Investigation of Air Injection and Cavity Size Within a Circumferential Combustor to Increase G-Load and Residence Time

Author(s):  
Andrew E. Cottle ◽  
Marc D. Polanka ◽  
Larry P. Goss ◽  
Corey Z. Goss

A gas turbine combustion process subjected to high levels of centrifugal acceleration has demonstrated the potential for increased flame speeds and shorter residence times. Ultracompact combustors (UCC) invoke the high-g phenomenon by introducing air and fuel into a circumferential cavity which is recessed radially outboard with respect to the primary axial core flow. Upstream air is directed tangentially into the combustion cavity to induce bulk circumferential swirl. Swirl velocities in the cavity produce a centrifugal load on the flow that is typically expressed in terms of gravitational acceleration or g-loading. The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) has developed an experimental facility in which g-loads up to 2000 times the earth’s gravitational field (“2000 g’s”) have been demonstrated. In this study, the flow within the combustion cavity is examined to determine factors and conditions which invoke responses in cavity g-loads. The AFIT experiment was modified to enable optical access into the primary combustion cavity. The techniques of particle image velocimetry (PIV) and particle streak emission velocimetry (PSEV) provided high-fidelity measurements of the velocity fields within the cavity. The experimental data were compared to a set of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions. Improved cavity air and fuel injection schemes were evaluated over a range of air flows and equivalence ratios. Increased combustion stability was attained by providing a uniform distribution of cavity air drivers. Lean cavity equivalence ratios at a high total airflow resulted in higher g-loads and more complete combustion, thereby showing promise for utilization of the UCC as a main combustor.

Author(s):  
Andrew E. Cottle ◽  
Marc D. Polanka ◽  
Larry P. Goss ◽  
Corey Z. Goss

Combustion at high G-loading offers the promise of higher flame speeds and shorter residence times. Ultra-Compact Combustors (UCC) make use of this phenomenon by injecting air and fuel into a circumferential cavity around the main core flow. Air is injected tangentially into the combustion cavity to induce bulk circumferential swirl. Swirl velocities in the cavity produce a centrifugal load on the flow that is typically expressed in terms of gravitational acceleration, or g-loading. The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) has developed an experimental facility in which g-loads up to 2000 times the earth’s gravitational field (“2000 g’s”) can be established. This paper investigates the flow within the combustion cavity to determine conditions that lead to the generation of higher g-loads and longer residence times. This is coupled with the desire to completely combust the fuel — ideally within the combustion cavity. These objectives have led to changes within the AFIT test setup to enable optical access into the primary combustion cavity. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), complemented by traditional high-speed video imagery, provided high-fidelity measurements of the velocity fields within the cavity. These experimental measurements were compared to a set of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solutions. Improved cavity air and fuel injection schemes were evaluated over a range of air flows and equivalence ratios. Increased combustion stability was attained by providing uniform distribution of air drivers. Lean cavity equivalence ratios at a high total airflow resulted in higher g-loads and complete combustion showing promise for utilizing the UCC as a main combustor.


2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bartosz Gawron ◽  
Tomasz Białecki

Abstract This article presents laboratory test rig with a miniature turbojet engine (MiniJETRig – Miniature Jet Engine Test Rig), that was built in the Air Force Institute of Technology. The test rig has been developed for research and development works aimed at modelling and investigating processes and phenomena occurring in full scale jet engines. In the article construction of a test rig is described, with a brief discussion on the functionality of each of its main components. Additionally examples of measurement results obtained during the realization of the initial tests have been included, presenting the capabilities of the test rig.


Processes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech Tutak ◽  
Arkadiusz Jamrozik

The aim of the work is a comparison of two combustion systems of fuels with different reactivity. The first is combustion of the fuel mixture and the second is combustion in a dual-fuel engine. Diesel fuel was burned with pure ethanol. Both methods of co-firing fuels have both advantages and disadvantages. Attention was paid to the combustion stability aspect determined by COVIMEP as well as the probability density function of IMEP. It was analyzed also the spread of the maximum pressure value, the angle of the position of maximum pressure. The influence of ethanol on ignition delay time spread and end of combustion process was evaluated. The experimental investigation was conducted on 1-cylinder air cooled compression ignition engine. The test engine operated with constant rpm equal to 1500 rpm and constant angle of start of diesel fuel injection. The engine was operated with ethanol up to 50% of its energy fraction.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Levi M. Thomas ◽  
Richard D. Branam ◽  
Mark F. Reeder

The potential for the ultracompact combustor (UCC) lie in future research to reduced fuel consumption and improved engine performance. Velocity measurements performed on the UCC test rig at the Air Force Institute of Technology revealed flow patterns and time-averaged turbulence statistics for data taken burning hydrogen fuel in a straight and a curved cavity vane configuration. Over an equivalence ratio from 0.7 to 1.5, the straight vane configuration showed spanwise velocity decreased linearly with distance from the cavity vane over the width of the main channel. Increasing the flow rates and holding the equivalence ratio and ratio of cavity to main airflow rates constant, flow velocities in the main channel showed an increase with the curved circumferential configuration but a decrease with the straight circumferential configuration. Turbulence intensity is expected to be a major contributing factor, specifically since measured at 15% and 21% in the main channel for the straight and curved configurations, respectively. The results also show how the radial vane cavity (RVC) created strong vorticity throughout the main flow supporting a recirculation zone for mixing. Peak vorticity occurred farthest from the cavity vane suggesting the angle of the radial vane cavity is effective in generating increasing flow rotation.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2941
Author(s):  
Wojciech Tutak ◽  
Arkadiusz Jamrozik ◽  
Karol Grab-Rogaliński

The main objective of this study was assessment of the performance, emissions and combustion characteristics of a diesel engine using RME–1-butanol blends. In assessing the combustion process, great importance was placed on evaluating the stability of this process. Not only were the typical COVIMEP indicators assessed, but also the non-burnability of the characteristic combustion stages: ignition delay, time of 50% heat release and the end of combustion. The evaluation of the combustion process based on the analysis of heat release. The tests carried out on a 1-cylinder diesel engine operating at a constant load. Research and evaluation of the combustion process of a mixture of RME and 1-butanol carried out for the entire range of shares of both fuels up to 90% of 1-butanol energetic fraction. The participation of butanol in combustion process with RME increased the in-cylinder peak pressure and the heat release rate. With the increase in the share of butanol there was noted a decrease in specific energy consumption and an increase in engine efficiency. The share of butanol improved the combustion stability. There was also an increase in NOx emissions and decrease in CO and soot emissions. The engine can be power by blend up to 80% energy share of butanol.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2961
Author(s):  
Nikola Čajová Kantová ◽  
Alexander Čaja ◽  
Marek Patsch ◽  
Michal Holubčík ◽  
Peter Ďurčanský

With the combustion of solid fuels, emissions such as particulate matter are also formed, which have a negative impact on human health. Reducing their amount in the air can be achieved by optimizing the combustion process as well as the flue gas flow. This article aims to optimize the flue gas tract using separation baffles. This design can make it possible to capture particulate matter by using three baffles and prevent it from escaping into the air in the flue gas. The geometric parameters of the first baffle were changed twice more. The dependence of the flue gas flow on the baffles was first observed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and subsequently verified by the particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) method. Based on the CFD results, the most effective is setting 1 with the same boundary conditions as those during experimental PIV measurements. Setting 2 can capture 1.8% less particles and setting 3 can capture 0.6% less particles than setting 1. Based on the stoichiometric calculations, it would be possible to capture up to 62.3% of the particles in setting 1. The velocities comparison obtained from CFD and PIV confirmed the supposed character of the turbulent flow with vortexes appearing in the flue gas tract, despite some inaccuracies.


Author(s):  
I. A. Sofia Larsson ◽  
Anna-Lena Ljung ◽  
B. Daniel Marjavaara

AbstractThe flow field and coal combustion process in a pilot-scale iron ore pelletizing kiln is simulated using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. The objective of the work is to investigate how the thermal effects from the flame affect the flow field. As expected, the combustion process with the resulting temperature rise and volume expansion leads to an increase of the velocity in the kiln. Apart from that, the overall flow field looks similar regardless of whether combustion is present or not. The flow field though affects the combustion process by controlling the mixing rates of fuel and air, governing the flame propagation. This shows the importance of correctly predicting the flow field in this type of kiln, with a large amount of process gas circulating, in order to optimize the combustion process. The results also justify the use of down-scaled, geometrically similar, water models to investigate kiln aerodynamics in general and mixing properties in particular. Even if the heat release from the flame is neglected, valuable conclusions regarding the flow field can still be drawn.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3717
Author(s):  
Nikita Zuev ◽  
Andrey Kozlov ◽  
Alexey Terenchenko ◽  
Kirill Karpukhin ◽  
Ulugbek Azimov

Using biodiesel fuel in diesel engines for heavy-duty transport is important to meet the stringent emission regulations. Biodiesel is an oxygenated fuel and its physical and chemical properties are close to diesel fuel, yet there is still a need to analyze and tune the fuel injection parameters to optimize the combustion process and emissions. A four-injections strategy was used: two pilots, one main and one post injection. A highly advanced SOI decreases the NOx and the compression work but makes the combustion process less efficient. The pilot injection fuel mass influences the combustion only at injection close to the top dead center during the compression stroke. The post injection has no influence on the compression work, only on the emissions and the indicated work. An optimal injection strategy was found to be: pilot SOI 19.2 CAD BTDC, pilot injection fuel mass 25.4%; main SOI 3.7 CAD BTDC, main injection fuel mass 67.3% mg; post SOI 2 CAD ATDC, post injection fuel mass 7.3% (the injection fuel mass is given as a percentage of the total fuel mass injected). This allows the indicated work near the base case level to be maintained, the pressure rise rate to decrease by 20% and NOx emissions to decrease by 10%, but leads to a 5% increase in PM emissions.


2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Medvitz ◽  
Varun Reddy ◽  
Steve Deutsch ◽  
Keefe B. Manning ◽  
Eric G. Paterson

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to asses the hydrodynamic performance of a positive displacement left ventricular assist device. The computational model uses implicit large eddy simulation direct resolution of the chamber compression and modeled valve closure to reproduce the in vitro results. The computations are validated through comparisons with experimental particle image velocimetry (PIV) data. Qualitative comparisons of flow patterns, velocity fields, and wall-shear rates demonstrate a high level of agreement between the computations and experiments. Quantitatively, the PIV and CFD show similar probed velocity histories, closely matching jet velocities and comparable wall-strain rates. Overall, it has been shown that CFD can provide detailed flow field and wall-strain rate data, which is important in evaluating blood pump performance.


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