Effects of side-inlet angle in a three-dimensional side-dump combustor

Abstract

A numerical study is performed on the flowfield in a three-dimensional side-dump combustor with dual opposite side-inlets. Emphasis is given to effects of the side-inlet angle on the flow structures. It is found that the side-inlet angle has a great influence on the recirculation structures which play a decisive role on the combustion characteristics. The larger side-inlet angles are found to strengthen the structures of dome recirculation and cause more fluid to recirculate toward the dome region after it is dumped into the combustor. However, the smaller side-inlet angles are beneficial to the continuous development of the recirculation structures from the dome region, across the entrance region, and further to the downstream of the side-inlet. The effects of the side-inlet angle on recirculation s in the dome region or downstream of the side-inlet are both contrary to the situation in two-dimension al cases, which clarifies several points of conflict existing from previous investigations of this aspect. Several important factors related closely to the combustion performance, including the detailed three-dimensional vortex structures, the swirl intensity, and the total pressure loss of the flowfield are also studied to supplement present knowledge with valuable information about the flow characteristics as an aid for the combustor design from the viewpoint of fluid dynamics.