Numerical investigation of CH4/H2/air micro-mixing combustion flow in a micro gas turbine combustor with different head-end structures

Abstract

In order to investigate the premixed combustion characteristics of CH4/H2/air in a micro-mixing combustor, the effects of different micro-mixing head-ends (HE1, HE2, HE3) and hydrogen mixing ratios on the temperature distribution, heat transfer process, emission characteristic, flames shape are analyzed. The results show that compared with swirl head-end combustion, the micro-mixing combustion performance is better. Among the three head-ends, HE3 has the best combustion characteristics and stable flames. The temperature distribution in the high-temperature zone is uniform, and low-temperature zone is concentrated near the jet, which can suppress the flashback. The velocity and temperature gradient near the central axis of jet streams show a strong synergistic effect. The flames are plume shaped and flames stability is mainly influenced by the H2 combustion process. Increasing the jet diameter, decreasing the jet spacing and increasing the hydrogen mixing ratio all contribute to the flames stability, but these three methods can stabilize the flames by affecting fluid Reynolds number, interaction between small flames and combustion rate, respectively. Moreover, small jet diameter and high hydrogen mixing ratio can reduce OTDF, which contributes to improve outlet temperature uniformity.