Numerical Study of the Influence of Secondary Air Uniformity on Jet Penetration and Gas-Solid Diffusion Characteristics in a Large-Scale CFB Boiler

The uniformity of secondary air (SA) in large-scale CFB boilers has an important influence on gas-solid flow and combustion, but was seldom considered in previous studies. Numerical simulation based on the Eulerian–Eulerian and RNG k-ε turbulence models was conducted to explore the influence of SA uniformity and load variation on jet penetration, diffusion characteristics and gas-solid mixing in the first 600 MW supercritical CFB boiler. The results showed that better SA uniformity was conductive to the uniformity of SA penetration and gas-solid mixing along the furnace height, although the penetration depth and diffusion distance showed an opposite trend. In addition, the penetration depth and diffusion distance got enhanced with higher boiler load. The inner and outer SA jets could not cover the furnace width, and the uneven SA uniformity led to a huge deviation of the solid concentration within 10 m of the air distributor. Eventually, a calculation model was successfully established for predicting the penetration depth of inclined thermal SA jets during boiler operation.

A numerical modelling investigation of the development of a human cough jet

PurposeThis study aims (1) to numerically investigate the characteristics of a human cough jet in a quiescent environment, such as the variation with time of the velocity field, streamwise jet penetration and maximum jet width. Two different turbulence modelling approaches, the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) and large eddy simulation (LES), are used for comparison purposes. (2) To validate the numerical results with the experimental data.Design/methodology/approachTwo different approaches, the URANS and LES, are used to simulate a human cough jet flow. The numerical results for the velocity magnitude contours and the spatial average of the two-dimensional velocity magnitude over the corresponding particle image velocimetry (PIV) field of view are compared with the relevant PIV measurements. Similarly, the numerical results for the streamwise velocity component at the hot-wire probe location are compared with the hot-wire anemometry (HWA) measurements. Furthermore, the numerical results for the streamwise jet penetration are compared with the data from the previous experimental work.FindingsBased on the comparison with the URANS approach and the experimental data, the LES approach can predict the temporal development of a human cough jet reasonably well. In addition, the maximum width of the cough jet is found to grow practically linearly with time in the far-field, interrupted-jet stage, while the corresponding axial distance from the mouth of the jet front increases with time in an approximately quadratic manner.Originality/valueCurrently, no numerical study of human cough flow has been conducted using the LES approach due to the following challenges: (1) the computational cost is much higher than that of the URANS approach; (2) it is difficult to specify the turbulent fluctuations at the mouth for the cough jet properly; (3) it is necessary to define the appropriate conditions for the droplets to obtain statistically valid results. Therefore, this work fills this research gap.

Experimental Investigation of a High Velocity Gaseous Jet Injection Into an Oscillating Crossflow

This paper presents the experimental results of a gaseous jet injected into an oscillating-air crossflow. The jet to crossflow momentum flux ratios are chosen as 19, 30 and 58, and the mean air crossflow velocities are chosen as 10m/s, 25 m/s, and 60 m/s. The crossflow is modulated at frequencies up to 280 Hz with a maximum crossflow velocity fluctuation of 30% of its mean velocity. Acetone planar laser-induced fluorescence is used to record the instantaneous jet concentration field. Three distinct regions are observed near the injection location (x/d < 18); the jet core, the fast bending zone, and the fully developed plume zone. The location of the end of potential core can be determined primarily by the momentum flux ratio. Based on observations of these three regions, a set of correlations for the trajectory of maximum jet concentration is proposed for the potential core region and for the fully developed plume zone. The potential core responds quasi-steadily to the crossflow oscillation and the fluctuation of penetration of the potential core zone linearly increases with respect to the crossflow velocity fluctuation level. The jet penetration under oscillating crossflow is slightly lower than that under steady crossflow, especially when the mean crossflow velocity is low (10–25 m/s). However, the differences of trajectories between the oscillating and the steady crossflow cases become almost negligible as the mean crossflow velocity increases further. The axial decay of jet concentration under oscillating crossflow occurs at faster rate than that under steady crossflow, indicating that the oscillating air crossflow enhances the mixing between the jet and the crossflow. The vertical jet concentration profile at different axial location confirms that the main effect of crossflow modulation is enhanced mixing of jet with crossflow. However, no noticeable effect of modulation frequency of crossflow on the jet penetration is found.

Pre-chamber ignition systems: A methodological proposal to reproduce a reference case in a simplified experimental facility for fundamental studies

To further understand the processes and phenomena taking place in the pre-chamber (PC) ignition concept, many studies under simplified conditions have been carried out in different experimental facilities (e.g. constant volume chambers and rapid compression machines). However limited information is provided about how the volume, orifice diameter and number of orifices were defined, raising the question whether the results are representative of engine-like conditions or not. This novel study arises from the necessity to determine a methodology to reproduce a reference pre-chamber, preserving as much as possible its jet characteristics. A theoretical development based on the first law of thermodynamics has been performed, and a relationship between the effective flow area, pre-chamber volume and engine speed is proposed as the governing parameter of the mass exchange between chambers. Besides, relaying on the know-how of gas jets, a relationship between the orifice diameter, jet tip penetration and engine speed is suggested as the criterion to preserve the relative jet penetration (respect to the distance from the PC hole to the combustion chamber walls). A numerical validation of these assumptions was carried out using a one-dimensional flow calculator to estimate the thermodynamic properties and mass transfer between chambers, and a one-dimensional spray model to estimate the penetration of the PC combustion products jets. Finally, preserving the ratio between the total area of the PC holes and the product of the PC volume and the engine speed for two pre-chamber geometries, an identical pressure rise rate, in an angular basis, is achieved in both pre-chambers. Furthermore, the same relative jet penetration rate, in an angular basis, can be also achieved, even under different engine speeds, when the ratio between the orifice diameter and the product of the square of the jet free length and the engine speed is preserved.

Determination of Delay in Detonation of a Sandwiched Explosive Impacted by a Shaped Charge Jet

A simple analytical model has been developed to determine delay in detonation of an explosive sandwiched between two metal plates and impacted by a shaped charge jet. The analytical model consists of a relation between detonation delay and depth of jet penetration in a target kept in contact across the explosive sandwich. This relation is derived by expressing depth of jet penetration P as a function of detonation delay Tdx and duration Tw of free passage of the jet through the hole in the top plate of the sandwich. One more relation between Tdx and Tw has been obtained from the theory of expansion of hole produced in a metal plate by jet impact. These two relations have been solved simultaneously to get values of both these parameters as a function of jet penetration. It is proposed that this analytical model can be used in two ways. First, this model can be used to calculate detonation delay by experimental measurement of jet penetration in a target. The detonation delay thus determined can be used to calculate insensitivity constant Aj of an explosive. Second, this model can be used to theoretically calculate jet penetrations obtained by different shaped charge warheads when using a sandwich of explosive with a given insensitivity. Both uses of this analytical model are illustrated using numerical examples.

Effects of pylon geometry on mixing enhancement in a scramjet pylon-cavity flameholder

ABSTRACTNumerical investigation of the effect of pylon geometry within a pylon-cavity aided Supersonic Combustion Ramjet (SCRAMJET) combustor on mixing enhancement, flame-holding capability, fuel jet penetration and total pressure loss are conducted in the current study. RANS equations for compressed real gas are solved by coupled, implicit, second-order upwind solver. A two-equation SST model is used for turbulence modelling. Validation of the computational model is performed with the help of experimental data collected using surface pressure taps, Schlieren flow visualisation and particle image velocimetry (PIV). The study uses four distinct pylon geometry cases, which include the baseline geometry. Sonic injection of hydrogen fuel through a 1mm diameter hole at 2mm downstream of the pylon rear face along the axis of the test section floor is performed for every case. A crossflow of Mach number 2.2 at four bar absolute pressure and standard atmospheric temperature is maintained. A comparative study of mixing efficiency, total pressure loss, fuel jet penetration and fuel plume area fraction for the different cases evaluate the mixing performance. The simulations show that the Pylon 2 case gives a significant improvement in the performance parameters compared to the other geometries. It is observed that mixing efficiency and fuel jet penetration capability of the system are highly dependent on the streamwise vortex within the flameholder.