Numerical Investigation of Flame Structure and Soot Formation in a Lab-Scale Rich-Quench-Lean Burner

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Giusti ◽  
Savvas Gkantonas ◽  
Jenna M. Foale ◽  
Epaminondas Mastorakos
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Soot Formation ◽  
Mixture Fraction ◽  
Flame Structure ◽  
Swirling Flows ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Moment Closure ◽  
Combustion Model ◽  
Ethylene Flame ◽  
Soot Precursors

The understanding of the processes involved in soot formation and oxidation is a critical factor for a reliable prediction of emissions in aero-engines, particularly as legislation becomes increasingly stringent. This work studies the flame structure and soot formation in a lab-scale burner, which reproduces the main features of a Rich-Quench-Lean (RQL) combustor, using high-fidelity numerical simulations. The investigated burner, developed at the University of Cambridge, is based on a bluff-body swirl-stabilised ethylene flame, with air provided in the primary region through two concentric swirling flows and quenching enabled by means of four dilution jets at variable distance downstream. Measurements for different air split between the two inlet swirling flows and dilution ports, and different height of the dilution jets, indicate noticeable differences in the soot tendency. Numerical simulations have been performed using Large-Eddy Simulation with the Conditional Moment Closure combustion model and a two-equation model for soot, allowing a detailed resolution of the mixing field and to directly take into account the effect of turbulent transport on the flame structure, which has been shown to have an important effect on the soot formation and evolution. The main objective of this work is to study the flow field and mixing characteristics in the burner’s primary region, in order to improve the understanding of the mechanisms leading to the soot behaviour observed in the experiment at different operating conditions. Results show the key role of mixing in determining the level of soot in the burner, with the soot production mainly related to the extension of the flame zone characterized by a rich mixture, with pyrolysis products and soot precursors. The presence of additional dilution air seems to improve the oxidation and leads to a leaner mixture in the primary combustion region whereas the air added through the outer swirl stream seems to have less impact on the mixture formation in the primary region. Analysis of the solution in mixture fraction space shows the importance of residence time for the soot formation and highlights the existence of a range of values of mixture fraction, between 0.1 and 0.2, where the soot production terms are maximum. High residence times and local air-to-fuel ratio in the range of high soot production should be avoided to decrease the level of soot mass fraction in the burner.

Investigation of Flame Structure and Soot Formation in a Single Sector Model Combustor Using Experiments and Numerical Simulations Based on the LES/CMC Approach

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Giusti ◽  
Epaminondas Mastorakos ◽  
Christoph Hassa ◽  
Johannes Heinze ◽  
Eggert Magens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Soot Formation ◽  
Flame Structure ◽  
Soot Volume Fraction ◽  
Moment Closure ◽  
Quantitative Prediction ◽  
Lean Burn ◽  
Soot Precursors ◽  
Wide Range

In this work a single sector lean burn model combustor operating in pilot only mode has been investigated using both experiments and computations with the main objective of analyzing the flame structure and soot formation at conditions relevant to aero-engine applications. Numerical simulations were performed using the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) approach and the Conditional Moment Closure (CMC) combustion model with detailed chemistry and a two-equation model for soot. The CMC model is based on the time-resolved solution of the local flame structure and allows to directly take into account the phenomena associated to molecular mixing and turbulent transport which are of great importance for the prediction of emissions. The rig investigated in this work, called Big Optical Single Sector (BOSS) rig, allows to test real scale lean burn injectors. Experiments, performed at elevated pressure and temperature, corresponding to engine conditions at part load, include OH-PLIF and PDA and have been complemented with new LII measurements for soot location. The wide range of measurements available allows a comprehensive analysis of the primary combustion region and can be exploited to further assess and validate the LES/CMC approach to capture the flame behaviour at engine conditions. It is shown that the LES/CMC approach is able to predict the main characteristics of the flame with a good agreement with the experiment in terms of flame shape, spray characteristics and soot location. Finite-rate chemistry effects appear very important in the region very close to the injector exit leading to the lift-off of the flame. Low levels of soot are observed immediately downstream of the injector exit, where a high amount of vaporized fuel is still present. Further downstream, the fuel vapour disappears quite quickly and an extended region characterised by the presence of pyrolysis products and soot precursors is observed. The strong production of soot precursors together with high soot surface growth rates lead to high values of soot volume fraction in locations consistent with the experiment. Soot oxidation is also very important in the downstream region resulting in a decrease of the soot level at the combustor exit. The results show a very promising capability of the LES/CMC approach to capture the main characteristics of the flame, soot formation and location at engine relevant conditions. More advanced soot models will be considered in future work in order to improve the quantitative prediction of the soot level.

scholarly journals Investigation of Flame Structure and Soot Formation in a Single Sector Model Combustor Using Experiments and Numerical Simulations Based on the Large Eddy Simulation/Conditional Moment Closure Approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Giusti ◽  
Epaminondas Mastorakos ◽  
Christoph Hassa ◽  
Johannes Heinze ◽  
Eggert Magens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Eddy Simulation ◽  
Soot Formation ◽  
Flame Structure ◽  
Moment Closure ◽  
Conditional Moment ◽  
Lean Burn ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Conditional Moment Closure ◽  
Soot Precursors ◽  
Large Eddy

In this work, a single sector lean burn model combustor operating in pilot only mode has been investigated using both experiments and computations with the main objective of analyzing the flame structure and soot formation at conditions relevant to aero-engine applications. Numerical simulations were performed using the large eddy simulation (LES) approach and the conditional moment closure (CMC) combustion model with detailed chemistry and a two-equation model for soot. The CMC model is based on the time-resolved solution of the local flame structure and allows to directly take into account the phenomena associated to molecular mixing and turbulent transport, which are of great importance for the prediction of emissions. The rig investigated in this work, called big optical single sector rig, allows to test real scale lean burn injectors. Experiments, performed at elevated pressure and temperature, corresponding to engine conditions at part load, include planar laser-induced fluorescence of OH (OH-PLIF) and phase Doppler anemometry (PDA) and have been complemented with new laser-induced incandescence (LII) measurements for soot location. The wide range of measurements available allows a comprehensive analysis of the primary combustion region and can be exploited to further assess and validate the LES/CMC approach to capture the flame behavior at engine conditions. It is shown that the LES/CMC approach is able to predict the main characteristics of the flame with a good agreement with the experiment in terms of flame shape, spray characteristics and soot location. Finite-rate chemistry effects appear to be very important in the region close to the injection location leading to the lift-off of the flame. Low levels of soot are observed immediately downstream of the injector exit, where a high amount of vaporized fuel is still present. Further downstream, the fuel vapor disappears quite quickly and an extended region characterized by the presence of pyrolysis products and soot precursors is observed. The strong production of soot precursors together with high soot surface growth rates lead to high values of soot volume fraction in locations consistent with the experiment. Soot oxidation is also very important in the downstream region resulting in a decrease of the soot level at the combustor exit. The results show a very promising capability of the LES/CMC approach to capture the main characteristics of the flame, soot formation, and location at engine relevant conditions. More advanced soot models will be considered in future work in order to improve the quantitative prediction of the soot level.

A Study of the NOx Emission in a Regenerative Industrial Furnace

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Jiang ◽  
Chao Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Mixture Fraction ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Nox Emission ◽  
Moment Closure ◽  
Combustion Model ◽  
Industrial Furnace ◽  
Low Emission ◽  
Reduction Of Nox ◽  
Closure Method ◽  
Probability Density Function Pdf

Abstract A study of the nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission and combustion process in a gas-fired regenerative, high temperature, low emission industrial furnace has been carried out numerically. The effect of two additives, methanol (CH3OH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), to fuel on the NOx emission has been studied. A moment closure method with the assumed β probability density function (PDF) for mixture fraction is used in the present work to model the turbulent non-premixed combustion process in the furnace. The combustion model is based on the assumption of instantaneous full chemical equilibrium. The results showed that CH3OH is effective in the reduction of NOx in a regenerative industrial furnace. However, H2O2 has no significant effect on the NOx emission.

scholarly journals Flow Inhomogeneities in a Realistic Aeronautical Gas-Turbine Combustor: Formation, Evolution and Indirect Noise

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Giusti ◽  
Luca Magri ◽  
Marco Zedda
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Transfer Functions ◽  
Guide Vane ◽  
Flame Structure ◽  
Combustion Noise ◽  
Moment Closure ◽  
Combustion Model ◽  
Conditional Moment ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Nozzle Guide

Indirect noise generated by the acceleration of combustion inhomogeneities is an important aspect in the design of aeroengines because of its impact on the overall noise emitted by an aircraft and the possible contribution to combustion instabilities. In this study, a realistic rich-quench-lean combustor is numerically investigated, with the objective of quantitatively analyzing the formation and evolution of flow inhomogeneities and determine the level of indirect combustion noise in the nozzle guide vane (NGV). Both entropy and compositional noise are calculated in this work. A high-fidelity numerical simulation of the combustion chamber, based on the Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) approach with the Conditional Moment Closure (CMC) combustion model, is performed. The contributions of the different air streams to the formation of flow inhomogeneities are pinned down and separated with seven dedicated passive scalars. LES-CMC results are then used to determine the acoustic sources to feed an NGV aeroacoustic model, which outputs the noise generated by entropy and compositional inhomogeneities. Results show that non-negligible fluctuations of temperature and composition reach the combustor’s exit. Combustion inhomogeneities originate both from finite-rate chemistry effects and incomplete mixing. In particular, the role of mixing with dilution and liner air flows on the level of combustion inhomogeneities at the combustor’s exit is highlighted. The species that most contribute to indirect noise are identified and the transfer functions of a realistic NGV are computed. The noise level indicates that indirect noise generated by temperature fluctuations is larger that the indirect noise generated by compositional inhomogeneities, although the latter is not negligible and is expected to become louder in supersonic nozzles. It is also shown that relatively small fluctuations of the local flame structure can lead to significant variations of the nozzle transfer function, whose gain increases with the Mach number. This highlights the necessity of an on-line solution of the local flame structure, which is performed in this paper by CMC, for an accurate prediction of the level of compositional noise. This study opens new possibilities for the identification, separation and calculation of the sources of indirect combustion noise in realistic aeronautical gas turbines.

Development and validation of a novel quasi-dimensional combustion model for un-scavenged prechamber gas engines with numerical simulations and engine experiments

2020 ◽  
pp. 146808742095133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Bardis ◽  
Panagiotis Kyrtatos ◽  
Guoqing Xu ◽  
Christophe Barro ◽  
Yuri Martin Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Combustion Model ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Computationally Efficient ◽  
Lean Burn ◽  
Dimensional Models ◽  
Three Dimensional Models

Lean-burn gas engines equipped with an un-scavenged prechamber have proven to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions and fuel consumption, while mitigating combustion cycle-to-cycle fluctuations and unburned hydrocarbon (UHC) emissions. However, the performance of a prechamber gas engine is largely dependent on the prechamber design, which has to be optimised for the particular main chamber geometry and the foreseen engine operating conditions. Optimisation of such complex engine components relies partly on computationally efficient simulation tools, such as quasi and zero-dimensional models, since extensive experimental investigations can be costly and time-consuming. This article presents a newly developed quasi-dimensional (Q-D) combustion model for un-scavenged prechamber gas engines, which is motivated by the need for reliable low order models to optimise the principle design parameters of the prechamber. Our fundamental aim is to enhance the predictability and robustness of the proposed model with the inclusion of the following: (i) Formal derivation of the combustion and flow submodels via reduction of the corresponding three-dimensional models. (ii) Individual validation of the various submodels. (iii) Combined use of numerical simulations and experiments for the model validation. The resulting model shows very good agreement with the numerical simulations and the experiments from two different engines with various prechamber geometries using a set of fixed calibration parameters.

scholarly journals Flow Inhomogeneities in a Realistic Aeronautical Gas-Turbine Combustor: Formation, Evolution, and Indirect Noise

2018 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Giusti ◽  
Luca Magri ◽  
Marco Zedda
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Transfer Functions ◽  
Guide Vane ◽  
Flame Structure ◽  
Combustion Noise ◽  
Moment Closure ◽  
Combustion Model ◽  
Conditional Moment ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Aero Engines

Indirect noise generated by the acceleration of combustion inhomogeneities is an important aspect in the design of aero-engines because of its impact on the overall noise emitted by an aircraft and the possible contribution to combustion instabilities. In this study, a realistic rich-quench-lean (RQL) combustor is numerically investigated, with the objective of quantitatively analyzing the formation and evolution of flow inhomogeneities and determining the level of indirect combustion noise in the nozzle guide vane (NGV). Both entropy and compositional noise are calculated in this work. A high-fidelity numerical simulation of the combustion chamber, based on the large-eddy simulation (LES) approach with the conditional moment closure (CMC) combustion model, is performed. The contributions of the different air streams to the formation of flow inhomogeneities are pinned down and separated with seven dedicated passive scalars. LES-CMC results are then used to determine the acoustic sources to feed an NGV aeroacoustic model, which outputs the noise generated by entropy and compositional inhomogeneities. Results show that non-negligible fluctuations of temperature and composition reach the combustor's exit. Combustion inhomogeneities originate both from finite-rate chemistry effects and incomplete mixing. In particular, the role of mixing with dilution and liner air flows on the level of combustion inhomogeneities at the combustor's exit is highlighted. The species that most contribute to indirect noise are identified and the transfer functions of a realistic NGV are computed. The noise level indicates that indirect noise generated by temperature fluctuations is larger than the indirect noise generated by compositional inhomogeneities, although the latter is not negligible and is expected to become louder in supersonic nozzles. It is also shown that relatively small fluctuations of the local flame structure can lead to significant variations of the nozzle transfer function, whose gain increases with the Mach number. This highlights the necessity of an on-line solution of the local flame structure, which is performed in this paper by CMC, for an accurate prediction of the level of compositional noise. This study opens new possibilities for the identification, separation, and calculation of the sources of indirect combustion noise in realistic aeronautical gas turbines.

scholarly journals Turbulent Combustion Modelling and Experiments: Recent Trends and Developments

2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 847-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Giusti ◽  
E. Mastorakos
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Combustion ◽  
Mixture Fraction ◽  
Moment Closure ◽  
Combustion Model ◽  
Complex Geometries ◽  
Conditional Moment ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Spray Flames ◽  
Reaction Zones ◽  
Soot Emissions

AbstractThe development of better laser-based experimental methods and the fast rise in computer power has created an unprecedented shift in turbulent combustion research. The range of species and quantities measured and the advent of kHz-level planar diagnostics are now providing great insights in important phenomena and applications such as local and global extinction, pollutants, and spray combustion that were hitherto unavailable. In simulations, the shift to LES allows better representation of the turbulent flow in complex geometries, but despite the fact that the grid size is smaller than in RANS, the push towards realistic conditions and the need to include more detailed chemistry that includes very fast species and thin reaction zones emphasize the necessity of a sub-grid turbulent combustion model. The paper discusses examples from current research with experiments and modelling that focus on flame transients (self-excited oscillations, local extinction), sprays, soot emissions, and on practical applications. These demonstrate how current models are being validated by experimental data and the concerted efforts the community is taking to promote the modelling tools to industry. In addition, the various coordinated International Workshops on non-premixed, premixed, and spray flames, and on soot are discussed and some of their target flames are explored. These comprise flames that are relatively simple to describe from a fluid mechanics perspective but contain difficult-to-model combustion problems such as extinction, pollutants and multi-mode reaction zones. Recently, swirl spray flames, which are more representative of industrial devices, have been added to the target flames. Typically, good agreement is found with LES and some combustion models such as the progress variable - mixture fraction flamelet model, the Conditional Moment Closure, and the Transported PDF method, but predicting soot emissions and the condition of complete extinction in complex geometries is still elusive.

scholarly journals Study of the Wall Thermal Condition Effect in a Lean-Premixed Downscaled Can Combustor Using Large-Eddy Simulation

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Mira ◽  
M. Vázquez ◽  
G. Houzeaux ◽  
S. Gövert ◽  
J. W. B. Kok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Combustion ◽  
Mixture Fraction ◽  
Flame Stabilization ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Laminar Flames ◽  
Combustion Model ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Condition Effect ◽  
Large Eddy

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of LES, with a turbulent combustion model based on steady flamelets, to predict the flame stabilization mechanisms in an industrial can combustor at full load conditions. The test case corresponds to the downscaled Siemens can combustor tested in the high pressure rig at the DLR. The effects of the wall temperature on the prediction capabilities of the codes is investigated by imposing several heat transfer conditions at the pilot and chamber walls. The codes used for this work are Alya and OpenFOAM, which are well established CFD codes in the fluid mechanics community. Prior to the simulation, results for 1-D laminar flames at the operating conditions of the combustor are compared with the detailed solutions. Subsequently, results from both codes at the mid-plane are compared against the experimental data available. Acceptable results are obtained for the axial velocity, while discrepancies are more evident for the mixture fraction and the temperature, particularly with Alya. However, both codes showed that the heat losses influence the size and length of the pilot and main flame.

Validation of a Novel LES Approach Using Tabulated Chemistry for Thermoacoustic Instability Prediction in Gas Turbines

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Dederichs ◽  
Nikolaos Zarzalis ◽  
Christian Beck
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Mixture Fraction ◽  
Propagation Speed ◽  
Co2 Concentration ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Combustion Model ◽  
Scattering Method ◽  
Thermoacoustic Instability ◽  
Tabulated Chemistry ◽  
Premixed Laminar

For the prediction of thermoacoustic instabilities in gas turbines, a compressible, unsteady LES approach was validated for 1D, lab-scale and technical-scale test cases. The simulations were performed with a novel combustion model, which relies on a combination of tabulated chemistry and flame thickening. A 1D case was used for fundamental verification and to quantify the mesh resolution dependent error. The verification demonstrated sufficiently accurate predictions. In a second step an elevated pressure lab-scale flame was considered to calibrate the model parameter of the turbulence chemistry interaction at relevant conditions. For this case CO2 field data measured with the Raman scattering method is available. Finally, a test rig configuration of a can type combustor was investigated. The comparison between experiment and simulation was performed in terms of thermoacoustic pressure amplitudes at stable and unstable operating conditions. The LES combustion model relies on an artificial thickened flame approach to ensure that the flame propagation speed is reproduced with tolerable error. Tabulated chemistry provides the source term for CO2 (governing species) as a function of the mixture fraction and the CO2 concentration based on premixed, laminar flamelets. The model distinguishes between inherent thickening due to sub grid scale turbulence and explicit laminar thickening. This novel thickening approach is presented for the first time. The presented approach was able to predict the thermoacoustic stability behavior of a gas turbine combustion system correctly.

Numerical Simulations of Highly Preheated Air Combustion in an Industrial Furnace

1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 276-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Ishii ◽  
C. Zhang ◽  
S. Sugiyama
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Production Rate ◽  
Fuel Injection ◽  
Velocity Ratio ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Moment Closure ◽  
Combustion Model ◽  
Injection Velocity ◽  
Heating Efficiency ◽  
Reheat Furnace

The numerical simulations of reactive turbulent flows and heat transfer in an industrial slab reheat furnace in which the combustion air is highly preheated have been carried out. The influence of the ratio of the air and fuel injection velocities on the NOx production rate in the furnace has also been studied numerically. A moment closure method with the assumed β probability density function (PDF) for mixture fraction was used in the present work to model the turbulent non-premixed combustion process in the furnace. The combustion model was based on the assumption of instantaneous full chemical equilibrium. The turbulence was modeled by the standard k-ε model with a wall function. The numerical simulations have provided complete information on the flow, heat, and mass transfer in the furnace. The results also indicate that a low NOx emission and high heating efficiency can be achieved in the slab reheat furnace by using low NOx regenerative burners. It is found that the air/fuel injection velocity ratio has a strong influence on the NOx production rate in the furnace.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document