Characterization of Forced Flame Response of Swirl-Stabilized Turbulent Lean-Premixed Flames in a Gas Turbine Combustor

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyu Tae Kim ◽  
Jong Guen Lee ◽  
Hyung Ju Lee ◽  
Bryan D. Quay ◽  
Domenic Santavicca
Keyword(s):  
Transfer Function ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Strouhal Number ◽  
Premixed Flames ◽  
Flame Length ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Flame Response ◽  
Flame Shape ◽  
Flame Angle

Flame transfer function measurements of turbulent premixed flames were made in a model lean premixed, swirl-stabilized, gas turbine combustor. OH*, CH*, and CO2* chemiluminescence emissions were measured to determine heat release oscillation from a whole flame, and the two-microphone technique was used to measure inlet velocity fluctuation. 2-D CH* chemiluminescence imaging was used to characterize the flame shape: the flame length (LCH* max) and flame angle (α). Using H2-natural gas composite fuels, XH2 = 0.00 ∼ 0.60, very short flame was obtained and hydrogen enrichment of natural gas had a significant impact on the flame structure and flame attachment points. For a pure natural gas flame, the flames exhibit a “V” structure, whereas H2-enriched natural gas flames have an “M” structure. Results show that the gain of “M” flames is much smaller than that of “V” flames. Similar to results of analytic and experimental investigations on the flame transfer function of laminar premixed flames, it shows that the dynamics of a turbulent premixed flame is governed by three relevant parameters: the Strouhal number (St = LCH* max / Lconv), the flame length (LCH* max), and the flame angle (α). Two flames with the same flame shape exhibit very similar forced responses, regardless of their inlet flow conditions. This is significant because the forced flame response of a highly turbulent, practical gas turbine combustor can be quantitatively generalized using the non-dimensional parameters which collapse all relevant input conditions into the flame shape and the Strouhal number.

Characterization of Forced Flame Response of Swirl-Stabilized Turbulent Lean-Premixed Flames in a Gas Turbine Combustor

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyu Tae Kim ◽  
Jong Guen Lee ◽  
Hyung Ju Lee ◽  
Bryan D. Quay ◽  
Domenic A. Santavicca
Keyword(s):  
Transfer Function ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Strouhal Number ◽  
Premixed Flames ◽  
Flame Length ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Flame Response ◽  
Flame Shape ◽  
Flame Angle

Flame transfer function measurements of turbulent premixed flames are made in a model lean-premixed, swirl-stabilized, gas turbine combustor. OH∗, CH∗, and CO2∗ chemiluminescence emissions are measured to determine heat release oscillation from a whole flame, and the two-microphone technique is used to measure inlet velocity fluctuation. 2D CH∗ chemiluminescence imaging is used to characterize the flame shape: the flame length (LCH∗ max) and flame angle (α). Using H2-natural gas composite fuels, XH2=0.00–0.60, a very short flame is obtained and hydrogen enrichment of natural gas is found to have a significant impact on the flame structure and flame attachment points. For a pure natural gas flame, the flames exhibit a “V” structure, whereas H2-enriched natural gas flames have an “M” structure. Results show that the gain of M flames is much smaller than that of V flames. Similar to results of analytic and experimental investigations on the flame transfer function of laminar premixed flames, it shows that the dynamics of a turbulent premixed flame is governed by three relevant parameters: the Strouhal number (St=LCH∗ max/Lconv), the flame length (LCH∗ max), and the flame angle (α). Two flames with the same flame shape exhibit very similar forced responses, regardless of their inlet flow conditions. This is significant because the forced flame response of a highly turbulent, practical gas turbine combustor can be quantitatively generalized using the nondimensional parameters, which collapse all relevant input conditions into the flame shape and the Strouhal number.

Flame Response Mechanisms Due to Velocity Perturbations in a Lean Premixed Gas Turbine Combustor

2010 ◽  
Vol 133 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Jones ◽  
Jong Guen Lee ◽  
Bryan D. Quay ◽  
Domenic A. Santavicca
Keyword(s):  
Transfer Function ◽  
Heat Release ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Velocity Fluctuation ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Velocity Fluctuations ◽  
Inlet Velocity ◽  
Lean Premixed ◽  
Flame Response ◽  
Second Peak

The response of turbulent premixed flames to inlet velocity fluctuations is studied experimentally in a lean premixed, swirl-stabilized, gas turbine combustor. Overall chemiluminescence intensity is used as a measure of the fluctuations in the flame’s global heat release rate, and hot wire anemometry is used to measure the inlet velocity fluctuations. Tests are conducted over a range of mean inlet velocities, equivalence ratios, and velocity fluctuation frequencies, while the normalized inlet velocity fluctuation (V′/Vmean) is fixed at 5% to ensure linear flame response over the employed modulation frequency range. The measurements are used to calculate a flame transfer function relating the velocity fluctuation to the heat release fluctuation as a function of the velocity fluctuation frequency. At low frequency, the gain of the flame transfer function increases with increasing frequency to a peak value greater than 1. As the frequency is further increased, the gain decreases to a minimum value, followed by a second smaller peak. The frequencies at which the gain is minimum and achieves its second peak are found to depend on the convection time scale and the flame’s characteristic length scale. Phase-synchronized CH∗ chemiluminescence imaging is used to characterize the flame’s response to inlet velocity fluctuations. The observed flame response can be explained in terms of the interaction of two flame perturbation mechanisms, one originating at flame-anchoring point and propagating along the flame front and the other from vorticity field generated in the outer shear layer in the annular mixing section. An analysis of the phase-synchronized flame images show that when both perturbations arrive at the flame at the same time (or phase), they constructively interfere, producing the second peak observed in the gain curves. When the perturbations arrive at the flame 180 degrees out-of-phase, they destructively interfere, producing the observed minimum in the gain curve.

Effect of Flame Structure on the Flame Transfer Function in a Premixed Gas Turbine Combustor

2009 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daesik Kim ◽  
Jong Guen Lee ◽  
Bryan D. Quay ◽  
Domenic A. Santavicca ◽  
Kwanwoo Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transfer Function ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Modulation Frequency ◽  
Flame Structure ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Velocity Perturbation ◽  
Velocity Fluctuations ◽  
Inlet Velocity ◽  
Flame Response

The flame transfer function in a premixed gas turbine combustor is experimentally determined. The fuel (natural gas) is premixed with air upstream of a choked inlet to the combustor. Therefore, the input to the flame transfer function is the imposed velocity fluctuations of the fuel/air mixture without equivalence ratio fluctuations. The inlet-velocity fluctuations are achieved by a variable-speed siren over the forcing frequency of 75–280 Hz and measured using a hot-wire anemometer at the inlet to the combustor. The output function (heat release) is determined using chemiluminescence measurement from the whole flame. Flame images are recorded to understand how the flame structure plays a role in the global heat release response of flame to the inlet-velocity perturbation. The results show that the gain and phase of the flame transfer function depend on flame structure as well as the frequency and magnitude of inlet-velocity modulation and can be generalized in terms of the relative length scale of flame to convection length scale of inlet-velocity perturbation, which is represented by a Strouhal number. Nonlinear flame response is characterized by a periodic vortex shedding from shear layer, and the nonlinearity occurs at lower magnitude of inlet-velocity fluctuation as the modulation frequency increases. However, for a given modulation frequency, the flame structure does not affect the magnitude of inlet-velocity fluctuation at which the nonlinear flame response starts to appear.

Flame Transfer Function Measurement and Instability Frequency Prediction Using a Thermoacoustic Model

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyu Tae Kim ◽  
Hyung Ju Lee ◽  
Jong Guen Lee ◽  
Bryan D. Quay ◽  
Domenic Santavicca
Keyword(s):  
Transfer Function ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Flame Length ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Pass Filter ◽  
Low Pass Filter ◽  
Turbulent Premixed Flame ◽  
Instability Frequency

The dynamic response of a turbulent premixed flame to an acoustic velocity perturbation was experimentally determined in a lean-premixed, swirl-stabilized, lab-scale gas turbine combustor. Fuel was injected far upstream of a choked inlet to eliminate equivalence ratio oscillations. A siren-type modulation device was used to provide acoustic perturbations at the forcing frequency of 100 ∼ 400 Hz. To measure global heat release rate, OH*, CH*, and CO2* chemiluminescence emissions were used. The two-microphone method was utilized to estimate inlet velocity fluctuations, and it was calibrated by direct measurements using a hot wire anemometer under cold-flow conditions. Gain of the flame transfer function (FTF) shows a low pass filter behavior, and it is well-fitted by a second-order model. Phase difference increases quasi-linearly with the forcing frequency. Using the n-τ formulation, gain and phase of FTF were incorporated into an analytic thermoacoustic model in order to predict instability frequencies and corresponding modal structures. Self-excited flame response measurements were also performed to verify eigenfrequencies predicted by the thermoacoustic model. Instability frequency predicted by the thermoacoustic model is supported by experimental results. Two instability frequency bands were measured in the investigated gas turbine combustor at all operating conditions: f ∼ 220 Hz and f ∼ 350 Hz. Results show that the self-excited instability frequency of f ∼ 220 Hz results from the fact that the flames amplify flow perturbations with f = 150 ∼ 250 Hz. This frequency range was observed in the flame transfer function measurements. The other instability frequency of f ∼ 350 Hz occurs because the whole combustion system has an eigenfrequency corresponding to the 1/4-wave eigenmode of the mixing section. This was analytically and experimentally demonstrated. Results also show that the flame length, LCH*max, plays a critical role in determining self-induced instability frequency.

Flame Response Mechanisms Due to Velocity Perturbations in a Lean Premixed Gas Turbine Combustor

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Jones ◽  
Jong Guen Lee ◽  
Bryan D. Quay ◽  
Domenic A. Santavicca ◽  
Kwanwoo Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transfer Function ◽  
Heat Release ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Velocity Fluctuation ◽  
Modulation Frequency ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Velocity Fluctuations ◽  
Inlet Velocity ◽  
Lean Premixed ◽  
Flame Response

The response of turbulent premixed flames to inlet velocity fluctuations is studied experimentally in a lean premixed, swirl-stabilized, gas turbine combustor. Overall chemiluminescence intensity is used as a measure of the fluctuations in the flame’s global heat release rate and hot wire anemometry is used to measure the inlet velocity fluctuations. Tests are conducted over a range of mean inlet velocities, equivalence ratios and velocity fluctuation frequencies, while the normalized inlet velocity fluctuation (V′/Vmean) is fixed at 5% to ensure linear flame response over the employed modulation frequency range. The measurements are used to calculate a flame transfer function relating the velocity fluctuation to the heat release fluctuation as a function of the velocity fluctuation frequency. At low frequency, the gain of the flame transfer function increases with increasing frequency to a peak value greater than one. As the frequency is further increased, the gain decreases to a minimum value, followed by a second smaller peak. The frequencies at which the gain is minimum and achieves its 2nd peak are found to depend on the convection time scale and the flame’s characteristic length scale. Phase-synchronized CH* chemiluminescence imaging is used to characterize the flame’s response to inlet velocity fluctuations. The observed flame response can be explained in terms of the interaction of two flame perturbation mechanisms, acoustic velocity fluctuations and vorticity fluctuations. Analysis of the phase-synchronized flame images show that when both perturbations arrive at the flame at the same time (or phase) they constructively interfere, producing the 2nd peak observed in the gain curves. And when the perturbations arrive at the flame 180 degrees out-of-phase, they destructively interfere, producing the observed minimum in the gain curve.

Gas Turbine Combined Cycle With CO2-Capture Using Auto-Thermal Reforming of Natural Gas

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thormod Andersen ◽  
Hanne M. Kvamsdal ◽  
Olav Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Process Integration ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Co2 Removal ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Chemical Absorption ◽  
Fuel Gas ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Water Gas

A concept for capturing and sequestering CO2 from a natural gas fired combined cycle power plant is presented. The present approach is to decarbonise the fuel prior to combustion by reforming natural gas, producing a hydrogen-rich fuel. The reforming process consists of an air-blown pressurised auto-thermal reformer that produces a gas containing H2, CO and a small fraction of CH4 as combustible components. The gas is then led through a water gas shift reactor, where the equilibrium of CO and H2O is shifted towards CO2 and H2. The CO2 is then captured from the resulting gas by chemical absorption. The gas turbine of this system is then fed with a fuel gas containing approximately 50% H2. In order to achieve acceptable level of fuel-to-electricity conversion efficiency, this kind of process is attractive because of the possibility of process integration between the combined cycle and the reforming process. A comparison is made between a “standard” combined cycle and the current process with CO2-removal. This study also comprise an investigation of using a lower pressure level in the reforming section than in the gas turbine combustor and the impact of reduced steam/carbon ratio in the main reformer. The impact on gas turbine operation because of massive air bleed and the use of a hydrogen rich fuel is discussed.

Towards the Multiobjective Optimisation of Gas Turbine Combustors

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Wyse ◽  
G. T. Parks ◽  
R. S. Cant
Keyword(s):  
Transfer Function ◽  
Tabu Search ◽  
Combustion Chamber ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Design Space ◽  
Objective Functions ◽  
Multiobjective Optimisation ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Linear Network ◽  
Good Design

Gas turbine combustor design entails multiple, and often contradictory, requirements for the designer to consider. Multiobjective optimisation on a low-fidelity linear-network-based code is suggested as a way of investigating the design space. The ability of the Tabu Search optimiser to minimise NOx and CO, as well as several acoustic objective functions, is investigated, and the resulting “good” design vectors presented. An analysis of the importance of the flame transfer function in the model is also given. The mass flow and the combustion chamber width and area are shown to be very important. The length of the plenum and the widths of the plenum exit and combustor exit also influence the design space.

Significance of the Direct Excitation Mechanism for High-Frequency Response of Premixed Flames to Flow Oscillations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vishal Acharya ◽  
Tim Lieuwen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Release ◽  
Acoustic Waves ◽  
Premixed Flames ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Flame Length ◽  
Excitation Mechanism ◽  
Direct Mechanism ◽  
Direct Excitation ◽  
Flow Disturbances ◽  
Flame Response

Abstract Premixed flames are sensitive to flow disturbances, which can arise from acoustic or vortical fluctuations. For transverse instabilities, it is known that a dominant mechanism for flame response is “injector coupling”, whereby pressure oscillations associated with transverse waves excite axial flow disturbances. These axial flow disturbances then excite heat release oscillations. The objective of this paper is to consider another mechanism — the direct sensitivity of the unsteady heat release to transverse acoustic waves, and to compare its significance relative to the induced axial disturbances, in a linear framework. The rate at which the flame adds energy to the disturbance field is quantified using the Rayleigh criterion and evaluated over a range of control parameters, such as flame length and swirl number. The results show that radial modes induce heat release fluctuations that always add energy to the acoustic field, whereas heat release fluctuations induced by mixed radial-azimuthal modes can add or remove energy. These amplification rates are then compared to the flame response from induced axial fluctuations. For combustor centered flames, these results show that the direct excitation mechanism has negligible amplification rates relative to the induced axial mechanism for radial modes. For transverse modes, the fact that the nozzle is located at a pressure node indicates that negligible induced axial velocity disturbances are excited; as such, the direct mechanism dominates. For flames that are not centered on pressure nodes, the direct mechanism for mixed-modes, dominates for certain nozzle locations and flame angles.

Experimental Assessment of the Emissions Benefits of a Ceramic Gas Turbine Combustor

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. O. Smith ◽  
A. Fahme
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Experimental Assessment ◽  
Industrial Gas Turbine ◽  
Combustor Liner

Three subscale, cylindrical combustors were rig tested on natural gas at typical industrial gas turbine operating conditions. The intent of the testing was to determine the effect of combustor liner cooling on NOx and CO emissions. In order of decreasing liner cooling, a metal louvre-cooled combustor, a metal effusion-cooled combustor, and a backside-cooled ceramic (CFCC) combustor were evaluated. The three combustors were tested using the same lean-premixed fuel injector. Testing showed that reduced liner cooling produced lower CO emissions as reaction quenching near the liner wall was reduced. A reduction in CO emissions allows a reoptimization of the combustor air flow distribution to yield lower NOx emissions.

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