Abstract

in this paper, (CFD) Computational Fluid Dynamics was used for a detailed burner design by the software Fluent (ANSYS). However, a number of numerical simulations were performed on a generic swirl burner and turbulence flow selection of a non-premixed which using syngas. However, non-premixed flames which characterized by relatively high temperatures, high NOx concentrations, and emission indices. The results showed that the presence of methane in syngas increases the peak flame temperature and the thermal NOx, significantly. Therefore, Investigation showed that effecting of H2, CO, and N2 contents in the fuel mixture level NOx emissions, thus the present compositions for pure methane are respectively influenced on syngas1 by (10% CH4, 45% H2, 45% CO) , syngas2 by (50% CH4, 10% H2, 40%N2) and syngas3 (60% CH4, 20% H2, 20%N2).

ABSTRACT

In present day triple tube heat exchanger is the most common type heat exchanger widely use in ventilation & air conditioning systems, oil refinery and other large chemical process, because it suits high pressure application. The process in solving simulation consists of modelling and meshing the basic geometry of triple tube heat exchanger using CFD package ANSYS 14.0. The objective of the project is design of triple tube heat exchanger and study the flow and temperature field inside the triple tube using ANSYS software tools. The heat exchanger contains 3 tubes and 500 mm length triple tube diameter 75 mm. In simulation will show how the flow pattern in the triple tube of the heat exchanger with heat transfer effects the efficiency due to the new design of the geometry of triple tube, which results in a significant increase in heat transfer coefficient per unit pressure drop in the heat exchanger spaced reduced

ABSTRACT

Swirl stabilised combustion is one of the most widely used techniques for flame stabilisation in gas turbine combustors. Lean premixed combustion systems allow the reduction of NOx coupled with fair flame stability. The swirl mechanism produces an aerodynamic region known as central recirculation zone (CRZ) providing a low velocity region where the flame speed matches the flow velocity, thus anchoring the flame whilst serving to recycle heat and active chemical species to the root of the f

ormer. Another beneficial feature of the CRZ is the enhancement of the mixing in and around this region. However, the mixing and stabilisation processes inside of this zone have shown to be extremely complex. The level of swirl, burner outlet configuration and combustor expansion are very important variables that define the features of the CRZ.

Therefore, in this paper swirling flame dynamics are investigated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with commercial software (ANSYS). A new generic swirl burner operated under lean-premixed conditions was modelled. A variety of nozzles were analysed using several gaseous blends at a constant power output. The investigation was based on recognising the size and strength of the central recirculation zones. The dimensions and turbulence of the Central Recirculation Zone were measured and correlated to previous experiments. The results show how the strength and size of the recirculation zone are highly influenced by the blend and infer that it is governed by both the shear layer surrounding the Central Recirculation Zones (CRZ) and the gas composition

A B S T R A C T

Swirl stabilised combustion is one of the most successful technologies for flame stabilisation in gas turbine combustors. Lean premixed combustion systems allow the reduction of NOx coupled with fair flame stability. The swirl mechanism produces an aerodynamic region known as central recirculation zone (CRZ) providing a low velocity

region where the flame speed matches the flow velocity, thus anchoring the flame whilst serving to recycle heat and active chemical species to the root of the former. Another beneficial feature of the CRZ is the enhancement of the mixing in and around this region. However, the mixing and stabilisation processes inside of this zone have shown to be extremely complex. The level of swirl, burner outlet configuration and combustor expansion are very important variables that define the features of the CRZ. The complex fluid dynamics and lean conditions pose a problem for stabilization of the flame. The

problem is even more acute when alternative fuels are used for flexible operation.

Therefore, in this paper swirling flame dynamics are investigated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with commercial software (ANSYS). A new generic swirl burner operated under lean-premixed conditions was modelled. A variety of nozzles were analysed using isothermal case to recognize the the behavers of swirl.

The investigation was based on recognising the size and strength of the central recirculation zones. The dimensions and turbulence of the Central Recirculation Zone were measured and correlated to previous experiments. The results show how the strength and size of the recirculation zone are highly influenced by both the shear layer surrounding the Central

Recirculation Zones (CRZ) and outlet configurations.

Abstract

Lean premixed swirl stabilized combustion is one of the most successful technologies for NOx reduction in gas turbines. The creation of inherent coherent structures such as recirculation zones is one of the main advantages of these flow-stabilized systems since these zones create regions of low velocity that allow heat transfer improvement between reactants and products while increasing residence time for unburned species. However, these effects can also affect the stability of the flame under lean conditions, with various instabilities that can appear during the combustion stage such as flashback, blowoff, autoignition, etc. These processes are even more complex when new alternative fuels are being used for power generation applications. Synthesis gases (syngas) are some of the most concerning out of the available range of fuels as their heating values, flame speeds, ignition energies, etc. are highly dependent on the combination of species that comprise them. Since new gas turbines need to deal with these new blends for fuel flexibility and current lean premixed swirled stabilized systems seem to be the most cost effective-technical option to keep NOx down, gas turbine designers need more information on how to properly design their equipment to achieve stable flames with low NOx whilst avoiding instabilities.

Therefore, this paper presents a study using numerical and experimental analyses to provide guidance on the use of CH4/H2/CO blends in tangential swirl burners. Methane content was decreased from 50% to 10% (volume) with the remaining amount being split equally between carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Ambient temperature conditions were assessed using a swirl number close to 1.0. Particle Image Velocity was used to experimentally validate numerical predictions and determine features of the coherent structures affecting the flame close to the nozzle. Modelling was carried out employing the k-ω SST turbulence model, providing more information about the impact of these structures and the flame turbulent nature close to blowoff limits. The study emphasizes the analysis of various nozzles with different angles and how these geometrical changes at the outlet of the swirl chamber affect the onset of blowoff. Recommendations on the use of RANS CFD modelling are provided on the basis of blend composition.

Abstract

Swirl stabilized combustion is one of the most successful technologies for flame and nitrogen oxides control in gas turbines. However, complex fluid dynamics and lean conditions pose a problem for stabilization of the flame. The problem is even more acute when alternative fuels are used for flexible operation. Although there is active research on the topic, there are still various gaps in the understanding of how interaction of large coherent structures during the process affect flame stabilization and related phenomena. Thus, this paper approaches the phenomenon of lean premixed swirl combustion of CH4/H2/CO blends to understand the impacts of these fuels on flame blowoff. An atmospheric pressure generic swirl burner was operated at ambient inlet conditions. Different exhaust nozzles were used to alter the Central Recirculation Zone and observe the impacts caused by various fuel blends on the structure and the blowoff phenomenon. Methane content in the fuel was decreased from 50% to 10% (by volume) with the remaining amount split equally between carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Experimental trials were performed using Phase Locked PIV. The Central Recirculation Zone and its velocity profiles were measured and correlated providing details of the structure close to blowoff. The results show how the strength and size of the recirculation zone are highly influenced by the fuel blend, changing stability based on the carbon-hydrogen ratios. Nozzle effects on the shear flow and Re numbers were also observed. Modelling was carried out using the k-ω SST CFD model which provided more information about the impact of the CRZ and the flame nature close to blowoff limit. It was observed that the model under-predicts coherent structure interactions at high methane fuel content, with an over-prediction of pressure decay at low methane content when correlated to the experimental results. Thus, complex interactions between structures need to be included for adequate power prediction when using very fast/slow syngas blends under lean conditions. 

Abstract

This paper provides a CFD comparison of tow turbulence modeling approaches (SST) and (K-epsilon), with application to the simulation of a teardrop. As well as, the study investigates and compares among 3 different models in a range these types in order to assess the suitability of CFD for use when calculating drag co-efficient. Moreover, the study focuses on 3 different velocities to be impacted with the drag co-efficient. Whereas, the pressure over the body was used to calculate the drag co-efficient for each of the 3 teardrops shapes.

Abstract

Swirl stabilized flows are the most widely deployed technology used to stabilize gas turbine combustion systems. However, there are some coherent structures that appear in these flows close to the nozzle whose occurrence and stability are still poorly understood during transition. The external recirculation zone and the Precessing Vortex Core to/from the Coanda effect are some of them. Thus, in this paper the transition of an Open Jet FlowMedium Swirl flow pattern to/from a Coanda jet flow is studied using various geometries at a fixed Swirl number. Phase Locked Stereo Particle Image Velocimetry and High Speed Photography experiments were conducted to determine fundamental characteristics of the phenomenon. It was observed that the coherent structures in the field experience a complete annihilation during transition, with no dependency between the structures formed in each of the flow states. Moreover, transition occurs at a particular normalized step size whilst some acoustic shifts in the frequencies of the system were noticed, a phenomenon related to the strength of the vortical structures and vortices convection. It is concluded that a transient, precessing, Coanda Vortex Breakdown is formed, changing flow dynamics. The structure progresses to a less coherent Trapped Vortex between the two states. During the phenomenon there are different interactions between structures such as the Central Recirculation Zone, the High Momentum Flow Region and the Precessing Vortex Core that were also documented.

Lean premixed swirl stabilised combustion is regarded as one of the most successful technologies for flame control and NOx reduction. The important characteristics of these flows are the good mixing, flame stability through the formation of a Central Recirculation Zone, and the low emissions at lean conditions as a consequence of temperature drop. Now the potential wide range of available fuels presents a problem in terms of variation of heating values, flame speeds and chemical reactivity. Process, refinery gases and gasified coal or biomass are just a few examples. The biggest challenge to fuel-flexibility of most combustors is the large differences between natural gas and the proposed replacement fuels which causes variations in the stability profiles of the combustion process. In this paper, lean premixed swirl combustion of CH 4 /H 2 /CO fuel mixtures was investigated experimentally and numerically to understand the impacts of these fuels on fundamental stability phenomena such as blowoff. The swirl burner used was operated at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature using a moderate swirl number. Different nozzles were used to determine the impact of the blends on the Central Recirculation Zones. Methane content in the fuel was decreased from 50% to 0% (by volume) with the remaining amount split equally between carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Chemical kinetic analyses were carried out using PRO-CHEMKIN to determine flame speeds and chemical properties needed for CFD calculations. Experiments were done using a Phase Locked PIV system. The Central Recirculation Zone and its turbulence were measured and correlated providing details of the structure close to blowoff. The results show how the strength and size of the recirculation zone are highly influenced by the blend, with a shift of turbulence based on carbon-hydrogen ratio, nozzles effects on the shearing flow and Re numbers. Correlation with the phenomenon was also achieved using the k-cc SST CFD model, providing more information about the impact of the CRZ and the flame turbulent nature close to the blowoff limit.

Abstract

This paper presents a series of experiments and numerical simulations using commercial software (ANSYS) to determine the behaviour and impact on the blowoff process with various geometries and simulated syngas compositions at fixed power outputs. Experiments were performed using a generic premixed swirl burner. The Central Recirculation Zone and the associated turbulent structure contained within it were obtained through CFD analyses providing details of the structures and the Damkolher Number (Da) close to blowoff limits. The results show how the strength and size of the recirculation zone are highly influenced by the blend, with a shift of Da and turbulence based on carbon-hydrogen ratio, shearing flows and Reynolds number. Instabilities such as thermoacoustics, flashback, autoignition and blowoff are highly affected by the flow structures and chemical reactions/diffusivity. Moreover, it has been observed that turbulence close to the boundaries of the central recirculation zone, a region of high stability for swirling flows, is highly altered by the chemical characteristics of the fuel blends. In terms of blowoff, the phenomenon is still not entirely understood. As the process occurs, its theoretical limits do not match its real behaviour. Therefore, one possibility could be the difference in turbulence and Da numbers across the flame, being critical at the base of the flame where the system is stabilized. 

The use of gas for power generation is likely to increase in the medium term. Also, the introduction of new fuels will ensure a higher generation with lower emissions under continuous operation. These scenarios lead to the conclusion that there will be a considerably more diverse range of fuel supply. However, the use of these new fuels contrasts with recent experiences of global operators who report increasing emissions and difficult combustion dynamics with even moderate variations in their fuel characteristics. Clearly there are significant challenges for fuel flexible gas turbines, particularly emission control, combustor dynamics and flame stability.

Trials using a power derivative gas turbine combustor and a high hydrogen content fuel produced unusual flashback events, in that flashback was induced by either leaning of the fuel mixture by the increase of combustion air, or by a change in composition through the reduction of methane pilot fuel. The introduction of CO₂ through the combustors pilot injector prevented flashback from occurring under these circumstances. The resulting reduction of temperature in the combustion zone, indicated by lower burner tip temperatures causes a reduction in the emissions of nitrous oxides, whilst there is minimal effect on the effective turbine inlet temperature, only a 2.3% reduction.

Investigations using a ‘generic’, radial swirl burner and stereo PIV demonstrated how the flashback depended on a combination of flow structure augmentation and changes in mixture burning rate. The injection of methane or CO₂ had differing effect on these parameters of the combustion zone, but both produced combinations that facilitated stability.

Abstract

Fuel flexibility will drive the energy demand in the near future. The use of different syngas compositions from various sources will play a major role in the global fuel mix. CO2 in the blends will also be added as a mechanism to improve carbon capture and storage technologies. However, this can trigger instabilities such as thermoacoustics, flashback, autoignition and blowoff. In terms of blowoff, the phenomenon is still not entirely understood. This project presents a series of experiments to determine the behaviour and impact on the blowoff process at various swirl numbers, nozzle geometries and gas compositions. The Central Recirculation Zone was analyzed just before blowoff. The results show how the strength and size of the recirculation zones are highly influenced by these parameters. However, it seems that the CRZ dimensions/strength does not play an important role in the blowoff, whilst the composition of the mixture shows high correlation. Nevertheless, the CRZ intensity using these compositions can increase residence time, important for combustion improvement of other blends.