Acoustic Damper Placement and Tuning for Annular Combustors: An Adjoint-Based Optimization Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg A. Mensah ◽  
Jonas P. Moeck
Keyword(s):  
Helmholtz Equation ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Algebraic Models ◽  
Combustion Chambers ◽  
Thermoacoustic Instabilities ◽  
Helmholtz Resonators ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
Optimization Study ◽  
Annular Combustor ◽  
Parameter Values

Thermoacoustic instabilities pose a major threat to modern gas turbines. The use of acoustic dampers, like Helmholtz resonators, has proven useful for the mitigation of such instabilities. However, assessing the effect of acoustic dampers on thermoacoustic modes in annular combustion chambers remains an intricate task. This results from the implicit nature of the thermoacoustic Helmholtz equation associated with the high number of possible parameter values for the positioning of the dampers and their impedance design. In the present work, the principal challenges of the effective placement and the design of the impedance of acoustic dampers in annular chambers are discussed. This includes the choice of an appropriate objective function for the optimization, the combinatorial challenges when dealing with different possible damper arrangements, and the numerical complexities when using the thermoacoustic Helmholtz equation to approach this issue. As a key aspect, the paper proposes a new adjoint-based approach to tackle these problems. The new algorithm establishes algebraic models that predict the effect of acoustic dampers on the growth rates of the thermoacoustic modes. The theory is exemplified on the basis of a generic annular combustor model with 12 burners.

Acoustic Damper Placement and Tuning for Annular Combustors: An Adjoint-Based Optimization Study

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg A. Mensah ◽  
Jonas P. Moeck
Keyword(s):  
Helmholtz Equation ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Algebraic Models ◽  
Combustion Chambers ◽  
Thermoacoustic Instabilities ◽  
Helmholtz Resonators ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
Optimization Study ◽  
Annular Combustor ◽  
Parameter Values

Thermoacoustic instabilities pose a major threat to modern gas turbines. The use of acoustic dampers, like Helmholtz resonators, has proven useful for the mitigation of such instabilities. However, assessing the effect of acoustic dampers on thermoacoustic modes in annular combustion chambers remains an intricate task. This results from the implicit nature of the thermoacoustic Helmholtz equation associated with the high number of possible parameter values for the positioning of the dampers and their impedance design. In the present work, the principal challenges of the effective placement and the design of the impedance of acoustic dampers in annular chambers are discussed. This includes the choice of an appropriate objective function for the optimization, the combinatorial challenges when dealing with different possible damper arrangements, and the numerical complexities when using the thermoacoustic Helmholtz equation to approach this issue. As a key aspect, the paper proposes a new adjoint-based approach to tackle these problems. The new algorithm establishes algebraic models that predict the effect of acoustic dampers on the growth rates of the thermoacoustic modes. The theory is exemplified on the basis of a generic annular combustor model with 12 burners.

Investigation of Thermoacoustic Stability Limits of an Annular Gas Turbine Combustor Test-Rig With and Without Helmholtz-Resonators

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Lepers ◽  
Werner Krebs ◽  
Bernd Prade ◽  
Patrick Flohr ◽  
Giacomo Pollarolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Power Input ◽  
Test Rig ◽  
Combustion Chambers ◽  
Thermoacoustic Instabilities ◽  
Helmholtz Resonators ◽  
Annular Combustor ◽  
Computational Analyses

Providing gas turbine combustion chambers with Helmholtz-resonators is a promising approach for extending the operating range of gas turbines towards higher thermal power input whilst minimizing the risk of thermoacoustic instabilities. The work currently being reported gives an overview of experimental and computational analyses carried out for a full annular combustor test-rig located at Gioia del Colle in Italy. The thermoacoustic stability characteristics of this test-rig were thoroughly analyzed both for a base configuration without Helmholtz-resonators and for an extended configuration with 14 Helmholtz-resonators. An increase of power input to the combustor by 8.5–20% can be realized when the test-rig is equipped with resonators. The experimental analyses are reproduced by a computational model.

scholarly journals Weakly nonlinear analysis of thermoacoustic instabilities in annular combustors

2016 ◽  
Vol 805 ◽  
pp. 52-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ghirardo ◽  
M. P. Juniper ◽  
J. P. Moeck
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Practical Importance ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Local Pressure ◽  
Weakly Nonlinear ◽  
Acoustic Damping ◽  
Thermoacoustic Instabilities ◽  
Rotationally Symmetric ◽  
Flame Response ◽  
Annular Combustor

Rotationally symmetric annular combustors are of practical importance because they generically resemble combustion chambers in gas turbines, in which thermoacoustically driven oscillations are a major concern. We focus on azimuthal thermoacoustic oscillations and model the fluctuating heat release rate as being dependent only on the local pressure in the combustion chamber. We study the dynamics of the annular combustor with a finite number of compact flames equispaced around the annulus, and characterize the flames’ response with a describing function. We discuss the existence, amplitude and the stability of standing and spinning waves, as a function of: (i) the number of the burners; (ii) the acoustic damping in the chamber; (iii) the flame response. We present the implications for industrial applications and the future direction of investigations. We then present as an example the first theoretical study of thermoacoustic triggering in annular combustors, which shows that rotationally symmetric annular chambers that are thermoacoustically unstable do not experience only stable spinning solutions, but can also experience stable standing solutions. We finally test the theory on one experiment with good agreement.

Stability Criteria for Standing and Spinning Waves in Annular Combustors

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulio Ghirardo ◽  
Matthew P. Juniper ◽  
Jonas P. Moeck
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Practical Importance ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Describing Function ◽  
Combustion Chambers ◽  
Rotationally Symmetric ◽  
Annular Combustor ◽  
Flame Describing Function ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Future Direction

Rotationally symmetric annular combustors are of practical importance because they generically resemble combustion chambers in gas turbines and aeroengines, in which thermoacoustically driven oscillations are a major concern. We focus on thermoacoustic oscillations of azimuthal type, neglect the effect of the transverse acoustic velocity in the azimuthal direction, and model the heat release rate as being dependent only on the pressure in the combustion chamber. We study the dynamics of the annular combustor with a finite number of compact flames equi-spaced along the annulus, and characterise the flames’ response with a describing function. We discuss with broad generality the existence, amplitudes and the stability of standing and spinning waves, as a function of: 1) the number of the burners; 2) the damping in the chamber; 3) the flame describing function. These have implications on industrial applications, the future direction of investigations, and for what to look for in experimental data. We then present as an example of application the first theoretical study of triggering in annular combustors, and show that rotationally symmetric annular chambers can experience stable standing solutions.

Prediction of Thermoacoustic Instabilities With Focus on the Dynamic Flame Behavior for the 3A-Series Gas Turbine of Siemens KWU

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uwe Krüger ◽  
Jens Hüren ◽  
Stefan Hoffmann ◽  
Werner Krebs ◽  
Dieter Bohn
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Analytical Data ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Transient Behavior ◽  
Axial Direction ◽  
Step Function ◽  
Lean Premixed Combustion ◽  
Thermoacoustic Instabilities ◽  
Annular Combustor

Self-induced combustion driven oscillations are a crucial challenge in the design of advanced gas turbine combustors. Lean premixed combustion, typically used in modern gas turbines, has a pronounced tendency to produce these instabilities. Thus, the prediction of these thermoacoustic instabilities in the design phase of an engine becomes more and more important. A method based on linear acoustic four-pole elements to predict the instabilities of the ring combustor of the Siemens 3A-series gas turbines will be presented in this paper. The complex network includes the entire system starting from both compressor outlet and fuel supply system and ending at the turbine inlet. Most of the transfer elements can be described by analytical data. Nevertheless, the most important elements, “flame” and “combustion chamber”, have to be investigated more in detail due to their complex 3D acoustics. For the turbulent, premixed and swirled flame, a numerical simulation of the transient behavior after a sudden jump in mass flow at the inlet (step-function approach) is used to obtain the flame frequency response for axial direction as well as circumferential direction. This method has been verified for numerous different flame types (Krüger et al. (1998), Bohn et al. (1997), Bohn et al. (1996)). The four-pole element of the annular combustor is derived by an eigenfrequency analysis of the chamber, including a numerical predicted temperature and flow distribution. The results show the principle possibilities of the instability analysis described. The frequencies predicted correspond well with experience from engine test fields. The importance of several elements for self-induced combustion driven oscillations is pointed out clearly.

On the Use of Helmholtz Resonators for Damping Acoustic Pulsations in Industrial Gas Turbines

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Bellucci ◽  
P. Flohr ◽  
C. O. Paschereit ◽  
F. Magni
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Operating Regime ◽  
Acoustic Response ◽  
Combustion Chambers ◽  
Helmholtz Resonators ◽  
Industrial Gas Turbines ◽  
Significant Extension

In this work, the application of Helmholtz resonators for damping low-frequency pulsations in gas turbine combustion chambers is discussed. We present a nonlinear model for predicting the acoustic response of resonators including the effect of purging air. Atmospheric experiments are used to validate the model, which is employed to design a resonator arrangement for damping low-frequency pulsations in an ALSTOM GT11N2 gas turbine. The predicted damper impedances are used as the boundary condition in the three-dimensional analysis of the combustion chamber. The suggested arrangement leads to a significant extension of the low-pulsation operating regime of the engine.

Practical Bypass Mixing Systems for Fan Jet Aero Engines

1966 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. H. Frost
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Minimum Weight ◽  
Jet Engines ◽  
Metal Interface ◽  
Combustion Chambers ◽  
Propulsion Systems ◽  
Jet Engine ◽  
Aero Engines ◽  
Corrugated Metal ◽  
Constant Static Pressure

SummaryMixing systems have many applications in gas turbines and aircraft jet propulsion, e.g. mixing zones in combustion chambers, ejectors for jet lift thrust augmentors and supersonic propulsion systems. A further application similar to that of combustion chamber mixing is that of mixing the cold and hot exhausts of a bypass jet engine. These are both characterised by mixing at constant static pressure and approximately constant total pressure as opposed to the more general case of unequal pressures in ejector systems (Fig. 1).The exhaust mixing process as used in Rolls-Royce bypass jet engines, e.g. Spey and Conway, enables the potential of the bypass principle, in terms of minimum weight and fuel consumption, to be exploited by a simple practical device.This is achieved by mixing the two streams in a common duct of fairly short dimensions with a corrugated metal interface on the inlet side. The consideration of these practical systems forms the main topic of this paper.

Boundary Layer Flashback in Premixed Hydrogen–Air Flames With Acoustic Excitation

2017 ◽  
Vol 140 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Hoferichter ◽  
Thomas Sattelmayer
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Excitation Amplitude ◽  
Bulk Flow ◽  
Acoustic Excitation ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Thermoacoustic Instabilities ◽  
Flame Flashback

Lean premixed combustion is prevailing in gas turbines to minimize nitrogen oxide emissions. However, this technology bears the risk of flame flashback and thermoacoustic instabilities. Thermoacoustic instabilities induce velocity oscillations at the burner exit which, in turn, can trigger flame flashback. This article presents an experimental study at ambient conditions on the effect of longitudinal acoustic excitation on flashback in the boundary layer of a channel burner. The acoustic excitation simulates the effect of thermoacoustic instabilities. Flashback limits are determined for different excitation frequencies characterizing intermediate frequency dynamics in typical gas turbine combustors (100–350 Hz). The excitation amplitude is varied from 0% to 36% of the burner bulk flow velocity. For increasing excitation amplitude, the risk of flame flashback increases. This effect is strongest at low frequencies. For increasing excitation frequency, the influence of the velocity oscillations decreases as the flame has less time to follow the changes in bulk flow velocity. Two different flashback regimes can be distinguished based on excitation amplitude. For low excitation amplitudes, flashback conditions are reached if the minimum flow velocity in the excitation cycle falls below the flashback limit of unexcited unconfined flames. For higher excitation amplitudes, where the flame starts to periodically enter the burner duct, flashback is initiated if the maximum flow velocity in the excitation cycle is lower than the flashback limit of confined flames. Consequently, flashback limits of confined flames should also be considered in the design of gas turbine burners as a worst case scenario.

scholarly journals Turbulent Flame Shape Switching at Conditions Relevant for Gas Turbines

2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Langella ◽  
Johannes Heinze ◽  
Thomas Behrendt ◽  
Lena Voigt ◽  
Nedunchezhian Swaminathan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Combustion ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Interaction Model ◽  
Numerical Approach ◽  
Reacting Flow ◽  
Combustion Chambers ◽  
Lean Burn ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Flame Behavior

Abstract A numerical investigation is conducted to shed light on the reasons leading to different flame configurations in gas turbine (GT) combustion chambers of aeronautical interest. Large eddy simulations (LES) with a flamelet-based combustion closure are employed for this purpose to simulate the DLR-AT big optical single sector (BOSS) rig fitted with a Rolls-Royce developmental lean burn injector. The reacting flow field downstream this injector is sensitive to the intricate turbulent–combustion interaction and exhibits two different configurations: (i) a penetrating central jet leading to an M-shape lifted flame; or (ii) a diverging jet leading to a V-shaped flame. The LES results are validated using available BOSS rig measurements, and comparisons show the numerical approach used is consistent and works well. The turbulent–combustion interaction model terms and parameters are then varied systematically to assess the flame behavior. The influences observed are discussed from physical and modeling perspectives to develop physical understanding on the flame behavior in practical combustors for both scientific and design purposes.

scholarly journals Low Frequency Noise Emission From a Natural Gas Compressor Station

1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfred Sieminski ◽  
Manfred Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Compressor Station ◽  
Low Frequency Noise ◽  
Noise Emission ◽  
Combustion Chambers ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Remarkable Reduction

Low Frequency Noise at Gas Turbines A natural gas compressor station that was equipped with Hispano Suiza Turbines THM 1202 emitted high intensity noise between 20 Hz and 40 Hz, causing window vibrations and standing waves within the living rooms of a nearby residential area. Since additional sound attenuation by increasing the volume of the exhaust silencers was impossible, further investigations were carried out to explain the mechanism of this low frequency noise emission. By changing the flame pattern inside the combustion chambers of the turbines it was possible to achieve a remarkable reduction at 31.5 Hz amounting to 15 dB. The investigation procedure leading to the final results will be the subject of this presentation.

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