Simulation of the Strongly Swirling Aerodynamic Field in a Vortex Combustor

This paper presents the simulation of the strongly swirling aerodynamic field in a coal-fired vortex combustor (VC) recently developed for commercial heating applications. A new version of algebraic Reynolds stress model was employed for the closure of non-isotropic turbulence. The calculated results of the 25 cm I.D. bench-scale and the 61 cm I.D. full-scale VC cold test models showed the pertinent aerodynamic features of the VC in terms of strongly swirling, developing, recirculating, and non-isotropic turbulent flow. The dynamic similarity was generally maintained for VCs of different scales.