Numerical Investigation of Combustion Instabilities in a Single Element Lean Direct Inject (LDI) Combustor Using Flamelet Based Approaches

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, high-fidelity large eddy simulations (LES) along with flamelet based combustion models are assessed to predict combustion dynamics in low-emissions gas turbine combustor. A model configuration of a single element lean-direct-injection (LDI) combustor from Purdue University [1] is used for the validation of simulation results. Two combustion models based on the flamelet concept, i.e., steady diffusion flamelet (SDF) model and flamelet generated manifold (FGM) model are employed to predict combustion instabilities. Simulations are carried out for two equivalence ratios of φ = 0.6, and 0.4 and the results in the form of mode shapes, peak to peak pressure amplitude and power spectrum density (PSD) are compared with the experimental data of Huang et al. [1]. The effect of variation in the time step size for transient simulations is also studied. The time step sizes corresponding to Acoustic Courant numbers of 4, 8 and 16 are tested. Further, two numerical solver options, i.e., pressure based segregated solver and pressure based coupled solver are used in understanding their effect on the solution convergence regarding the number of time steps required to reach the limit cycle of the pressure oscillations. An additional test for reducing the overall simulation time is explored using a truncated (half) calculation domain and applying an appropriate acoustic impedance boundary condition at the truncated location. The simulation results from this test for the equivalence ratio of φ = 0.6 are compared with the simulation results from the corresponding full domain test. Overall, the simulation results compare well with the experimental data and trends are captured accurately. A clear dominant acoustic mode of 4L is observed for the equivalence ratio of 0.6 that compares well with the experimental data. For the equivalence ratio of 0.4, simulation results show that there is no dominant frequency and the energy is distributed among the first five modes. It is consistent with the observations in the experiments. Both combustion models (SDF and FGM) used in this study capture the combustion instabilities accurately. It builds confidence in flamelet based combustion models for the use in combustion instability modeling which is traditionally done using finite rate chemistry models based on reduced kinetics.