Laser-Based Investigation on a Dry Low Emission Industrial Prototype Burner at Atmospheric Pressure Conditions

Author(s):  
Arman Ahamed Subash ◽  
Robert Collin ◽  
Marcus Aldén ◽  
Atanu Kundu ◽  
Jens Klingmann

Experiments were performed at atmospheric pressure conditions on the prototype 4th generation DLE burner. The combustion changes that occur for alteration of the operating conditions by changing the equivalence ratios (ϕ) for CH4 as fuel at different sections of the burner, were optically investigated. The burner assembly has three concentrically arranged premixed burner sections: an outer Main section, an intermediate section (Pilot) and a central pilot body or pre-chamber combustor, called RPL (Rich-Pilot-Lean) section. All sections are facilitated to vary equivalence ratios to achieve optimal combustion. Planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of OH radicals and flame chemiluminescence imaging were applied to study the local flame characteristics in order to investigate turbulence-flame interaction and formation of reaction zone at the burner exit. The results show that the position and shape of the flame are clearly affected by the variation of equivalence ratios at different sections of the burner. During the experiments, first the RPL, then the Pilot and the Main flame were added in a step wise manner keeping constant the total air flow for the global ϕ = 0.5 in order to understand the flame contributions from the different combustion sections. It is observed that for the RPL fuel lean conditions, the primary combustion starts and reaches completion before exiting the burner throat while for rich conditions, the residual fuel escapes out through the RPL exit with primary combustion products and starts secondary combustion along with the Pilot and Main combustion. At the global ϕ = 0.5, for changing the RPL ϕ from lean to rich conditions, the flame stabilization region moves downstream of the burner exit and the flame front fluctuation along inner shear layer increases. For increasing the global ϕ and increasing the Pilot fuel ratio (PFR) without changing the RPL and the global ϕ, the total extension of the flame becomes shorter and the flame stabilization region moves upstream.

Author(s):  
Arman Ahamed Subash ◽  
Ronald Whiddon ◽  
Robert Collin ◽  
Marcus Aldén ◽  
Atanu Kundu ◽  
...  

Experiments were performed on the central pilot body (RPL-rich-pilot-lean) of Siemens prototype 4th generation DLE burner to investigate the flame behavior at atmospheric pressure condition when varying equivalence ratio, residence time and co-flow temperature. The flame at the RPL burner exit was investigated applying OH planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) and high-speed chemiluminescence imaging. The results from chemiluminescence imaging and OH PLIF show that the size and shape of the flame are clearly affected by the variation in operating conditions. For both preheated and non-preheated co-flow cases, at lean equivalence ratios combustion starts early inside the burner and primary combustion comes to near completion inside the burner if residence time permits. For rich conditions, the unburnt fuel escapes out through the burner exit along with primary combustion products and combustion subsequently restarts downstream the burner at leaner condition and in a diffuse-like manner. For preheated co-flow, most of the operating conditions yield similar OH PLIF distributions and the flame is stabilizing at approximately the same spatial positions. It reveals the importance of the preheating co-flow for flame stabilization. Flame instabilities were observed and Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) is applied to time resolved chemiluminescence data to demonstrate how the flame is oscillating. Preheating has strong influence on the oscillation frequency. Additionally, combustion emissions were analyzed to observe the effect on NOX level for variation in operating conditions.


Author(s):  
Arman Ahamed Subash ◽  
Robert Collin ◽  
Marcus Aldén ◽  
Atanu Kundu ◽  
Jens Klingmann

Experiments were performed on a prototype 4th generation DLE (dry low emission) burner under atmospheric pressure conditions to investigate the effects of hydrogen (H2) enrichment on methane (CH4) flames. The burner assembly was designed to have three concentrically arranged premixed sections: an outer Main section, an intermediate section (Pilot) and a central pilot body termed the RPL (Rich-Pilot-Lean) section. The Planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of OH radicals together with flame chemiluminescence imaging were employed for studying the local flame characteristics so as to be able to investigate the turbulence-flame interactions and the location of the reaction zone at the burner exit. Flames were investigated for three different fuel mixtures having hydrogen (H2)/methane (CH4) in vol. % concentration of 0/100, 25/75 and 50/50. The results show that the characteristics of the flames are clearly affected by the addition of hydrogen and the effects are expected due to the faster reaction rate, higher diffusivity and higher laminar burning velocity of H2. Enriching the flame with H2 at a constant global phi (ϕ) is found to shorten the total extension of the flame due to the higher laminar flame speed. The OH signal distribution becomes thicker and more pronounced due to the higher production of OH radicals, and the flame stabilization zone that is produced after the burner throat, moves further downstream. At a constant global ϕ in altering the RPL and the Pilot ϕ, similar changes for both 0/100 and 25/75 (in vol. %) of the H2/CH4 fuel mixtures can be observed. At a rich RPL ϕ, the secondary RPL flame contributes to the main flame and to determining the flame stabilization position. The flame stabilization zone located after the burner throat moves further downstream with an increase in the RPL ϕ. When the PFR (Pilot fuel ratio) increases, the extension of the flame shortens and the flame stabilization zone moves upstream. Combustion emissions were also determined so as to observe the effects of the H2 enrichment on the NOX level.


Author(s):  
Arman Ahamed Subash ◽  
Robert Collin ◽  
Marcus Aldén ◽  
Atanu Kundu ◽  
Jens Klingmann

Laser based investigations were performed on a prototype 4th generation DLE (dry low emission) burner under atmospheric pressure conditions to study the effects of changing burner geometry on the flame. In a full burner configuration, a divergent conical section termed the Quarl is located after the burner exit for expanding the flow area and holding the flame. The planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of OH radicals together with the flame chemiluminescence imaging were employed to study the flame characteristics under the conditions with and without Quarl using CH4 as fuel to understand the influence of Quarl on the flame. When there is no Quarl, the flame has more freedom to expand at the burner exit and with an increase in the global equivalence ratio (ϕ), the width of the flame increases and the total extension of the flame shortens. For all the global ϕ considered here, the total extension of the flame is shorter under the condition without Quarl in comparison to the one with Quarl. For a richer global ϕ (ϕ ≥ 0.46) the outer recirculation zones (ORZs) are not observed under the condition with Quarl, but are observed without Quarl along with the inner recirculation zone. Without Quarl conditions, equivalence ratios (ϕ) of the concentrically arranged three sections of the burner: an outer Main section, an intermediate section (Pilot) and a central pilot body or pre-chamber combustor, termed the RPL (Rich-Pilot-Lean) sections were altered. The results show that at a constant global ϕ, with an increase in the RPL ϕ and the Pilot ϕ, the flame shortens and expands radially as well as the flame stabilization zone that is produced after the burner exit moves further downstream. At a richer global ϕ, the ORZ is observed along with the inner recirculation zone of the flame. Otherwise, with an increase in global ϕ, the changes in the flame shape, in the flame fluctuation and in the flame stabilization position follow similar trends as for increasing the Pilot ϕ and the RPL ϕ. Additionally, combustion emissions were obtained to observe the effects on NOX level for different operating conditions with and without Quarl.


Author(s):  
Arman Ahamed Subash ◽  
Haisol Kim ◽  
Sven-Inge Möller ◽  
Mattias Richter ◽  
Christian Brackmann ◽  
...  

Abstract Fuel and load flexibility have been increasingly important features of industrial gas turbines in order to meet the demand for increased utilization of renewable fuels and to provide a way to balance the grid fluctuations due to the unsteady supply of wind and solar power. Experimental investigations were performed using a standard 3rd generation dry low emission (DLE) burner under atmospheric pressure conditions to study the effect of central and pilot fuel addition, load variations and hydrogen (H2) enrichment in a natural gas (NG) flame. High-speed kHz planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of OH radicals and imaging of OH chemiluminescence were employed to investigate the flame stabilization, flame turbulence interactions, and flame dynamics. Along with the optical measurements, combustion emissions were also recorded to observe the effect of changing operating conditions on NOX level. The burner is used in Siemens industrial gas turbines SGT-600, SGT-700 and SGT-800 with no hardware differences and the study thus is a step to characterize fuel and load flexibility for these turbines. Without pilot and central fuel injections in the current burner configuration, the main flame is stabilized creating a central recirculation zone (CRZ). Addition of the pilot fuel strengthens the outer recirculation zone (ORZ) and moves the flame anchoring position slightly downstream, whereas the flame moves upstream without affecting the ORZ when central fuel injection is added. The flame was investigated utilizing H2/NG fuel mixtures where the H2 amount was changed from 0 to 100%. The results show that the characteristics of the flames are clearly affected by the addition of H2 and by the load variations. The flame becomes more compact, the anchoring position moves closer to the burner exit and the OH signal distribution becomes more distinct for H2 addition due to increased reaction rate, diffusivity, and laminar burning velocity. Changing the load from part to base, similar trends were observed in the flame behavior but in this case due to the higher heat release because of increased turbulence intensity.


Author(s):  
Arman Ahamed Subash ◽  
Haisol Kim ◽  
Sven-Inge Möller ◽  
Mattias Richter ◽  
Christian Brackmann ◽  
...  

Abstract Experimental investigations were performed using a standard 3rd generation dry low emission (DLE) burner under atmospheric pressure to study the effect of central and pilot fuel addition, load variations and H2 enrichment in a NG flame. High-speed OH-PLIF and OH-chemiluminescence imaging were employed to investigate the flame stabilization, flame turbulence interactions, and flame dynamics. Along with the optical measurements, combustion emissions were recorded to observe the effect of changing operating conditions on NOX level. The burner is used in Siemens industrial gas turbines SGT-600, SGT-700 and SGT-800 with minor hardware differences. This study thus is a step to characterize fuel and load flexibility for these turbines. Without pilot and central fuel injections in the current burner configuration, the main flame is stabilized creating a central recirculation zone. Addition of the pilot fuel strengthens the outer recirculation zone (ORZ) and moves the flame slightly downstream, whereas the flame moves upstream without affecting the ORZ when central fuel injection is added. The flame was investigated utilizing H2/NG fuel mixtures where the H2 amount was changed from 0 to 100%. The flame becomes more compact, the anchoring position moves closer to the burner exit and the OH signal distribution becomes more distinct for H2 addition due to increased reaction rate, diffusivity, and laminar burning velocity. Changing the load from part to base, similar trends were observed in the flame behavior but in this case due to the higher heat release because of increased turbulence intensity.


Author(s):  
Oliver Lammel ◽  
Michael Sto¨hr ◽  
Peter Kutne ◽  
Claudiu Dem ◽  
Wolfgang Meier ◽  
...  

An experimental analysis of confined premixed turbulent methane/air and hydrogen/air jet flames is presented. A generic lab scale burner for high-velocity preheated jets equipped with an optical combustion chamber was designed and set up. The size and operating conditions were configured to enable flame stabilization by recirculation of hot combustion products. The geometry of the rectangular confinement and an off-center positioning of the jet nozzle were chosen to resemble one burner nozzle of a FLOX®-based combustor. The off-center jet arrangement caused the formation of a pronounced lateral recirculation zone similar to the one in previously investigated FLOX®-combustors [1, 2]. The analysis was accomplished by different laser measurement techniques. Flame structures were visualized by OH* chemiluminescence imaging and planar laser-induced fluorescence of the OH radical. Laser Raman scattering was used to determine concentrations of the major species and the temperature. Velocity fields were measured with particle image velocimetry. Results of measurements in two confined jet flames are shown. The mixing of fresh gas with recirculating combustion products and the stabilization of the methane flame are discussed in detail. The presented findings deliver important information for the understanding of confined jet flames operated with different fuels. The obtained data sets can be used for the validation of numerical simulations as well.


Author(s):  
Jens Fa¨rber ◽  
Rainer Koch ◽  
Hans-Jo¨rg Bauer ◽  
Matthias Hase ◽  
Werner Krebs

The flame structure and the limits of operation of a lean premixed swirl flame were experimentally investigated under piloted and non-piloted conditions. Flame stabilization and blow out limits are discussed with respect to pilot fuel injection and combustor liner cooling for lean operating conditions. Two distinctly different flow patterns are found to develop depending on piloting and liner cooling parameters. These flow patterns are characterized with respect to flame stability, blow out limits, combustion noise and emissions. The combustion system explored consists of a single burner similar to the burners used in Siemens annular combustion systems. The burner feeds a distinctively non-adiabatic combustion chamber operated with natural gas under atmospheric pressure. Liner cooling is mimicked by purely convective cooling and an additional flow of ‘leakage air’ injected into the combustion chamber. Both, this additional air flow and the pilot fuel ratio were found to have a strong influence on the flow structure and stability of the flame close to the lean blow off limit (LBO). It is shown by Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) that the angle of the swirl cone is strongly affected by pilot fuel injection. Two distinct types of flow patterns are observed close to LBO in this large scale setup: While non-piloted flames exhibit tight cone angles and small inner recirculation zones (IRZ), sufficient piloting results in a wide cone angle and a large IRZ. Only in the latter case, the main flow becomes attached to the combustor liner. Flame structures deduced from flow fields and CH-Chemiluminescence images depend on both the pilot fuel injection and liner cooling.


1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Do¨bbeling ◽  
A. Eroglu ◽  
D. Winkler ◽  
T. Sattelmayer ◽  
W. Keppel

The paper reports on the development and testing of a premix research burner for MBtu fuels. The burner has a quartz glass annular mixing section and a quartz, glass flame tube to allow visualization of the flame. A central lance is used to mount modules for fuel injection, swirl generation, and flame stabilization. This allows a large number of variants with different swirl strength, mixing section length, fuel injection geometry, and flameholder size and shape to be easily tested. Experiments have been performed at atmospheric pressure and under high-pressure conditions (14 bar pressure, 400°C air preheat temperature) for syngas with a H2/CO ratio of up to 5. In a preliminary study, the mixing quality of the tested variants has been assessed with planar laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). High-pressure combustion tests show that low NOx (<10 vppmd @ 15 percent O2) premix combustion of MBtu fuels under industrial GT conditions without dilution is feasible.


Author(s):  
Oliver Lammel ◽  
Michael Stöhr ◽  
Peter Kutne ◽  
Claudiu Dem ◽  
Wolfgang Meier ◽  
...  

An experimental analysis of confined premixed turbulent methane/air and hydrogen/air jet flames is presented. A generic lab scale burner for high-velocity preheated jets equipped with an optical combustion chamber was designed and set up. The size and operating conditions were configured to enable flame stabilization by recirculation of hot combustion products. The geometry of the rectangular confinement and an off-center positioning of the jet nozzle were chosen to resemble one burner nozzle of a FLOX®-based combustor. The off-center jet arrangement caused the formation of a pronounced lateral recirculation zone similar to the one in previously investigated FLOX®-combustors (Lückerath et al., 2007. “FLOX® Combustion at High Pressure with Different Fuel Compositions,” ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 130(1), pp. 011505; Lammel et al., 2010. “FLOX® Combustion at High Power Density and High Flame Temperatures,” ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 132(12), p. 121503ff). The analysis was accomplished by different laser measurement techniques. Flame structures were visualized by OH* chemiluminescence imaging and planar laser-induced fluorescence of the OH radical. Laser Raman scattering was used to determine concentrations of the major species and the temperature. Velocity fields were measured with particle image velocimetry. Results of measurements in two confined jet flames are shown. The mixing of fresh gas with recirculating combustion products and the stabilization of the methane flame are discussed in detail. The presented findings deliver important information for the understanding of confined jet flames operated with different fuels. The obtained data sets can be used for the validation of numerical simulations as well.


Author(s):  
K. Döbbeling ◽  
A. Eroglu ◽  
D. Winkler ◽  
T. Sattelmayer ◽  
W. Keppel

The paper reports on the development and testing of a premix research burner for MBtu fuels. The burner has a quartz glass annular mixing section and a quartz glass flame tube to allow visualization of the flame. A central lance is used to mount modules for fuel injection, swirl generation and flame stabilization. This allows a large number of variants with different swirl strength, mixing section length, fuel injection geometry and flameholder size and shape to be easily tested. Experiments have been performed at atmospheric pressure and under high pressure conditions (14 bar pressure, 400°C air preheat temperature) for syngas with a H2/CO ratio of up to 5. In a preliminary study the mixing quality of the tested variants has been assessed with planar laser induced fluorescence (LIF). High pressure combustion tests show that low NOx (< 10 vppmd @ 15% O2) premix combustion of MBtu fuels under industrial GT conditions without dilution is feasible.


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