Comparison of Numerical and Experimental Results of a Premixed DLE Gas Turbine Combustor

Abstract

A numerical and experimental study on a premixed DLE gas turbine combustor has been performed. Experiments and CFD modelling have been carried out at isothermal and combusting conditions. The measurements were obtained at ERC using two component Laser Doppler Velocimetry. To be able to access the inner part of the combustor, the liners of the combustion chamber were outfitted with quartz windows. Temperature measurements were obtained at a few planes using a thermocouple. Modelling of the combustor has been performed using an in-house CFD code. The combustion process has been modelled using a global reaction mechanism and a Flame Generated Manifold reaction mechanism in combination with a presumed PDF model to incorporate the effect of turbulent fluctuations. The Flame Generated Manifold method uses a flame library, which has been generated by performing a number of laminar one-dimensional flame calculations at representative conditions. Comparing the numerical and experimental quite some differences are observed. The CFD model is able to predict the main features of the flow and combustion process, but does not predict the recirculation length accurately. Both combustion models, however, are able to predict the low combustion efficiency measured at the 1atm test condition.