Large-Eddy Simulation of combustion instabilities in a variable-length combustor.

This article presents a simulation of a model rocket combustor with continuously variable acoustic properties thanks to a variable-length injector tube. Fully compressible Large-Eddy Simulations are conducted using the AVBP code. An original flame stabilization mechanism is uncovered where the recirculation of hot gases in the corner recirculation zone creates a triple flame structure. An unstable operating point is then chosen to investigate the mech- anism of the instability. The simulations are compared to experimental results in terms of frequency and mode structure. Two-dimensional axi-symmetric computations are com- pared to full 3D simulations in order to assess the validity of the axi-symmetry assumption for the prediction of mean and unsteady features of this flow. Despite the inaccuracies in- herent to the 2D description of a turbulent flow, for this configuration and the particular operating point investigated, the axi-symmetric simulation qualitatively reproduces some features of the instability

Mixed acoustic–entropy combustion instabilities in gas turbines

A combustion instability in a combustor terminated by a nozzle is analysed and modelled based on a low-order Helmholtz solver. A large eddy simulation (LES) of the corresponding turbulent, compressible and reacting flow is first performed and analysed based on dynamic mode decomposition (DMD). The mode with the highest amplitude shares the same frequency of oscillation as the experiment (approximately 320 Hz) and shows the presence of large entropy spots generated within the combustion chamber and convected down to the exit nozzle. The lowest purely acoustic mode being in the range 700–750 Hz, it is postulated that the instability observed around 320 Hz stems from a mixed entropy–acoustic mode, where the acoustic generation associated with entropy spots being convected throughout the choked nozzle plays a key role. The DMD analysis allows one to extract from the LES results a low-order model that confirms that the mechanism of the low-frequency combustion instability indeed involves both acoustic and convected entropy waves. The delayed entropy coupled boundary condition (DECBC) (Motheau, Selle & Nicoud, J. Sound Vib., vol. 333, 2014, pp. 246–262) is implemented into a numerical Helmholtz solver where the baseline flow is assumed at rest. When fed with appropriate transfer functions to model the entropy generation and convection from the flame to the exit, the Helmholtz/DECBC solver predicts the presence of an unstable mode around 320 Hz, in agreement with both LES and experiments

Prediction and control of combustion instabilities in real engines

This paper presents recent progress in the field of thermoacoustic combustion instabilities in propulsion engines such as rockets or gas turbines. Combustion instabilities have been studied for more than a century in simple laminar configurations as well as in laboratory-scale turbulent flames. These instabilities are also encountered in real engines but new mechanisms appear in these systems because of obvious differences with academic burners: larger Reynolds numbers, higher pressures and power densities, multiple inlet systems, complex fuels. Other differences are more subtle: real engines often feature specific unstable modes such as azimuthal instabilities in gas turbines or transverse modes in rocket chambers. Hydrodynamic instability modes can also differ as well as the combustion regimes, which can require very different simulation models. The integration of chambers in real engines implies that compressor and turbine impedances control instabilities directly so that the determination of the impedances of turbomachinery elements becomes a key issue. Gathering experimental data on combustion instabilities is difficult in real engines and Large Eddy Simulation (LES) has become a major tool in this field. Recent examples, however, show that LES is not sufficient and that theory, even in these complex systems, plays a major role to understand both experimental and LES results and to identify mitigation techniques

Large Eddy Simulation of a dual swirl gas turbine combustor: Flame/flow structures and stabilisation under thermoacoustically stable and unstable conditions

A laboratory gas turbine model combustor with dual-swirler configuration is in- vestigated using Large Eddy Simulation (LES) with a flamelet subgrid combus- tion model. Two partially premixed methane/air flames with different equivalence ratio and thermal power are simulated: one stably burning with an elongated V- shape and another undergoing pronounced thermoacoustic oscillations exhibiting a flat shape. Additionally, both flames feature a hydrodynamic instability in the form of a precessing vortex core (PVC). Detailed comparisons between experi- mental and LES results show that the different flow and reaction zone structures in these two flames are reproduced well. The various flow dynamics resulting from the PVC and thermoacoustic oscillations are also captured accurately in the simulation. Further analyses on the lifted swirl flame stabilisation using phase averaged statistics at the PVC frequencies reveal that the PVC-induced stagnation points provide an anchoring mechanism for both the stable and unstable flames, although in the latter case large self-excited pressure oscillations are present. It is found that the PVC is significantly influenced by these oscillations, being axially stretched and compressed at high and low pressures, respectively. However, the formation of flame leading edge due to the PVC is robust during these unstable processes and the azimuthal movement of the leading point is found to be strongly correlated with the rotation of the PVC in both flames, further confirming the vital role of the PVC in the stabilisation process of these lifted swirl flames

Lean Flame Root Dynamics in a Gas Turbine Model Combustor

A swirl-stabilised flame close to blow-off conditions in a gas turbine model combustor is investigated using large eddy simulation. The sub-grid combustion is modelled using a presumed probability density function approach along with flamelets. Good comparisons between the computed and measured statistics are observed. This allows for a detailed investigation of the flame behaviour. Two distinct stages are noted for the flame behaviour. The flame has a steady and stable flame root anchored near the entrance to the burner, yielding a "V" shaped flame in Stage 1, and a transient lift-off event is observed in Stage 2. These two stages switch from one to the other, giving the unstable flame behaviour, as observed in the experimental studies. Further analysis of the simulations shows that large-scale scalar mixing plays a prominent role in the stabilisation of the flame and the entrainment of inflammable mixtures near the flame root location initiates the lift-off event.EPSRC DTP studentship (RG80792

LES and acoustic analysis of thermo-acoustic instabilities in a partially premixed model combustor

Numerical simulations were performed using Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and acoustic analysis tools to study thermo-acoustic instabilities in an academic burner. The configuration studied corresponds to a methane/air burner installed at the University of Twente (The Netherlands). It operates under fuel-lean partially premixed conditions at atmospheric pressure, and was built to study thermo-acoustic instabilities in conditions representative of gas turbine Lean Premixed systems: gaseous fuel is injected upstream of the combustor and has a limited time to mix with air. Even though the objective is to burn in a premixed mode, the actual regime corresponds to a partially premixed flame where strong equivalence ratio variations are created especially during combustion instabilities. Capturing these modes with LES is a challenge: here, simulations for both stable and unstable regimes are performed. In the unstable case, the limit cycle oscillations (LCO) are characterized and compared to experimental results. Reasonable agreement is found between simulations and experiments

A numerical method for the prediction of combustion instabilities

This thesis describes one of the first computational works to investigate the physical feedback mechanisms associated with self-excited, combustion-driven instabilities in gas turbines. For this purpose, a novel numerical method based on large eddy simulation is devised. The method (called BOFFIN) uses a fully compressible formulation to account for acoustic wave propagation and applies a transported probability density function approach for turbulence-chemistry interactions. The latter is solved by the Eulerian stochastic fields method and is complemented by two different 15-step / 19 species chemical reaction schemes. This approach is shown to be flame burning regime independent and therefore highly applicable in the context of partially premixed gas turbine combustion. Combustion instabilities are a phenomenon often encountered in the late design stages of modern gas turbine combustors. Under certain conditions, these types of instabilities can develop into sustained limit-cycle oscillations with potentially severe consequences on a combustor's operating behaviour. In order to study the various physical feedback mechanisms driving such limit-cycle oscillations, two different test cases are simulated in the present work. Firstly, the combined effects of thermo-acoustic and hydrodynamic instabilities are examined in the lab-scale PRECCINSTA model combustor. Secondly, the superposition of a longitudinal and azimuthally spinning instability mode is investigated in the industrial SGT-100 combustor. Amongst the different feedback mechanisms identified and studied in these cases are: mass flow rate and equivalence ratio oscillations, as well as hydrodynamic phenomena such as flame angle oscillations, periodic vortex shedding and a precessing vortex core. It is further demonstrated that in addition to reproducing longitudinal instability modes, the applied LES approach is capable of accounting for modes acting in the transverse direction. Overall, the findings of this research project strongly suggest that BOFFIN is a reliable and accurate method for the prediction of self-excited combustion instabilities in gas turbines.Open Acces