Effusion Cooling System Optimization for Modern Lean Burn Combustor

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Andreini ◽  
Riccardo Becchi ◽  
Bruno Facchini ◽  
Lorenzo Mazzei ◽  
Alessio Picchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Film Cooling ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Heat Removal ◽  
System Optimization ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Metal Temperature ◽  
Back Side ◽  
Lean Burn ◽  
Standard Configuration ◽  
Cooling Air

Stricter legislation limits concerning NOx emissions are leading main aero-engine manufacturers to update the architecture of the combustors towards the implementation of lean burn combustion concept. Cooling air availability for the thermal management of combustor liners is significantly reduced, demanding even more effective liner cooling schemes. The state-of-the-art of liner cooling technology is represented by effusion cooling, consisting in a very efficient cooling strategy based on multi-perforated liners, where metal temperature is lowered by the combined protective effect of coolant film and heat removal inside the holes. The present research study aims at deepening the knowledge of effusion systems, exploiting the results of a thorough experimental campaign carried out in two different planar test rigs, equipped with a complete liner cooling scheme composed by slot injection and effusion array. The film cooling protection was analysed using PSP (Pressure Sensitive Paint) technique, while the effect of cooling injection and extraction from the annulus on heat transfer distribution were studied by means of TLC (Thermochromic Liquid Crystals) thermography. Thermal measurements were supported by flow field investigation with standard 2D PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) in order to highlight the typical velocity distributions generated by a realistic lean injector. These detailed experimental data were exploited in a 1D thermal flow-network solver that allows to better assess the main cooling mechanisms characterising the proposed cooling system. Moreover, an optimized cooling configuration with enhanced back-side convective cooling was proposed and compared with the standard configuration in terms of metal temperature and cooling consumption.

Assessment of Aero-Thermal Design Methodology for Effusion Cooled Lean Burn Annular Combustors

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Andreini ◽  
B. Facchini ◽  
L. Mazzei ◽  
L. Bellocci ◽  
F. Turrini
Keyword(s):  
Film Cooling ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Heat Removal ◽  
Protective Layer ◽  
Aircraft Engine ◽  
Thermal Design ◽  
Heat Transfer Analysis ◽  
Lean Burn ◽  
Annular Combustor ◽  
Combustion Technology

Increasingly stringent limitations imposed on aircraft engine emissions have led many manufacturers toward lean combustion technology, which involves a relevant increase in mass flow rate dedicated to primary combustion, leading as a consequence to a reduction of air dedicated to cooling of liners. One of the most promising cooling techniques in such conditions is represented by effusion cooling, which consists of an array of closely spaced discrete film cooling holes. This cooling method is based on a protective layer of cooling flow on the hot side of the liner, enhancing at the same time the heat removal within the holes. In the latest years many aero engine manufacturers have increased the research and technology investment on this combustion technology. Working in partnership with the University of Florence, specific component design tools and experimental techniques have been improved by Avio Aero for combustor gas turbine investigation. From a design perspective, CFD analysis has become a key tool up to the early stages of novel combustor design process, producing affordable direct 3D optimization of combustor aerodynamics. Nevertheless, a RANS simulation of even only a single sector of an annular combustor still presents a challenge when the cooling system is taken into account. This issue becomes more critical in case of modern effusion cooled combustors, which may contain up to two thousand holes for the single sector. For this reason, many efforts have been devoted to develop methodologies based on film cooling modeling. Among the approaches published in the literature, models based on local sources represent a good compromise between simplicity and accuracy, with the capability to automatically perform a Conjugate Heat Transfer analysis. This type of methodology has been already defined and validated by the authors, with comparison on effusion cooled plates in terms of experimental overall effectiveness measurements as well as the application on a tubular combustor test case. In the context of this work, the proposed approach has been applied to the analysis of a lean annular combustor with the purpose of investigating pressure losses, flow split and metal temperature field. The results obtained have been compared to experimental data and different numerical tools exploited during the preliminary design of these devices.

Multidisciplinary Optimization of Airfoil Cooling Structure

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Nowak
Keyword(s):  
Cooling System ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
System Optimization ◽  
Multidisciplinary Optimization ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Thermal Boundary Conditions ◽  
Optimization Task ◽  
External Conditions ◽  
Cooling Air

This paper discusses the problem of cooling system optimization within a gas turbine airfoil regarding to thermo-mechanical behavior of the component, as well as some economical aspects of turbine operation. The main goal of this paper is to show the possibilities of evolutionary approach application to the cooling system optimization. This method, despite its relatively high computational cost, seems to be a valuable tool to such technical problems. The analysis involves the optimization of location and size of internal cooling passages within an airfoil. Initially cooling is provided with circular passages and heat is transported by convection. During the optimization the number of channels can vary. The task is approached in 3D configuration. Each passage is fed with cooling air of constant parameters at the inlet. Also a constant pressure drop is assumed along the passage length. The thermal boundary conditions in passages vary with diameter and local vane temperature (passage wall temperature). The analysis is performed by means of the genetic algorithm for the optimization task and FEM for the heat transfer predictions within the component. In the present study the airfoil profile is taken as aerodynamically optimal and the objective of the search procedure is to find cooling structure variant that at given external conditions provides lower stresses, material temperature and indirectly coolant usage.

Temperature-Based Optimization of Film Cooling in Gas Turbine Hot Gas Path Components

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe A. C. Viana ◽  
Jack Madelone ◽  
Niranjan Pai ◽  
Genghis Khan ◽  
Sanghum Baik
Keyword(s):  
Film Cooling ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Optimization Design ◽  
Goal Attainment ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Metal Temperature ◽  
Cooling Flow ◽  
Hot Gas

To achieve high efficiency, modern gas turbines operate at temperatures that exceed melting points of metal alloys used in turbine hot gas path parts. Parts exposed to hot gas are actively cooled with a portion of the compressor discharge air (e.g., through film cooling) to keep the metal temperature at levels needed to meet durability requirements. However, to preserve efficiency, it is important to optimize the cooling system to use the least amount of cooling flow. In this study, film cooling optimization is achieved by varying cooling hole diameters, hole to hole spacing, and film row placements so that the specified targets for maximum metal temperature are met while preserving (or saving) cooling flow. The computational cost of the high-fidelity physics models, the large number of design variables, the large number and nonlinearity of responses impose severe challenges to numerical optimization. Design of experiments and cheap-to-evaluate approximations (radial basis functions) are used to alleviate the computational burden. Then, the goal attainment method is used for optimizing of film cooling configuration. The results for a turbine blade design show significant improvements in temperature distribution while maintaining/reducing the amount of used cooling flow.

scholarly journals Cooling and Sealing Air System in Industrial Gas Turbine Engines

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. Reichert ◽  
M. Janssen
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Film Cooling ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Turbine Inlet ◽  
Air System ◽  
Calculation System ◽  
Cooling Air

Siemens heavy duty Gas Turbines have been well known for their high power output combined with high efficiency and reliability for more than 3 decades. Offering state of the art technology at all times, the requirements concerning the cooling and sealing air system have increased with technological development over the years. In particular the increase of the turbine inlet temperature and reduced NOx requirements demand a highly efficient cooling and sealing air system. The new Vx4.3A family of Siemens gas turbines with ISO turbine inlet temperatures of 1190°C in the power range of 70 to 240 MW uses an effective film cooling technique for the turbine stages 1 and 2 to ensure the minimum cooling air requirement possible. In addition, the application of film cooling enables the cooling system to be simplified. For example, in the new gas turbine family no intercooler and no cooling air booster for the first turbine vane are needed. This paper deals with the internal air system of Siemens gas turbines which supplies cooling and sealing air. A general overview is given and some problems and their technical solutions are discussed. Furthermore a state of the art calculation system for the prediction of the thermodynamic states of the cooling and sealing air is introduced. The calculation system is based on the flow calculation package Flowmaster (Flowmaster International Ltd.), which has been modified for the requirements of the internal air system. The comparison of computational results with measurements give a good impression of the high accuracy of the calculation method used.

scholarly journals Reduction in Flow Parameter Resulting From Volcanic Ash Deposition in Engine Representative Cooling Passages

2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastien Wylie ◽  
Alexander Bucknell ◽  
Peter Forsyth ◽  
Matthew McGilvray ◽  
David R. H. Gillespie
Keyword(s):  
Film Cooling ◽  
Volcanic Ash ◽  
Flow Parameter ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Metal Temperature ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Cooling Hole ◽  
Cooling Passage

Internal cooling passages of turbine blades have long been at risk to blockage through the deposition of sand and dust during fleet service life. The ingestion of high volumes of volcanic ash (VA) therefore poses a real risk to engine operability. An additional difficulty is that the cooling system is frequently impossible to inspect in order to assess the level of deposition. This paper reports results from experiments carried out at typical high pressure (HP) turbine blade metal temperatures (1163 K to 1293 K) and coolant inlet temperatures (800 K to 900 K) in engine scale models of a turbine cooling passage with film-cooling offtakes. Volcanic ash samples from the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption were used for the majority of the experiments conducted. A further ash sample from the Chaiten eruption allowed the effect of changing ash chemical composition to be investigated. The experimental rig allows the metered delivery of volcanic ash through the coolant system at the start of a test. The key metric indicating blockage is the flow parameter (FP), which can be determined over a range of pressure ratios (1.01–1.06) before and after each experiment, with visual inspection used to determine the deposition location. Results from the experiments have determined the threshold metal temperature at which blockage occurs for the ash samples available, and characterize the reduction of flow parameter with changing particle size distribution, blade metal temperature, ash sample composition, film-cooling hole configuration and pressure ratio across the holes. There is qualitative evidence that hole geometry can be manipulated to decrease the likelihood of blockage. A discrete phase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model implemented in Fluent has allowed the trajectory of the ash particles within the coolant passages to be modeled, and these results are used to help explain the behavior observed.

Alstom GT11N2 M Expansion Turbine Design Modification and Operation Experience

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergey Vorontsov ◽  
Stefan Irmisch ◽  
Alexey Karelin ◽  
Marcelo Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Engine Performance ◽  
System Optimization ◽  
Interval Length ◽  
Gas Temperature ◽  
Design Modification ◽  
Expansion Turbine ◽  
Efficiency Increase ◽  
Cooling Air

This paper summarizes the development steps and measures taken for the upgrade of the GT11N2 Turbine. The main targets to be achieved were specified as follows: - GT power increase; - GT gross efficiency increase; - Flexible operation with respect to power output and service interval length. All 4 turbine stages were re-designed in order to optimize their aerodynamic performance and minimize cooling air consumption. Turbine aerodynamic efficiency improvement was achieved by means of: - Turbine stage-to-stage loading optimization; - 3D airfoil profiling; - Replacement of the damping bolt of blade 4 by a full shroud; - Stator/rotor sealing optimization. On top of that, cooling air consumption was reduced by means of cooling system optimization for Vane 1, Blade 1, Vane 2, Blade2 and SHS/A. This allowed an increase of TIT (inlet turbine mixed temperature) keeping the hot gas temperature at the turbine inlet unchanged, which is important for meeting lifetime and emission targets. One of the key requirements for this Turbine Upgrade was to use exclusively validated design approaches and design features as available from existing and proven Alstom Gas Turbines ([1], [2], [3]) in order to minimize development- and implementation risks. Manufacturing of the new turbine parts was completed in an exceptionally short time, thanks to a dedicated R&D Logistic and Manufacturing support/process, an efficient NCR (Non Conformance Report) process, early supplier involvement and a very close/open work with suppliers. The first prototype of this turbine was implemented in a GT11N2 customer engine. Performance validation runs, performed in May 2008 confirmed that the design targets for power and efficiency were fully met. The validation of the turbine parts lifetime is still ongoing.

Gas Turbine Combustor Cooling by Augmented Backside Convection

1979 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Evans ◽  
M. L. Noble
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Film Cooling ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Exhaust Gas ◽  
Confined Space ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Exhaust Gas Emission ◽  
Cooling Air ◽  
Cooling Methods

Traditionally, gas turbine combustor walls have been cooled by one or more of the various film cooling methods. The current motivation to control exhaust gas emission composition has led to the serious consideration of backside convection wall cooling, where the cooling air is introduced to the main gas stream not prior to the dilution zone. Due to the confined space and the severe nature of the wall cooling problem, it is essential to maximize the heat transfer/pumping power characteristic, which suggests an augmented convection technique. A particular heat transfer design of a combustor cooled by means of transverse rib turbulence promoters applied to the exterior wall of the annular spaces surrounding the primary and secondary zones is described. Analytical methods for designing such a cooling system are reviewed and a comparison between analytical and experimental results is presented.

scholarly journals Reduction in Flow Parameter Resulting From Volcanic Ash Deposition in Engine Representative Cooling Passages

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastien Wylie ◽  
Alexander Bucknell ◽  
Peter Forsyth ◽  
Matthew McGilvray ◽  
David R. H. Gillespie
Keyword(s):  
Film Cooling ◽  
Volcanic Ash ◽  
Flow Parameter ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Metal Temperature ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Cooling Hole ◽  
Cooling Passage

Internal cooling passages of turbine blades have long been at risk to blockage through the deposition of sand and dust during fleet service life. The ingestion of high volumes of volcanic ash therefore poses a real risk to engine operability. An additional difficulty is that the cooling system is frequently impossible to inspect in order to assess the level of deposition. This paper reports results from experiments carried out at typical HP turbine blade metal temperatures (1163K to 1293K) and coolant inlet temperatures (800K to 900K) in engine scale models of a turbine cooling passage with film-cooling offtakes. Volcanic ash samples from the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption were used for the majority of the experiments conducted. A further ash sample from the Chaiten eruption allowed the effect of changing ash chemical composition to be investigated. The experimental rig allows the metered delivery of volcanic ash through the coolant system at the start of a test. The key metric indicating blockage is the flow parameter which can be determined over a range of pressure ratios (1.01–1.06) before and after each experiment, with visual inspection used to determine the deposition location. Results from the experiments have determined the threshold metal temperature at which blockage occurs for the ash samples available, and characterise the reduction of flow parameter with changing particle size distribution, blade metal temperature, ash sample composition, film-cooling hole configuration and pressure ratio across the holes. There is qualitative evidence that hole geometry can be manipulated to decrease the likelihood of blockage. A discrete phase CFD model implemented in Fluent has allowed the trajectory of the ash particles within the coolant passages to be modelled, and these results are used to help explain the behaviour observed.

Application of Conjugate Heat Transfer for Cooling Optimization of a Turbine Airfoil

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Nowak ◽  
Włodzimierz Wro´blewski
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Conjugate Heat Transfer ◽  
Thermal Field ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Solid Material ◽  
System Optimization ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Cooling Channels ◽  
Cooling Air

This paper discusses the problem of airfoil cooling system optimization connected with Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT) analysis for reliable thermal field prediction within a cooled component. Since the full CHT solution, which involves the main flow, blade material and the coolant flow domains is computationally expensive from the point of view of optimization process, it was decided to reduce the problem by fixing the boundary conditions at the blade surface and solving the task for the interior only (both solid material and coolant). Such assumption, on one hand, makes the problem computationally feasible, and on the other, provides more reliable thermal field prediction than it used to be with the empirical relationships. The analysis involves the optimization of location and size of internal cooling passages within an airfoil. Initially, cooling is provided with circular passages and heat is transported by convection. The task is approached in 3D configuration. Each passage is fed with cooling air of constant parameters at the inlet. In the present study the airfoil profile is taken as aerodynamically optimal. The optimization is done with an evolutionary algorithm within a 30 dimensional design space, composed of space coordinates and radii of cooling channels. The search is realized with a weighted single objective function, which consisted of three objectives formulated on the basis of the airfoil’s thermal field and coolant mass flow.

Impact of Swirl Flow on Combustor Liner Heat Transfer and Cooling: A Numerical Investigation With Hybrid RANS-LES Models

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Mazzei ◽  
A. Andreini ◽  
B. Facchini ◽  
F. Turrini
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Numerical Investigation ◽  
Film Cooling ◽  
Swirling Flow ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Swirl Flow ◽  
Opening Angle ◽  
Lean Burn ◽  
Combustor Liner

This paper reports the main findings of a numerical investigation aimed at characterizing the flow field and the wall heat transfer resulting from the interaction of a swirling flow provided by lean burn injectors and a slot cooling system, which generates film cooling in the first part of the combustor liner. In order to overcome some well-known limitations of RANS approach, e.g. the underestimation of mixing, the simulations were performed with hybrid RANS-LES models, namely SAS-SST and DES-SST, which are proving to be a viable approach to resolve the main structures of the flow field. The numerical results were compared to experimental data obtained on a non-reactive three sector planar rig developed in the context of the EU project LEMCOTEC. The analysis of the flow field has highlighted a generally good agreement against PIV measurements, especially for the SAS-SST model, whereas DES-SST returns some discrepancies in the opening angle of the swirling flow, altering the location of the corner vortex. Also the assessment in terms of Nu/Nu0 distribution confirms the overall accuracy of SAS-SST, where a constant over-prediction in the magnitude of the heat transfer is shown by DES-SST, even though potential improvements with mesh refinement are pointed out.

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