Abstract
Fluidic actuators are designed to control the oscillatory helical mode, called a precessing vortex core (PVC), which is often observed in gas turbine combustors. The PVC induces large-scale hydrodynamic coherent structures, which can considerably affect flow and flame dynamics. Therefore, appropriate control of this structure can lead to a more stable and efficient combustion process. Currently available flow control systems are designed to control the PVC in laboratory-scale setups. To further develop these systems and find an approach applicable to the industrial scale, a new actuator design based on fluidic oscillators is presented and studied in this paper. This actuator allows for independently adjusting forcing frequency and amplitude, which is necessary to effectively target the dynamics of the PVC. The functionality and flow control of this actuator design are studied based on numerical simulations and experimental measurements. To verify the flow control authority, the actuator is built into a prototype combustor test rig, which allows for investigating the impact of the actuator’s forcing on the PVC at isothermal conditions. The studies conducted in this work prove the desired functionality and flow control authority of the 3D-printed actuator. Accordingly, a two-part stainless steel design is derived for future test conditions with flame.
Highlights
IntroductionThe operation of turbomachines relies primarily on the working fluid, which flows through the machine in a turbulent manner
Turbulent flows can be found in many technical applications
The inherent dynamics and instabilities of these flows can severely impact the machine’s operation. These instabilities can lead to the formation of large-scale coherent flow structures that produce oscillatory dynamics with high amplitude
Summary
The operation of turbomachines relies primarily on the working fluid, which flows through the machine in a turbulent manner. The inherent dynamics and instabilities of these flows can severely impact the machine’s operation. These instabilities can lead to the formation of large-scale coherent flow structures that produce oscillatory dynamics with high amplitude. These oscillations compromise the overall flow field and, the operation of the machine. To minimize this impact and to guarantee the safe and reliable operation of the machine, efficient flow control methods are required
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