On the Effect of Swirl Flow of Gas Turbine Exhaust Gas in an Inlet Duct of Heat Recovery Steam Generator

Abstract

Computational and experimental studies are performed to investigate the effect of swirl flow of gas turbine exhaust gas (GTEG) in an inlet duct of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). A supplemental-fired HRSG is chosen as the model studied because the uniformity of the GTEG at the inlet plane of the duct burner is essential in such applications. Both velocity and oxygen distributions are investigated at the inlet plane of the duct burner installed in the middle of the HRSG transition duct. Two important parameters, the swirl angle of GTEG and the momentum ratio of additional air to GTEG, are chosen for the investigation of mixing between the two streams. It has been found that a flow correction device (FCD) is essential to provide a uniform gas flow distribution at the inlet plane of the duct burner.