing emissions correlations. In addition, NOx performance is impacted by atomizing air flows, suggesting that droplet size is critical even at the expense of penetration to the wall opposite the injector. The results provide a baseline from which to optimize the performance of the LBI for low-power operation.

Study of Flame Stability in a Step Swirl Combustor

1996 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 308-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Durbin ◽  
M. D. Vangsness ◽  
D. R. Ballal ◽  
V. R. Katta
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Recirculation Zone ◽  
Swirling Flow ◽  
Tangential Velocity ◽  
Combustion Stability ◽  
Combustion Model ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Swirl Combustor ◽  
Radial Profiles

A prime requirement in the design of a modern gas turbine combustor is good combustion stability, especially near lean blowout (LBO), to ensure an adequate stability margin. For an aeroengine, combustor blow-off limits are encountered during low engine speeds at high altitudes over a range of flight Mach numbers. For an industrial combustor, requirements of ultralow NOx emissions coupled with high combustion efficiency demand operation at or close to LBO. In this investigation, a step swirl combustor (SSC) was designed to reproduce the swirling flow pattern present in the vicinity of the fuel injector located in the primary zone of a gas turbine combustor. Different flame shapes, structure, and location were observed and detailed experimental measurements and numerical computations were performed. It was found that certain combinations of outer and inner swirling air flows produce multiple attached flames, aflame with a single attached structure just above the fuel injection tube, and finally for higher inner swirl velocity, the flame lifts from the fuel tube and is stabilized by the inner recirculation zone. The observed difference in LBO between co- and counterswirl configurations is primarily a function of how the flame stabilizes, i.e., attached versus lifted. A turbulent combustion model correctly predicts the attached flame location(s), development of inner recirculation zone, a dimple-shaped flame structure, the flame lift-off height, and radial profiles of mean temperature, axial velocity, and tangential velocity at different axial locations. Finally, the significance and applications of anchored and lifted flames to combustor stability and LBO in practical gas turbine combustors are discussed.

The Impact of Compressor Exit Conditions on Fuel Injector Flows

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Ford ◽  
J. F. Carrotte ◽  
A. D. Walker
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Numerical Data ◽  
Flow Fields ◽  
Main Reaction ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Lean Burn ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Inlet Conditions ◽  
The Impact

This paper examines the effect of compressor generated inlet conditions on the air flow uniformity through lean burn fuel injectors. Any resulting nonuniformity in the injector flow field can impact on local fuel air ratios and hence emissions performance. The geometry considered is typical of the lean burn systems currently being proposed for future, low emission aero engines. Initially, Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions were used to examine the flow field development between compressor exit and the inlet to the fuel injector. This enabled the main flow field features in this region to be characterized along with identification of the various stream-tubes captured by the fuel injector passages. The predictions indicate the resulting flow fields entering the injector passages are not uniform. This is particularly evident in the annular passages furthest away from the injector centerline which pass the majority of the flow which subsequently forms the main reaction zone within the flame tube. Detailed experimental measurements were also undertaken on a fully annular facility incorporating an axial compressor and lean burn combustion system. The measurements were obtained at near atmospheric pressure/temperatures and under nonreacting conditions. Time-resolved and time-averaged data were obtained at various locations and included measurements of the flow field issuing from the various fuel injector passages. In this way any nonuniformity in these flow fields could be quantified. In conjunction with the numerical data, the sources of nonuniformities in the injector exit plane were identified. For example, a large scale bulk variation (+/−10%) of the injector flow field was attributed to the development of the flow field upstream of the injector, compared with localized variations (+/−5%) that were generated by the injector swirl vane wakes. Using this data the potential effects on fuel injector emissions performance can be assessed.

Experimental Study of Flow Field Effect on Spray and Flame Structure in Swirl Stabilized Combustor

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raju Murugan ◽  
Dhanalakshmi Sellan ◽  
Pankaj S. Kolhe
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Swirling Flow ◽  
Mixture Fraction ◽  
Flame Temperature ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Fuel Gas

Abstract The spatial distribution of spray plays a key role in liquid fuel combustion, which dictates the local mixture fraction and the flame temperature distribution in gas turbine engines. The swirling flow creates further decomposition of the spray droplets in liquid fuel gas turbine engine, which increases the surface area of the droplets. Turbulent mixing due to the swirling flow is essential for preheating of unburned products and flame holding in the combustor. A lab-scale swirl stabilized liquid fuel combustor was designed and fabricated with the geometric swirl number (SN) of 1. Combustor flow geometry involves internal spray from flow blurring twin-fluid atomizer, surrounded by swirling airflow which is confined with co-flow air to provide full optical access. At constant spray operating conditions, the swirl Reynolds number (Re) is increased whereas co-flow velocity was maintained constant at 0.4 m/s. An experimental study was carried out to understand the effect of Reynolds number on the aerodynamic structure of airflow, the spatial distribution of spray structure and kerosene flame structures using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and direct imaging. The experimental results show that the flow structure and spray spreads radially with the increase in swirl Reynolds number and the corresponding core spray height decreases, which were evident from flame images.

Emission Reduction From Burner System By Varying Swirler Blade Angle

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Nazri Mohd Jaafar ◽  
Muhamad Shukri Abdul Mookmin ◽  
Ismail Samat
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Radial Flow ◽  
Swirling Flow ◽  
Nox Reduction ◽  
Oxides Of Nitrogen ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Blade Angle ◽  
Back Plate ◽  
Curved Blade ◽  
Fuel Burner

Kertas kerja ini mempersembahkan pengaruh mengubah sudut bilah pemusar udara aliran jejarian yang kecil dalam mengurangkan emisi seperti oksida nitrogen (NOx) dan karbon monoksida (CO). Dalam kajian ini, satu sistem pembakar berbahan api cecair menggunakan empat pemusar udara aliran jejarian yang berlainan sudut bilah diuji di dalam kebuk pembakar berdiameter 163 mm dan panjang 280 mm. Ujian dijalankan menggunakan kerosin sebagai bahan api. Pemusar udara aliran jejarian dengan bilah terlengkung berdiameter keluaran 40 mm dipasang pada satah masukan pembakar bagi menjana aliran berpusar. Bahan api dipancitkan pada plat belakang keluaran pemusar menggunakan pemancit bahan api pusat dengan dua nozel bahan api menghala keluar secara paksi. Sudut pemusar udara dan nisbah setara diubah–ubah. Ujian dilaksanakan menggunakan empat pemusar udara yang berlainan sudut, iaitu masing–masing 30°, 40°, 50° dan 60°. Pengurangan NOx melebihi 50 peratus dicapai untuk sudut bilah 60° berbanding pada sudut bilah 30°. Emisi CO juga dikurangkan sebanyak 72 peratus pada sudut bilah 60° berbanding pada sudut bilah 30°. Kata kunci: Aliran berpusar; pembakar industri; emisi NOx; emisi CO; bilah terlengkung This paper presents the effect of varying the blade angle of a small radial air swirler on reducing emissions such as oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO). In this research a liquid fuel burner system with four different radial air swirler blade angles has been investigated using 163 mm inside diameter combustor of 280 mm length. Tests were conducted using kerosene as fuel. A radial flow air swirler with curved blades having 40 mm outlet diameter was inserted at the inlet plane of the combustor to produce swirling flow. Fuel was injected at the back plate of the swirler outlet using central fuel injector with two fuel nozzles pointing axially outwards. The swirler blade angles and equivalence ratios were varied. Tests were carried out using four different air swirlers having 30°, 40°, 50° and 60° blade angles, respectively. A NOx reduction of more than 50 percent was achieved for blade angle of 60° compared to the 30° blade angle. CO emissions were also reduced by 72 percent for 60° blade angle compared 30° blade angle. Key words: Swirling flow; industrial burner; NOx emissions; CO emissions; curved blade

Implication of Different Fuel Injector Configurations for Hydrogen Fuelled Micromix Combustors

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhupendra Khandelwal ◽  
Yingchun Li ◽  
Priyadarshini Murthy ◽  
Vishal Sethi ◽  
Riti Singh
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Combustion Zone ◽  
Equivalence Ratio ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustors ◽  
The Impact

A design of a hydrogen fuelled micromix concept based combustor is proposed in this paper. The proposed micromix concept based combustor yields improved mixing, which leads to wider flammability range of the hydrogen-air flames compared to conventional kerosene and micromix concept based combustors. This improved mixing allows the combustion zone to operate at a much lower equivalence ratio than the conventional kerosene based and micromix concept based combustors considered in this study. Furthermore, when burning hydrogen the thermal energy radiated to the surroundings is lower (as the result of using lower equivalence ratio) than that of kerosene, consequently resulting in an increased liner life and lower cooling requirement. The aim of this paper is to highlight the impact of using hydrogen as a fuel in gas turbine combustors. It is perceived that this new micromix concept based combustor would also help in achieving low emissions and better performance. Possibilities for lowering NOx emissions when using hydrogen as a fuel in new designs of micromix combustor are also discussed.

The Impact of Compressor Exit Conditions on Fuel Injector Flows

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Ford ◽  
J. F. Carrotte ◽  
A. D. Walker
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Numerical Data ◽  
Flow Fields ◽  
Main Reaction ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Lean Burn ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Inlet Conditions ◽  
The Impact

This paper examines the effect of compressor generated inlet conditions on the air flow uniformity through lean burn fuel injectors. Any resulting non-uniformity in the injector flow field can impact on local fuel air ratios and hence emissions performance. The geometry considered is typical of the lean burn systems currently being proposed for future, low emission aero engines. Initially, RANS CFD predictions were used to examine the flow field development between compressor exit and the inlet to the fuel injector. This enabled the main flow field features in this region to be characterized along with identification of the various stream-tubes captured by the fuel injector passages. The predictions indicate the resulting flow fields entering the injector passages are not uniform. This is particularly evident in the annular passages furthest away from the injector center-line which pass the majority of the flow which subsequently forms the main reaction zone within the flame tube. Detailed experimental measurements were also undertaken on a fully annular facility incorporating an axial compressor and lean burn combustion system. The measurements were obtained at near atmospheric pressure/temperatures and under non-reacting conditions. Time-resolved and time-averaged data were obtained at various locations and included measurements of the flow field issuing from the various fuel injector passages. In this way any non-uniformity in these flow fields could be quantified. In conjunction with the numerical data, the sources of non-uniformities in the injector exit plane were identified. For example, a large scale bulk variation (+/−10%) of the injector flow field was attributed to the development of the flow field upstream of the injector, compared with localized variations (+/−5%) that were generated by the injector swirl vane wakes. Using this data the potential effects on fuel injector emissions performance can be assessed.

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