A Computational Study of Swirl Number Effects on Entropy Generation in Gas Turbine Combustors

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn this paper, local and global entropy generation features are studied numerically in two research flames and a real combustor problem. The research flames are the well-known Burner Engineering Research Laboratory and Sandia flame D experimental flame databases and the real combustor is a gas-turbine can-type combustor. The main focus is on investigating the effect of the swirl number, in the range 0.0–2.4, on entropy generation characteristics due to different phenomena, including viscous, mass transfer, heat transfer, heat-mass coupling, reaction, and specifically radiation. For this purpose, the surface and volumetric local entropy generation rates are formulated based on the first-order spherical harmonics model known as “P1,” a frequently used model in combustion applications. It is observed that heat transfer and reactions are dominant causes of entropy generation with the leading contribution of reaction at lower swirl numbers and heat transfer at higher swirl values. The radiation entropy generation is slightly affected by the swirl number and is of prime importance only in near stoichiometric conditions. Moreover, it is indicated how this local entropy generation analysis can be used to discover the weaknesses in the design of a real combustor.