Parametric Study of Low-Swirl Injector Geometry on its Operability

Author(s):  
Peter L. Therkelsen ◽  
David Littlejohn ◽  
Robert K. Cheng

The low swirl injector (LSI) is a combustion technology being developed for low-emissions fuel-flexible gas turbines. The basic LSI configuration consists of an annulus of swirl vanes centered on a non-swirled channel, both of which allow for the passage of premixed reactants. LSIs are typically designed by following a general guidance of achieving a swirl number between 0.4 and 0.55. This paper aims to develop a more specific guideline by investigating the effects of varying geometry, i.e. vane angle, vane shape, and center channel size, on the LSI performance. A well-studied LSI provides a baseline for this investigation. Nine LSI variations from this baseline design have been evaluated. All LSI are tested with CH4 fuel at bulk flow velocity of 8 to 20 m/s firing into the open atmosphere. Performance metrics are the lean blowoff limit, the pressure drop, flowfield characteristics and emissions. Results show that the lean blow-off limit and NOx and CO emissions are insensitive to LSI geometric variations. The flowfields of seven LSIs exhibit self-similarity implying their turndown ranges are similar. Reducing the center channel size and/or the use of thin vanes instead of thickened vanes can reduce pressure drop across the LSI. Additionally, all ten LSI share a common feature in that 70% to 80% the premixture flows through the vane annulus. These findings are used to develop a more specific engineering guidelines for designing the LSI for gas turbines.

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Stathopoulos

Conventional gas turbines are approaching their efficiency limits and performance gains are becoming increasingly difficult to achieve. Pressure Gain Combustion (PGC) has emerged as a very promising technology in this respect, due to the higher thermal efficiency of the respective ideal gas turbine thermodynamic cycles. Up to date, only very simplified models of open cycle gas turbines with pressure gain combustion have been considered. However, the integration of a fundamentally different combustion technology will be inherently connected with additional losses. Entropy generation in the combustion process, combustor inlet pressure loss (a central issue for pressure gain combustors), and the impact of PGC on the secondary air system (especially blade cooling) are all very important parameters that have been neglected. The current work uses the Humphrey cycle in an attempt to address all these issues in order to provide gas turbine component designers with benchmark efficiency values for individual components of gas turbines with PGC. The analysis concludes with some recommendations for the best strategy to integrate turbine expanders with PGC combustors. This is done from a purely thermodynamic point of view, again with the goal to deliver design benchmark values for a more realistic interpretation of the cycle.


1996 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Correa ◽  
I. Z. Hu ◽  
A. K. Tolpadi

Computer modeling of low-emissions gas-turbine combustors requires inclusion of finite-rate chemistry and its intractions with turbulence. The purpose of this review is to outline some recent developments in and applications of the physical models of combusting flows. The models reviewed included the sophisticated and computationally intensive velocity-composition pdf transport method, with applications shown for both a laboratory flame and for a practical gas-turbine combustor, as well as a new and computationally fast PSR-microstructure-based method, with applications shown for both premixed and nonpremixed flames. Calculations are compared with laserbased spectroscopic data where available. The review concentrates on natural-gas-fueled machines, and liquid-fueled machines operating at high power, such that spray vaporization effects can be neglected. Radiation and heat transfer is also outside the scope of this review.


Author(s):  
Jason Town ◽  
Doug Straub ◽  
James Black ◽  
Karen Thole ◽  
Tom Shih

Effective internal and external cooling of airfoils is key to maintaining component life for efficient gas turbines. Cooling designs have spanned the range from simple internal convective channels to more advanced double-walls with shaped film-cooling holes. This paper describes the development of an internal and external cooling concept for a state-of-the-art cooled turbine blade. These cooling concepts are based on a review of literature and patents, as well as, interactions with academic and industry turbine cooling experts. The cooling configuration selected and described in this paper is referred to as the “baseline” design, since this design will simultaneously be tested with other more advanced blade cooling designs in a rotating turbine test facility using a “rainbow turbine wheel” configuration. For the baseline design, the leading edge is cooled by internal jet impingement and showerhead film cooling. The mid-chord region of the blade contains a three-pass serpentine passage with internal discrete V-shaped trip strips to enhance the internal heat transfer coefficient. The film cooling along the mid-chord of the blade uses multiple rows of shaped diffusion holes. The trailing edge is internally cooled using jet impingement and externally film cooled through partitioned cuts on the pressure side of the blade.


Author(s):  
J. W. Watts ◽  
T. L. Bowen

Analytical studies are currently being conducted by the David Taylor Naval Ship R&D Center to assess the suitability of regenerative-cycle and intercooled, regenerative-cycle gas turbines for naval applications. This paper is the second part of a two-part paper which discusses results of initial investigations to identify attractive engine concepts based on existing turbomachinery and to consider the regenerator technology required to develop these engine concepts. Part I of the paper analyzed existing and next generation engines for performance improvement. Part II includes: definitions of performance parameters such as effectiveness and pressure drop, a discussion of regenerator types, and comments on regenerator materials, life, maintenance, and fouling. Tradeoffs between size, weight, and performance of plate-fin recuperators are examined using two of the hypothetical engines from Part I as examples. Results are compared for several different recuperator matrices to illustrate the effects of air-side and gas-side fin density and plate spacing on size, weight, and performance.


Author(s):  
M. Sato ◽  
T. Abe ◽  
T. Ninomiya ◽  
T. Nakata ◽  
T. Yoshine ◽  
...  

From the view point of future coal utilization technology for the thermal power generation systems, the coal gasification combined cycle system has drawn special interest recently. In the coal gasification combined cycle power generation system, it is necessary to develop a high temperature gas turbine combustor using a low-BTU gas (LBG) which has high thermal efficiency and low emissions. In Japan a development program of the coal gasification combined cycle power generation system has started in 1985 by the national government and Japanese electric companies. In this program, 1300°C class gas turbines will be developed. If the fuel gas cleaning system is a hot type, the coal gaseous fuel to be supplied to gas turbines will contain ammonia. Ammonia will be converted to nitric oxides in the combustion process in gas turbines. Therefore, low fuel-NOx combustion technology will be one of the most important research subjects. This paper describes low fuel-NOx combustion technology for 1300°C class gas turbine combustors using coal gaseous low-BTU fuel as well as combustion characteristics and carbon monoxide emission characteristics. Combustion tests were conducted using a full-scale combustor used for the 150 MW gas turbine at the atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, high pressure combustion tests were conducted using a half-scale combustor used for the 1 50 MW gas turbine.


Author(s):  
H. S. Alkabie ◽  
G. E. Andrews

The influence of vane angle and hence swirl number of a radial swirler on the weak extinction, combustion inefficiency and NOx emissions was investigated at lean gas turbine combustor primary zone conditions. A 140mm diameter atmospheric pressure low NOx combustor primary zone was developed with a Mach number simulation of 30% and 43% of the combustor air flow into the primary zone through a curved blade radial swirler. The range of radial swirler vane angles was 0–60 degrees and central radially outward fuel injection was used throughout with a 600K inlet temperature. For zero vane angle radially inward jets were formed that impinged and generated a strong outer recirculation. This was found to have much lower NOx characteristics compared with a 45 degree swirler at the same pressure loss. However, the lean stability and combustion efficiency in the near weak extinction region was not as good. With swirl the central recirculation zone enhanced the combustion efficiency. For all the swirl vane angles there was little difference in combustion inefficiency between the swirlers. However, the NOx emissions were reduced at the lowest swirl angles and vane angles in the range 20–30 degrees were considered to be the optimum for central injection. NOx emissions for central injection as low as 5ppm at 15% oxygen and 1 bar were demonstrated for zero swirl and 20 degree swirler vane angle. This would scale to well under 25 ppm at pressure for all current industrial gas turbines.


Author(s):  
Moyse´s Alberto Navarro ◽  
Andre´ Augusto Campagnole dos Santos

The spacer grids exert great influence on the thermal hydraulic performance of the PWR fuel assembly. The presence of the spacers has two antagonistic effects on the core: an increase of pressure drop due to constriction on the coolant flow area and increase of the local heat transfer downstream the grids caused by enhanced coolant mixing. The mixing vanes, present in most of the spacer grid designs, cause a cross and swirl flow between and in the subchannels, enhancing even more the local heat transfer at the cost of more pressure loss. Due to this important hydrodynamic feature the spacer grids are often improved aiming to obtain an optimal commitment between pressure drop and enhanced heat transfer. In the present work, the fluid dynamic performance downstream a 5 × 5 rod bundle with spacer grids is analyzed with a commercial CFD code (CFX 11.0). Eleven different split vane spacer grids with angles from 16° to 36° and a spacer without vanes were evaluated. The computational domain extends from ∼10 Dh upstream to ∼50 Dh downstream the spacer grids. The standard k-ε turbulence model with scalable wall functions and the total energy model were used in the simulations. The results show a considerable increase of the average Nusselt number and secondary mixing with the angle of the vane up to ∼20 Dh downstream the spacer, reducing greatly the influence of the vane angle beyond this region. As expected, the pressure loss through the spacer grid also showed considerable increase with the vane angle.


Author(s):  
Andrea Ciani ◽  
John P. Wood ◽  
Anders Wickström ◽  
Geir J. Rørtveit ◽  
Rosetta Steeneveldt ◽  
...  

Abstract Today gas turbines and combined cycle power plants play an important role in power generation and in the light of increasing energy demand, their role is expected to grow alongside renewables. In addition, the volatility of renewables in generating and dispatching power entails a new focus on electricity security. This reinforces the importance of gas turbines in guaranteeing grid reliability by compensating for the intermittency of renewables. In order to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goals, power generation must be decarbonized. This is where hydrogen produced from renewables or with CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) comes into play, allowing totally CO2-free combustion. Hydrogen features the unique capability to store energy for medium to long storage cycles and hence could be used to alleviate seasonal variations of renewable power generation. The importance of hydrogen for future power generation is expected to increase due to several factors: the push for CO2-free energy production is calling for various options, all resulting in the necessity of a broader fuel flexibility, in particular accommodating hydrogen as a future fuel feeding gas turbines and combined cycle power plants. Hydrogen from methane reforming is pursued, with particular interest within energy scenarios linked with carbon capture and storage, while the increased share of renewables requires the storage of energy for which hydrogen is the best candidate. Compared to natural gas the main challenge of hydrogen combustion is its increased reactivity resulting in a decrease of engine performance for conventional premix combustion systems. The sequential combustion technology used within Ansaldo Energia’s GT36 and GT26 gas turbines provides for extra freedom in optimizing the operation concept. This sequential combustion technology enables low emission combustion at high temperatures with particularly high fuel flexibility thanks to the complementarity between its first stage, stabilized by flame propagation and its second (sequential) stage, stabilized by auto-ignition. With this concept, gas turbines are envisaged to be able to provide reliable, dispatchable, CO2-free electric power. In this paper, an overview of hydrogen production (grey, blue, and green hydrogen), transport and storage are presented targeting a CO2-free energy system based on gas turbines. A detailed description of the test infrastructure, handling of highly reactive fuels is given with specific aspects of the large amounts of hydrogen used for the full engine pressure tests. Based on the results discussed at last year’s Turbo Expo (Bothien et al. GT2019-90798), further high pressure test results are reported, demonstrating how sequential combustion with novel operational concepts is able to achieve the lowest emissions, highest fuel and operational flexibility, for very high combustor exit temperatures (H-class) with unprecedented hydrogen contents.


Author(s):  
Marek Dzida ◽  
Krzysztof Kosowski

In bibliography we can find many methods of determining pressure drop in the combustion chambers of gas turbines, but there is only very few data of experimental results. This article presents the experimental investigations of pressure drop in the combustion chamber over a wide range of part-load performances (from minimal power up to take-off power). Our research was carried out on an aircraft gas turbine of small output. The experimental results have proved that relative pressure drop changes with respect to fuel flow over the whole range of operating conditions. The results were then compared with theoretical methods.


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