Abstract
The scale-resolving simulation of a practical gas turbine combustor is performed using a partially premixed finite-rate chemistry combustion model. The combustion model assumes finite-rate chemistry by limiting the chemical reaction rate with flame speed. A comparison of the numerical results with the experimental temperature and species mole fraction clearly showed the superiority of the shear stress transport, K-omega, scale adaptive turbulence model (SSTKWSAS). The model outperforms large eddy simulation (LES) in the primary region of the combustor, probably for two reasons. First, the lower amount of mesh employed in the simulation for the industrial-size combustor does not fit the LES’s explicit mesh size dependency requirement, while it is sufficient for the SSTKWSAS simulation. Second, coupling the finite-rate chemistry method with the SSTKWSAS model provides a more reasonable rate of chemical reaction than that predicted by the fast chemistry method used in LES simulation. Other than comparing with the LES data available in the literature, the SSTKWSAS-predicted result is also compared comprehensively with that obtained from the model based on the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) simulation approach. The superiority of the SSTKWSAS model in resolving large eddies is highlighted. Overall, the present study emphasizes the effectiveness and efficiency of coupling a partially premixed combustion model with a scale-resolving simulation method in predicting a swirl-stabilized, multi-jets turbulent flame in a practical, complex gas turbine combustor configuration.
Highlights
IntroductionThe need for effective and efficient mathematical descriptions of turbulent reactive flows has led to significant research interest in turbulent models that rely on resolving the turbulent spectrum [1,2,3]
The need for effective and efficient mathematical descriptions of turbulent reactive flows has led to significant research interest in turbulent models that rely on resolving the turbulent spectrum [1,2,3]and combustion models [4,5], which account for comprehensive chemical reactions without sacrificing too much computational power
The SSTKWSAS model resolves more swirling eddies in the main flame region of the combustor compared to the two unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) models
Summary
The need for effective and efficient mathematical descriptions of turbulent reactive flows has led to significant research interest in turbulent models that rely on resolving the turbulent spectrum [1,2,3]. Because of the LES defect, alternative mathematical methods, such as the detached eddy simulation (DES) [8] and the scale adaptive simulation (SAS) [9], have been attracting more attention from industries due to their lower requirement of computational powers and their ability to resolve the turbulent spectrum. The investigated combustor includes important features of a realistic industrial-used gas turbine combustor, such as the multiple fuel holes, the swirler, the primary and secondary holes, the porous walls, etc.; The SSTKWSAS approach is coupled with a finite-rate tabulated chemistry-based combustion model validated in our previous work [25]; Comprehensive comparisons of the SSTKWSAS model-produced results with experimental data are provided for the main flame region of the combustor; The performances of different turbulence models are discussed and compared with LES results in the literature [26]. The extended flame residence time in a realistic gas turbine combustor differs greatly from those in simple burners or combustors, requiring the application of more comprehensive mathematical models
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