Relative Effects of Velocity- and Mixture-Coupling in a Thermoacoustically Unstable, Partially-Premixed Flame

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashwini Karmarker ◽  
Jacqueline O’Connor ◽  
Isaac Boxx
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Equivalence Ratio ◽  
Premixed Flame ◽  
Turbine Engines ◽  
Gas Turbine Engines ◽  
Real Gas ◽  
Planar Laser ◽  
Partially Premixed ◽  
Partially Premixed Flame ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Combustion instability, which is the result of a coupling between combustor acoustic modes and unsteady flame heat release rate, is a severely limiting factor in the operability and performance of modern gas turbine engines. This coupling can occur through different coupling pathways, such as flow field fluctuations or equivalence ratio fluctuations. In realistic combustor systems, there are complex hydrodynamic and thermo-chemical processes involved, which can lead to multiple coupling pathways. In order to understand and predict the mechanisms that govern the onset of combustion instability in real gas turbine engines, we consider the influences that each of these coupling pathways can have on the stability and dynamics of a partially-premixed, swirl-stabilized flame. In this study, we use a model gas turbine combustor with two concentric swirling nozzles of air, separated by a ring of fuel injectors, operating at an elevated pressure of 5 bar. The flow split between the two streams is systematically varied to observe the impact on the flow and flame dynamics. High-speed stereoscopic particle image velocimetry, OH planar laser-induced fluorescence, and acetone planar laser-induced fluorescence are used to obtain information about the velocity field, flame, and fuel-flow behavior, respectively. Depending on the flow conditions, a thermoacoustic oscillation mode or a hydrodynamic mode, identified as the precessing vortex core, is present. The focus of this study is to characterize the mixture coupling processes in this partially-premixed flame as well as the impact that the velocity oscillations have on mixture coupling. Our results show that, for this combustor system, changing the flow split between the two concentric nozzles can alter the dominant harmonic oscillation modes in the system, which can significantly impact the dispersion of fuel into air, thereby modulating the local equivalence ratio of the flame. This insight can be used to design instability control mechanisms in real gas turbine engines.

Relative Effects of Velocity- and Mixture-Coupling in a Thermoacoustically Unstable, Partially-Premixed Flame

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashwini Karmarkar ◽  
Isaac Boxx ◽  
Jacqueline O'Connor
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Equivalence Ratio ◽  
Oscillation Mode ◽  
Laser Induced Fluorescence ◽  
Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry ◽  
Turbine Engines ◽  
Gas Turbine Engines ◽  
Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence ◽  
Planar Laser ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Combustion instability, which is the result of a coupling between combustor acoustic modes and unsteady flame heat release rate, is a severely limiting factor in the operability and performance of modern gas turbine engines. This coupling can occur through different coupling pathways, such as flow field fluctuations or equivalence ratio fluctuations. In realistic combustor systems, there are complex hydrodynamic and thermo-chemical processes involved, which can lead to multiple coupling pathways. In this study, we use a model gas turbine combustor with two concentric swirling nozzles of air, separated by a ring of fuel injectors, operating at an elevated pressure of 5 bar. The flow split between the two streams is systematically varied to observe the impact on the flow and flame dynamics. High-speed stereoscopic particle image velocimetry, OH planar laser-induced fluorescence, and acetone planar laser-induced fluorescence are used to obtain information about the velocity field, flame, and fuel-flow behavior, respectively. Depending on the flow conditions, a thermoacoustic oscillation mode or a hydrodynamic mode, identified as the precessing vortex core, is present. Our results show that, for this combustor system, changing the flow split between the two concentric nozzles can alter the dominant harmonic oscillation modes in the system, which can significantly impact the dispersion of fuel into air, thereby modulating the local equivalence ratio of the flame. This insight can be used to design instability control mechanisms in real gas turbine engines.

Modeling Unsteady Flow of a Lean Partially Premixed Flame on a Dry Low NOx Combustion System

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Matarazzo ◽  
Hannes Laget ◽  
Evert Vanderhaegen ◽  
Jim B. W. Kok
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Limit Cycle ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Premixed Flame ◽  
Computational Domain ◽  
Pressure Oscillations ◽  
Combustion Dynamics ◽  
Partially Premixed ◽  
Partially Premixed Flame ◽  
Limit Cycle Behavior

The phenomenon of combustion dynamics (CD) is one of the most important operational challenges facing the gas turbine (GT) industry today. The Limousine project, a Marie Curie Initial Training network funded by the European Commission, focuses on the understanding of the limit cycle behavior of unstable pressure oscillations in gas turbines, and on the resulting mechanical vibrations and materials fatigue. In the framework of this project, a full transient CFD analysis for a Dry Low NOx combustor in a heavy duty gas turbine has been performed. The goal is to gain insight on the thermo-acoustic instability development mechanisms and limit cycle oscillations. The possibility to use numerical codes for complex industrial cases involving fuel staging, fluid-structure interaction, fuel quality variation and flexible operations has been also addressed. The unsteady U-RANS approach used to describe the high-swirled lean partially premixed flame is presented and the results on the flow characteristics as vortex core generation, vortex shedding, flame pulsation are commented on with respect to monitored parameters during operations of the GT units at Electrabel/GDF-SUEZ sites. The time domain pressure oscillations show limit cycle behavior. By means of Fourier analysis, the coupling frequencies caused by the thermo-acoustic feedback between the acoustic resonances of the chamber and the flame heat release has been detected. The possibility to reduce the computational domain to speed up computations, as done in other works in literature, has been investigated.

scholarly journals Single-Coil Eddy Current Sensors and Their Application for Monitoring the Dangerous States of Gas-Turbine Engines

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 2107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergey Borovik ◽  
Yuriy Sekisov
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Eddy Current ◽  
Natural Aging ◽  
Turbine Engines ◽  
Radial Clearance ◽  
Gas Turbine Engines ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Single Coil ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Blade Tips

The creation and exploitation of gas turbine engines (GTE) often involve two mutually exclusive tasks related to ensuring the highest reliability while achieving a good economic and environmental performance of the power plant. The value of the radial clearance between the blade tips of the compressor or turbine and the stator is a parameter that has a significant impact on the efficiency and safety of the GTE. However, the radial displacements that form tip clearances are only one of the components of the displacements made by GTE elements due to the action of power loads and thermal deformations during engines’ operation. The impact of loads in conjunction with natural aging is also the reason for the wear of the GTE’s structural elements (for example, bearing assemblies) and the loss of their mechanical strength. The article provides an overview of the methods and tools for monitoring the dangerous states of the GTE (blade tips clearances, impellers and shafts displacements, debris detecting in lubrication system) based on the single-coil eddy current sensor, which remains operational at the temperatures above 1200 °C. The examples of practical application of the systems with such sensors in bench tests of the GTE are given.

The Structure of Two-Stage Counterflow n-Heptane-Air Flames

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Aggarwal ◽  
H. S. Xue
Keyword(s):  
Strain Rate ◽  
Reaction Zone ◽  
Equivalence Ratio ◽  
Flame Structure ◽  
Premixed Combustion ◽  
Premixed Flame ◽  
Partially Premixed Combustion ◽  
Reaction Zones ◽  
Partially Premixed ◽  
Partially Premixed Flame

Partially premixed flames are formed by mixing air (in less than stoichiometric amounts) into the fuel stream prior to the reaction zone, where additional air is available for complete combustion. Such flames can occur in both laboratory and practical combustion systems. In advanced gas turbine combustor designs, such as a lean direct injection (LDI) combustor, partially premixed combustion represents an impotent mode of burning. Spray combustion often involves partially premixed combustion due to the locally fuel vapor-rich regions. In the present study, the detailed structure of n-heptane/air partially premixed flame in a counterflow configuration is investigated. The flame is computed by employing the Oppdif code and a detailed reaction mechanism consisting of 275 elementary reactions and 41 species. The partially premixed flame structure is characterized by two-stage burning or two distinct but synergistically coupled reaction zones, a rich premixed zone on the fuel side and a ‘nonpremixed zone on the air side. The fuel is completely consumed in the premixed zone with ethylene and acetylene being the major intermediate species. The reactions involving the consumption of these species are found to be the key rate-limiting reactions that characterize interactions between the two reaction zones, and determine the overall fuel consumption rate. The flame response to the variations in equivalence ratio and strain rate is examined. Increasing equivalence ratio and/or strain rate to a critical value leads to merging of the two reaction zones. The equivalence ratio variation affects the rich premixed reaction zone, while the variation in strain rate predominantly affects the nonpremixed reaction zone. The flame structure is also characterized in terms of a modified mixture fraction (conserved scalar), and laminar flamelet profiles are provided.

The Potential Impact of Future Fuels on Small Gas Turbine Engines

1982 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Saintsbury ◽  
P. Sampath
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Operating Experience ◽  
Gas Turbine Engine ◽  
Turbine Engines ◽  
Gas Turbine Engines ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
The Future ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Whitney Aircraft

The impact of potential aviation gas turbine fuels available in the near to midterm, is reviewed with particular reference to the small aviation gas turbine engine. The future course of gas turbine combustion R&D, and the probable need for compromise in fuels and engine technology, is also discussed. Operating experience to date on Pratt & Whitney Aircraft of Canada PT6 engines, with fuels not currently considered of aviation quality, is reported.

Control of Lean Blowout in Partially Premixed Swirl-Stabilized Combustor Using a Fuel Rich Central Pilot Configuration

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Somnath De ◽  
Prasanna Mondal ◽  
Gourav Manohar Sardar ◽  
Rakin Bin Bokhtiar ◽  
Arijit Bhattacharya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Combustion Chamber ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Premixed Flames ◽  
Premixed Combustion ◽  
Combustion Stability ◽  
Turbine Engines ◽  
Gas Turbine Engines ◽  
Lean Blowout ◽  
Partially Premixed Combustion ◽  
Partially Premixed

Abstract The main problem for using reliable and stable diffusion combustion in modern gas turbine engines is the production of NOx at a higher level which is not permissible for maintaining the healthy environment. Thus, combustion in lean premixed mode has become the most promising technology in many applications related to power generation gas turbine, industrial burner etc. Although the lean combustion minimizes NOx production, it suffers from an increased risk of lean blowout (LBO) when the requirement of thrust or load is low. It mainly occurs at the lean condition when the equilibrium between the flame speed and the unburnt air-fuel mixture velocity is broken. Current aircraft gas turbine engines operate fuel close to the combustion chamber which leads to the partially premixed combustion. Partially premixed combustion is also susceptible to lean blowout. Therefore, we have designed a swirl-stabilized dump combustor, where different lengths of fuel-air mixing are available. Our present work aims at improving the combustion stability by incorporating a secondary fuel injection through a pilot arrangement connected with the combustion chamber for premixed as well as partially premixed flames. Incorporation of the pilot system adds a small fraction of the total fuel into the combustion chamber directly. This investigation shows significant extension of the LBO limit towards leaner fuel-air mixture while the NOx emission in the combustion chamber is within the permissible limit. This result can be used for aircraft operators during the process of landing when fuel supply has to be decreased to reduce engine thrust or for power plants operating at low loads. The study of control is based on the colour variation of the flame which actually defines the changes in combustion characteristics. For early detection of LBO, the ratio between the intensity of red and blue colour obtained from flame images with a high speed camera is used. As LBO is approached, the ratio of red to blue intensity falls monotonically. When the ratio falls below a preset threshold, a small fraction of the total fuel is added to the central pilot line. This strategy allows the LBO limit to be shifted to a much lower equivalence ratio (maximum 20% and 11% for fully premixed and least premixed flames, respectively) without any significant increase in NOx production. The analysis includes a feedback control algorithm which is computed in MATLAB and the code is embedded in Labview for hardware implementation.

The Interaction Between Mistuning and Friction in the Forced Response of Bladed Disk Assemblies

1985 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Griffin ◽  
A. Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Forced Response ◽  
Turbine Engines ◽  
Gas Turbine Engines ◽  
Resonant Response ◽  
Friction Dampers ◽  
Bladed Disk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Slip Force

This paper summarizes the results of an investigation to establish the impact of mistuning on the performance and design of blade-to-blade friction dampers of the type used to control the resonant response of turbine blades in gas turbine engines. In addition, it discusses the importance of friction slip force variations on the dynamic response of shrouded fan blades.

Semi-Closed Gas Turbine Cycles: An Ecological Solution

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Laganelli ◽  
C. Rodgers ◽  
W. E. Lear ◽  
P. L. Meitner
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Anthropogenic Heat ◽  
Turbine Engines ◽  
Gas Turbine Engines ◽  
Closed Cycle ◽  
The Impact

The impact on global warming of transportation and the infrastructure that supports it has been investigated over several decades. Anthropogenic heat and the generation of greenhouse gases from burning of fossil fuels and are major contributors to the warming process. An approach to mitigate these effects is discussed that considers semi-closed cycle gas turbine engines as a practical approach to slowing the release of greenhouse gases. Semi-closed cycle gas turbine engines have an inherent capability to reduce all regulated emissions while maintaining high efficiency, which in turn reduces CO2 emissions. With emerging technology development that includes higher component efficiencies, high temperature material development, improved control devices, and advanced combustor designs, aided by computational fluid dynamics, semi-closed cycle engines appear to have the potential to mitigate global warming with little economic or infrastructural impact. A specific semi-closed engine type is described, the high pressure recuperated turbine engine (HPRTE), along with the inherent mechanisms for control of NOx, CO, unburned hydrocarbons, and particulates. Results from a breadboard demonstration of the HPRTE are discussed, as well as emerging technologies which benefit this type of engine.

Predicting the Ultimate Performance of Advanced Power Cycles Based on Very High Temperature Gas Turbine Engines

1993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Chiesa ◽  
Stefano Consonni ◽  
Giovanni Lozza ◽  
Ennio Macchi
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Computer Code ◽  
Turbine Engines ◽  
Gas Turbine Engines ◽  
Gas Temperature ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Performance Improvements ◽  
Future Technology ◽  
The Impact

It is well known that the history of gas turbine engines has been characterized by a very clear trend toward higher and higher operating temperatures, a growth which in the past 40 years has progressed at the impressive pace of approximately 13°C/year. Expected improvements in blade cooling techniques and advancements in materials indicate that this tendency is going to last for long time, leading to firing temperatures of over 1500°C within the next two decades. This paper investigates the impact of such temperature increase on optimal cycle arrangements and on ultimate performance improvements achievable by future advanced gas/steam cycles for large-scale power generation. Performance predictions have been carried out by a modified, improved version of a computer code originally devised and calibrated for “1990 state-of-the-art” gas/steam cycles. The range of performances to be expected in the next decades has been delimited by considering various scenarios of cooling technology and materials, including the extreme situations of adiabatic expansion and stoichiometric combustion. The results of parametric thermodynamic analyses of several cycle configurations are presented for a number of technological scenarios, including cycles with intercooling and reheat. A specific section discusses how the optimum configuration of the bottoming steam cycle changes to keep up with exhaust gas temperature increases. Calculations show that, under plausible assumptions on future technology advancements, within two decades the proper selection of plant configuration and operating parameters can yield net efficiencies of over 60%.

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