The Effect of Fuel Composition on Combustion Instability Mode Occurrence in a Model Gas Turbine Combustor

Recently, energy resource depletion and unstable energy prices have become global issues. Worldwide pressure to secure and make more gas and oil available to support global power needs has increased. To meet these needs, alternative fuels composed of various types of fuels have received attention, including biomass, dimethyl ether (DME), and low rank coal. For this reason, the fuel flexibility of the combustion system becomes more important. In this study, H2 and CH4 were selected as the main fuel composition variables and the OH-chemiluminescence measurement technique was also applied. This experimental study was conducted under equivalence ratio and fuel composition variations with a model gas turbine combustor to examine the relation between combustion instability and fuel composition. The combustion instability peak occurs in the H2/CH4 50:50 composed fuel and the combustion instability frequency shifted to higher harmonic of longitudinal mode based on the H2 concentration of the fuel. Based on instability mode and flame length calculation, the effect of the convection time during the instability frequency increasing phenomenon was found in a partially premixed gas turbine combustor. The time-lag analysis showed that the short convection time in a high H2 concentration fuel affects the feedback loop period reduction and, in these conditions, high harmonics of longitudinal mode instability occurs. This fundamental study on combustion instability frequency shifting characteristics was conducted for H2/CH4 composed fuel and the results contribute key information for the conceptual design of a fuel flexible gas turbine and its optimum operation conditions.

Investigation of the Dynamics of an Ultra Low NOx Injection System by POD Data Post-Processing

The present paper is focused on the investigation of the dynamics of the flow downstream of an Ultra Low NOx (ULN) injection system, designed to reduce NOx emissions and combustor axial length. Two rectangular flame tubes have been experimentally investigated: one aimed at simulating an unconfined exit flow, and another with the same transverse dimensions of the combustor annular sector, to simulate the confined flow field. The effects induced by the realistic flame tube presence are investigated comparing the flow field with that generated in the unconfined case. Particular attention is paid to the vortex breakdown phenomena associated with the flow generated by the two co-rotating swirlers constituting the injection system. Two different and complementary measurement techniques have been adopted to characterize the aerodynamics of the vortex breakdown. The hot-wire investigation results reveal the frequencies associated with the precession motion due to the vortex breakdown. The Particle Image Velocimetry technique has been coupled with Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) for data post-processing in order to reconstruct the swirling motion generated by the injection system. The property of POD, which consists of splitting temporal from spatial information of the flow field in analysis, allows the distinction between deterministic and random fluctuations without the need of an external trigger signal. This feature is fundamental for the better understanding of an highly-swirling flow.

Combined Acoustic Damping-Cooling System for Operational Flexibility of GT26/GT24 Reheat Combustors

In the development process of gas turbine combustion chambers, finding countermeasures for thermoacoustically induced pressure pulsations is a major focus. This paper presents a novel system consisting of a multi-layered and multi-functional high frequency damping and cooling structure that is implemented on the sequential burner front panel of the GT26/GT24 gas turbines. The device features multiple single Helmholtz dampers and an advanced convective near wall cooling system to improve the cooling capability and to reduce the cooling mass flow and thereby reducing NOx emissions. The acoustic properties of the dampers and their placement have been defined as function of the identified acoustic mode shapes. The latter is very important since the dampers are designed to counteract screech tones that have acoustic wave lengths of the order of one burner front face width. In order to identify the acoustic mode shapes, multiple dynamics pressure measurements are applied in the full scale engine. The near-wall cooled damping front panel design represents a new technology which has been developed and successfully validated at engine level in fuel gas and oil operation. The restrictions of the stable operating range due to pulsations are completely eliminated resulting in an increase of operational flexibility and lifetime. In addition to a thorough treatment of the damper’s acoustic performance, information on the improved near wall cooling scheme is given in the paper, too.

Numerical Investigation of the Influence of Flow Parameters Nonuniformity at the Diffuser Inlet on Characteristics of the GTE Annular Combustion Chamber

Parameters at a combustion chamber’s inlet significantly vary in an aircraft engine’s transient states of operation. At the same time, there is a significant spatial heterogeneity of flow parameters at a diffuser inlet of a combustion chamber, which is defined by nature of flow in a compressor and an individual for each mode of operation of a specific gas generator. In this paper presented a study of an influence of radial and circumferential nonuniformities of flow parameters on characteristics of a combustion chamber. Multi spray for annular combustion chamber with two rows of burner is considered. Z-shaped sector, which contains two nozzles of outer and two nozzles of inner row, was selected as the calculated domain. Calculations were carried out in ANSYS Fluent 14.5 software package with an implementation of cluster analysis. Nonuniformity at a diffuser inlet was set as fifth degree polynomial, which was derived from a numerical simulation of a compressor. As a result it was established, that radial nonuniformity of flow parameters at an inlet of a combustion chamber influences on characteristics of a combustion chamber. A stretched shape of velocity profile contributes to higher air flow dynamic pressure on dome than using uniform profile air velocity. At that, local equivalents ratio excess are changing, and consequently, sizes and location NOx production zones are changing as well. The residual rotation of flow from the compressor leads to a lesser effect on total pressure drop and air distribution in flame tube. The obtained results showed that, during a design of a combustion chamber, it is necessary to take into account nonuniformity of parameters’ distribution at its inlet.

Experimental Characterization of a Swirl Stabilized MGT Combustor

A swirl stabilized MGT combustor (Turbec T100) was operated with natural gas and was experimentally characterized in two test rigs, a pressurized and optically accessible MGT test rig and an atmospheric combustor test rig. For the detailed characterization of the combustion processes, planar OH-PLIF and simultaneous 3D-stereo PIV measurements were performed in the atmospheric combustor test rig. Flow fields, reaction zones and exhaust gas emissions are reported for a range of pressure scaled MGT load points. Parameter studies on combustor inlet conditions (e.g. air preheating temperature, air and fuel mass flow rates and fuel split) were conducted in the atmospheric combustor test rig. From the parameters studies the fuel split between the pilot and the main stage and the air preheating temperature were found to have the biggest impact on the flame shape, flame stabilization and exhaust gas emissions. The measurements of the ATM test rig are compared with measurements of the pressurized MGT test rig with and without an optically accessible combustion chamber. Opened and closed conical flame and flow pattern were found in both test rigs. Reasons for the two flame and flow pattern are supposed to be the interaction of pilot stage combustion and flow field and the interaction of the dilution air with the combustion and the flow field. The results are discussed and compared with repect to a transferability of combustion characteristics from the ATM test rig to the MGT test rigs.

Interferometric Investigation of the Thermoacoustics in a Swirl Stabilized Methane Flame

In this work, an atmospheric model combustion chamber was characterized employing Laser Vibrometry, chemiluminescence and Particle Image Velocimetry. The test object was a variable geometry burner enclosed with a liner, with the flame optically accessible through four fused silica windows. In this burner with adjustable flame conditions the cavity of the atmospheric model combustion chamber was excited at a frequency around 200Hz. Resonant and non-resonant flame conditions were investigated and compared by laser vibrometer interferometry, schlieren visualization and OH*/CH* chemiluminescence. Additionally, the velocity field was recorded with Particle Image Velocimetry, while the aerodynamics of the burner plenum was analyzed with Computational Fluid Dynamics.

Development of the DLE Combustor for L30A Gas Turbine

This paper describes the development of the Dry Low Emission (DLE) combustor for L30A gas turbine. Kawasaki Heavy Industries, LTD (KHI) has been producing relatively small-size gas turbines (25kW to 30MW class). L30A gas turbine, which has a rated output of 30MW, achieved the thermal efficiency of more than 40%. Most continuous operation models use DLE combustion systems to reduce the harmful emissions and to meet the emission regulation or self-imposed restrictions. KHI’s DLE combustors consist of three burners, a diffusion pilot burner, a lean premix main burner, and supplemental burners. KHI’s proven DLE technologies are also adapted to the L30A combustor design. The development of L30 combustor is divided in four main steps. In the first step, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses were carried out to optimize the detail configuration of the combustor. In a second step, an experimental evaluation using single-can-combustor was conducted in-house intermediate-pressure test facility to evaluate the performances such as ignition, emissions, liner wall temperature, exhaust temperature distribution, and satisfactory results were obtained. In the third step, actual pressure and temperature rig tests were carried out at the Institute for Power Plant Technology, Steam and Gas Turbines (IKDG) of Aachen University, achieving NOx emission value of less than 15ppm (O2=15%). Finally, the L30A commercial validation engine was tested in an in-house test facility, NOx emission is achieved less than 15ppm (O2=15%) between 50% and 100% load operation point. L30A field validation engine have been operated from September 2012 at a chemical industries in Japan.

On the Influence of Fuel Mixing and Flue Gas Recirculation on the Emissions of a Fuel Flexible Gas Turbine Combustor

The main benefits of operating a combustor under flue gas recirculation conditions are the increase in efficiency of the post combustion carbon capture and storage process and the potential to reduce NOX emissions while keeping the thermal load of the gas turbine constant. The latter is primarily caused by the change in thermodynamic properties of the combustive mixture with increasing vitiation. As a result, the dominant NOX formation pathways change with increasing FGR ratio. In a partially premixed combustor, the formation of NOX emissions can also be influenced by the fuel mixing behavior. Different setups lead to combustive mixtures with different degrees of homogeneity as well as influencing the distribution of the mixture within the combustion chamber. In this paper the combined effects of the variation of mixture homogeneity and the flue gas recirculation ratio on the NOX emissions and the stability range is experimentally investigated for different fuel gases. The experiments are performed on the atmospheric laboratory test rig, which is equipped with a partially premixed combustor. The burner is equipped with modular fuel gas nozzles allowing for the variation of the fuel mixing behavior. Exhaust gas measurements are performed to evaluate the influence of the parameters on the emissions profile of the combustor and to compare the results to a theoretical study. The results of this study show that the level of nitric oxide emissions as well as the potential to decrease said emissions with FGR operation is dependent on the mixing behavior of the combustor. Furthermore, the combined effects of fuel gas nozzle and FGR operation lead to a proposal of an operational strategy for the combustor which combines the advantages of low nitric oxide emissions and a broad range of stability.

Development of Low Emission Gas Turbine Combustors

Due to increasing environmental concerns, clean technology has become a key feature in industrial gas turbines. Swirler design is directly associated with the combustion performance for its roles in fuel distribution and flame stability. In this study, the development process of three new conceptual swirlers from Samsung Techwin is presented. Each swirler has unique features to enhance fuel-to-air mixing; Swirler 1 uses tangential air-bypass, Swirler 2 minimizes pressure loss using impeller-like design, and Swirler 3 has combined flow characteristics of axial and radial swirlers. Using extensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, lead time and cost in manufacturing the prototypes were significantly reduced. The numerical methods were verified with a lab-scale combustion test; particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurement of cold flow, direct flame images, and OH planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) images were compared with result of large-eddy simulation (LES), and they showed good agreement. After design optimization using CFD, full-scale combustion tests were performed for all three swirlers. Flame from each swirler was visualized using a cylindrical quartz liner; direct images and OH chemiluminescence images of flames were obtained. Flame stability and blow-off limit at various air load were examined by gradually lowering the equivalence ratio. NOx and CO concentration were measured at the exhaust. All three swirlers satisfied low NOx and CO levels at the design conditions. The performance maps bounded by the NOx and CO limits and blow-off limit were obtained for all swirlers. Further efforts to maximize the combustors performance will be made.

Advanced Multi-Cup Fuel Injector Technology for Environmentally Responsible Aviation Gas Turbine Engines

Participating in NASA’s Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) Project, Parker Hannifin built and tested multipoint Lean Direct Injection (LDI) fuel injectors designed for NASA’s N+2 55:1 Overall Pressure-Ratio (OPR) gas turbine engine cycles. The injectors are based on Parker’s earlier three-zone injector (3ZI) which was conceived to enable practical implementation of multipoint LDI schemes in conventional aviation gas turbine engines. The new injectors offer significant aerodynamic design flexibility, excellent thermal performance, and scalability to various engine sizes. The injectors built for this project contain 15 injection points and incorporate staging to enable operation at low power conditions. Ignition and flame stability were demonstrated at ambient conditions with ignition air pressure drop as low as 0.3% and fuel-to-air ratio (FAR) as low as 0.011. Lean Blowout (LBO) occurred at FAR as low as 0.005 with air at 460 K and atmospheric pressure. A high pressure combustion testing campaign was conducted in the CE-5 test facility at NASA Glenn Research Center at pressures up to 250 psi and combustor exit temperatures up to 2,033 K (3,200 °F). The tests demonstrated estimated LTO cycle emissions that are about 30% of CAEP/6 for a reference 60,000 lbf thrust, 54.8-OPR engine. This paper presents some details of the injector design along with results from ignition, LBO and emissions testing.