Flow Investigations in an Aero Gas Turbine Engine Afterburner

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the prediction of flow and flame characteristics behind complex flame stabilizer used in aero gas turbine afterburners. The numerical calculation is performed using SIMPLE algorithm with unstructured grid arrangement in which time averaged transport equation for mass, momentum, turbulence and energy are solved using finite volume method. The turbulence effects are simulated using RNG κ-ε model. Flow analysis has been carried out for the non-reacting and reacting conditions. Meshing of the flow domain is done in GAMBIT. A detailed analysis of non-reacting flow in a 60°sector afterburner from inlet to exit of the afterburner is carried out in FLUENT solver code. The various thermodynamic properties are analyzed and presented along the length of the afterburner. Three different combustion models viz. prePDF, eddy dissipation and finite rate/eddy dissipation model are used in order to predict the reacting flow. An experimental investigation of the three-dimensional confined flow fields behind a “V” shaped complex flame stabilizer in an isothermal model of an afterburner is carried out to validate the CFD code. From the present study it is concluded that the prediction procedure adopted especially for non-reacting flow can be used with confidence in the development of an afterburner at a lower cost. Since measurements were not possible under reacting conditions no attempt has been made for reacting flow validation.