Effect of boundary conditions on downstream vorticity from counter-rotating swirlers

Particle image velocimetry(PIV) is utilized to measure the non-reacting flow field in a reflow combustor with multiple and single swirlers. The velocity field, vortex structure and total vorticity levels are experimentally obtained using two different boundary conditions, representing a single confined swirler and multiple swirlers in an annular combustor. The influence of the boundary conditions on the flow field at several locations downstream of the swirlers is experimentally investigated, showing that the central vortex in the multi-swirler case is more concentrated than in the single-swirler case. The vorticity of the central vortex and average cross-sectional vorticity are relatively low at the swirler outlet in both cases. Both of these statistics gradually increase to the maximum values near 20 mm downstream of the swirler outlet, and subsequently decrease. It is also found that the central vortex in the multi-swirler case is consistently greater than the single-swirler case. These results demonstrate the critical influence of boundary conditions on flow characteristic of swirling flow, providing insight into the difference of the experiments on testbed combustor and the full-scale annular combustors.     

Film cooling performance and flow structure of single-hole and double-holes with swirling jet

This paper presents the results of a numerical study of the effects of swirling flow in coolant jets on film cooling performance. Some combined-hole designs with swirling coolant flow entering the delivery hole are proposed and analyzed. Adiabatic film cooling effectiveness values for cases with various blowing ratios are compared. Detailed flow structures and underlying mechanisms are discussed. The results show that film cooling effectiveness is improved with jet swirl at high blowing ratios, ...     

Numerical simulations of turbulent flows in aeroramp injector/gas-pilot flame scramjet

To uncover the internal flow characteristics in an ethylene-fueled aeroramp injector/gaspilot(ARI/G-P)flame scramjet,a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes(RANS)solver is constructed under a hybrid polyhedral cell finite volume frame.The shear stress transport(SST)k-x model is used to predict the turbulence,while the Overmann’s compressibility corrected laminar flamelet model is adopted to simulate the turbulent combustion.Nonreactive computations for Case 1(G-P jet on),Case 2(ARI jets on),and Case 3(both ARI and G-P jets on)were conducted to analyze the mixing mechanism,while reactive Cases 4–7 at equivalent ratios of 0.380,0.278,0.199 and0.167 respectively were calculated to investigate the flame structure and combustion modes.The numerical results are compared well to those of the experiments.It is shown that the G-P jet plays significant role in both the fuel/air mixing and flame holding processes;the combustion for the four reactive cases takes place intensively in the regions downstream of the ARI/G-P unit;Cases 4 and 5are under subsonic combustion mode,whereas Cases 6 and 7 are mode transition critical and supersonic combustion cases,respectively;the mode transition equivalent ratio is approximately 0.20.     

Experimental study on combustion characteristics of Chinese RP-3 kerosene

In order to illustrate the combustion characteristics of RP-3 kerosene which is widely used in Chinese aero-engines, the combustion characteristics of RP-3 kerosene were experimentally investigated in a constant volume combustion chamber. The experiments were performed at four different pressures of 0.1 MPa, 0.3 MPa, 0.5 MPa and 0.7 MPa, and three different temperatures of 390 K,420 K and 450 K, and over the equivalence ratio range of 0.6–1.6. Furthermore, the laminar combustion speeds of a surrogate fuel for RP-3 kerosene were simulated under certain conditions. The results show that increasing the initial temperature or decreasing the initial pressure causes an increase in the laminar combustion speed of RP-3 kerosene. With the equivalence ratio increasing from 0.6 to 1.6, the laminar combustion speed increases initially and then decreases gradually.The highest laminar combustion speed is measured under fuel rich condition(the equivalence ratio is 1.2). At the same time, the Markstein length shows the same changing trend as the laminar combustion speed with modification of the initial pressure. Increasing the initial pressure will increase the instability of the flame front, which is established by decreased Markstein length. However, different from the effects of the initial temperature and equivalence ratio on the laminar combustion speed,increasing the equivalence ratio will lead to a decrease in the Markstein length and the stability of the flame front, and the effect of the initial temperature on the Markstein length is unclear. Furthermore, the simulated laminar combustion speeds of the surrogate fuel agree with the corresponding experimental datas of RP-3 kerosene within 10% deviation under certain conditions.     

Flow Field Investigation in a Trapezoidal Duct with Swirl Flow Induced by Impingement Jets

An enlarged model of trapezoidal duct near the leading-edge in the blade is built up. The effects of impingement jets, swirl flow, cross flow and effusion flow are considered. Experiments are performed to measure flow fields in this confined passage and exit holes on one of its side walls. Cross flow and effusion flow are induced in the channel by the outflow of side exit hole (SEH) and film cooling hole (FCH), which are oriented on one end wall and bottom wall of the passage. Detailed flow structures are measured for two impingement angles of 35° and 45° with 6 combinations of outflow ratios. Results show that the small jets impinge the target wall effectively while the large jets contribute to inducing and impelling a strong counter-clockwise vortex in the upper part of the passage. Cross flow plays a dominate role for the flow structures in the passage and exit holes. It deflects jets, enhances swirl and deteriorates side exit conditions. Impingement angle is another significant factor for the flow characteristics. Its effect reveals more evidently with cross flow. Within the present test conditions, the mass flow rates and outflow positions of FCHs have no distinct effect on the main flow structures.     

Numerical simulation of flow in swirl injector for power-law fluid

In order to investigate the flow characteristics of swirl injectors for gelled propellants, which actually behaved as non-Newtonian power-law fluid, a swirl axisymmetric model was established to solve Navier-Stokes equations and VOF (volume of fluid) equation, and the power-law constitutive equation was used to describe the rheology characteristics of the gelled propellants. The film thickness and velocity distribution in the swirl injector under different flow conditions were studied numerically. The simulation results show that the increased geometry characteristic parameter of the swirl injector contributes to the decrease of liquid film thickness. The liquid film thickness is almost independent of the pressure drop. The rheologic parameters have great influences on the inner flow of swirl injector: by increasing the fluid consistency index K and power index n, both the axial and the swirl velocities decrease dramatically; higher fluid consistency index K and power index n make the liquid film thickness increase. When the viscosity is large enough, the air core in the injector would vanish.      

Parametric study of turbine NGV blade lean and vortex design

The effects of blade lean and vortex design on the aerodynamics of a turbine entry nozzle guide vane (NGV) are considered using computational fluid dynamics. The aim of the work is to address some of the uncertainties which have arisen from previous studies where conflicting results have been reported for the effect on the NGV. The configuration was initially based on the energy efficient engine turbine which also served as the validation case for the computational method. A total of 17 NGV configurations were evaluated to study the effects of lean and vortex design on row efficiency and secondary kinetic energy. The distribution of mass flow ratio is introduced as an additional factor in the assessment of blade lean effects. The results show that in the turbine entry NGV, the secondary flow strength is not a dominant factor that determines NGV losses and therefore the changes of loading distribution due to blade lean and the associated loss mecha-nisms should be regarded as a key factor. Radial mass flow redistribution under different NGV lean and twist is demonstrated as an addition key factor influencing row efficiency.     

Analysis of swirling flow effects on the characteristics of unsteady hot-streak migration

The temperature of flow at the combustor exit is inherently non-uniform and the hot fluid is called hot-streak. An in-house CFD software, NUAA-Turbo, was used to carry out 3D unsteady simulations on the PW-E3 single-stage high-pressure turbine. The hot-streak effect based on real stator and combustor counts was approximately evaluated by the contraction/dilatation method on the interface. The unsteady attenuation and migration process of hot-streaks in the tur-bine passage were well captured. The general performance parameters for different circumferential positions of hot-streaks were relatively consistent. Then, the influences of hot-streaks on blade sur-face temperature were investigated by comparing results under hot-streak and uniform inflow con-ditions. Unsteady simulations with combined inlet hot-streak and swirling flow show that the core of a hot-streak migrates to the tip under the influence of a positive swirl, while the phenomenon is just opposite with a negative swirl. Therefore, the heat transfer environment of rotor blades shows great differences with different directions of inlet swirl.     

Experimental and Numerical Studies of Vitiated Air Effects on Hydrogen-fueled Supersonic Combustor Performance

This paper deals with the vitiation effects of test air on the scramjet performance in the ground combustion heated facilities. The primary goal is to evaluate the effects of H2O and CO2, the two major vitiated species generated by combustion heater, on hydrogen-fueled supersonic combustor performance with experimental and numerical approaches. The comparative experiments in the clean air and vitiated air are conducted by using the resistance heated direct-connected facility, with the typical Mach 4 flight conditions simulated. The H2O and CO2 species with accurately controlled contents are added to the high enthalpy clean air from resistance heater, to synthesize the vitiated air of a combustion-type heater. Typically, the contents of H2O species can be varied within the range of 3.5%-30% by mole, and 3.0%-10% for CO2 species. The total temperature, total pressure, Mach number and O2 mole fraction at the combustor entrance are well-matched between the clean air and vitiated air. The combustion experiments are completed at the fuel equivalence ratios of 0.53 and 0.42 respectively. Furthermore, three-dimensional (3D) reacting flow simulations of combustor flowpath are performed to provide insight into flow field structures and combustion chemistry details that cannot resolved by experimental instruments available. Finally, the experimental data, combined with computational results, are employed to analyze the effects of H2O and CO2 vitiated air on supersonic combustion characteristics and performance. It is concluded that H2O and CO2 contaminants can significantly inhibit the combustion induced pressure rise measured from combustor wall, and the pressure profile decreases with the increasing H2O and CO2 contents in nonlinear trend; simulation results agree well with experimental data and the overall vitiation effects are captured; direct extrapolation of the results from vitiated air to predict the performance of actual flight conditions could result in over-fueling the combustor, possible inlet un-start and inappropriate combustion mode transition. The detailed analysis and discussion are presented and the research conclusions are summarized.     

Experimental study of entrainment phenomenon in a trapped vortex combustor

Trapped vortex combustor (TVC) is an advanced low-pollution gas turbine combustor, with the adoption of staged combustion technique. To achieve low-pollutant emission and better combustion performance, the proportion of the air flow in each combustion zone should be precisely determined in the design of the combustor. Due to the presence of entrainment phenomenon, the total air flow in the cavity zone is difficult to estimate. To overcome the measurement difficulty, this study adopts the indirect measurement approach in the experimental research of entrainment phenomenon in the cavity. In accordance with the measurement principle, a TVC model fueled by methane is designed. Under two experimental conditions, i.e. with and without direct air intake in the cavity, the influence of the mainstream air flow velocity, the air intake velocity in the cavity, the height of inlet channel, the structure of holder and the structural proportion of the cavity on entrainment in the cavity is studied, respectively, through experiment at atmospheric temperature and pressure. The results suggest that the air flow velocity of mainstream, the air intake velocity of the cavity and the structure of the holder exert significant influence on the air entrainment, while the influence of structural proportion of the cavity is comparatively insignificant. The square root of momentum ratio of cavity air to mainstream air could be used to analyze the correlation of the entrainment data.     

第2级径向旋流器旋流数对燃烧室点火和贫油熄火性能的影响

双级旋流器是航空发动机燃烧室头部产生回流区所采用的主要形式,研究主要考察第2级径向旋流器的旋流数对点火与燃烧稳定性能的影响,数值模拟结果能够较好地匹配第2级径向旋流器设计参数.试验研究表明:第2级径向旋流器旋流数的改变对燃烧室点火性能无影响;但减小该旋流数会对贫油熄火性能产生明显地改善,旋流卷吸效果会影响回流区火焰稳定.减小第2级径向旋流器旋流数,使下游卷吸量增加,回流区流动与火焰匹配更好,更有利于燃烧稳定性的提高.      

旋流杯设计参数对燃烧性能的影响

通过三维数值模拟和试验相结合的方法,针对航空发动机主燃烧室开展了火焰筒头部旋流杯设计参数对燃烧室性能影响的研究,其关键设计参数为副旋流器相对进气量和旋流数,关注的燃烧性能包括出口温度场分布、NOx排放量等.结果表明:数值计算获得的规律与试验的结论基本一致.随着副旋流器相对进气量的增加,主燃烧室出口温度场逐渐恶化,而NOx排放量略有降低;副旋流器旋流数偏离基准设计值时,出口温度场恶化,而NOx排放量随旋流数的增加而增加.     

旋流器结构对贫油直喷燃烧室的性能影响

针对单元贫油直喷(LDI)喷嘴的旋流器设计问题,实验研究了旋流器结构变化(改变旋流器级数、双旋流器旋向及混合段收缩角等)对燃烧室总压损失、燃烧效率以及污染物排放等性能的影响规律.结果表明:旋流器结构变化对燃烧室性能有很大影响.同向双旋流燃烧室总压损失大于与之相同计算旋流数的单级旋流燃烧室,反向双旋流燃烧室总压损失略低于同向双旋流燃烧室,燃烧室总压损失随收缩角增大而呈增大趋势.相较单级旋流燃烧室和同向双旋流燃烧室,反向双旋流燃烧室在不同贫油气比工况下均具有更高的燃烧效率和更低的污染物排放.另外,燃烧效率及污染物排放受收缩角的影响.最佳收缩角角度的选取需要综合权衡总压损失、燃烧效率及污染物排放水平.     

固体燃料冲压发动机旋流燃烧特性试验

为研究固体燃料冲压发动机旋流燃烧特性,进行了直流与旋流对比直连式试验。固体装药内径40mm,长180 mm,成分为HTPB中加入65%的金属粉末。试验发动机采用火炬式点火器点火,空气由燃烧补氧式空气加热器加热至690 K,热空气流量300 g/s。试验测量了压力、推力等参数,使用监控录像对发动机尾焰进行拍摄,通过测量试验前后装药质量差获得固体燃料平均燃速。旋流试验未将旋流器伸入燃烧室即实现了火焰稳定,且旋流燃烧比直流燃烧表现出更好的稳定性,平均燃速较直流提高近50%。旋流燃烧尾焰存在明显的径向扩张,表明尾焰仍有切向动量,损失了部分推力。     

旋流对加力燃烧室性能影响的试验研究

本文探讨不同离心力分布对旋流加力室性能的影响.对模型的流体阻力、温度分布和燃烧效率进行了试验研究.旋流器出口的四种切向速度分布为:Rankine涡、强迫涡、自由涡和常数角涡.试验表明:出口为Rankine涡的旋流器,其流体阻力最小;在由离心力组织燃烧的加力室模型中,即使在小旋流数下(S=0.25)仍可获得大于90%的燃烧效率     

旋流杯结构及进气参数对燃烧性能的影响

为优化旋流燃烧室头部结构、提高其运行性能,针对三种旋流器文氏管和燃料喷嘴的组合结构和两种流通面积的旋流器,开展了常压下以甲烷为燃料的燃烧室性能实验研究。实验结果表明,各头部结构的冷态总压损失系数与来流速度的平方成正比,燃料喷嘴插入文氏管的位置过深或过浅都会增大流动阻力,在来流速度9.7m/s条件下,喷嘴处于中等插入位置时总压损失系数降低6%左右;开放空间下,燃料喷嘴的位置越浅越利于火焰稳定,受限条件下这种影响被缩小,并且受限火焰的稳定工作范围明显宽于相同入口条件下的开放火焰;增大旋流器流通面积有利于降低总压损失系数、增强火焰稳定、减轻火焰筒壁面振动幅度,但不利于促进燃料和空气掺混,导致NO和CO的排放浓度都变大;在临近贫油熄火状态时,火焰筒壁面振动幅度加剧,明显高于稳定燃烧时的情况。     

超声速混合层燃烧研究进展

超声速混合层燃烧研究是解决超声速燃烧难点的有效途径,对于超燃冲压发动机的发展具有重要意义。这一领域在过去20多年中开展了大量工作,需要对此进行总结。由于无反应超声速混合层流动特性研究是超声速混合层燃烧研究的基础,因此,首先综述了该流动特性,包括瞬时流场结构和时均统计特性;其次,讨论了着火特性,包括着火距离和着火过程;再次,综述了火焰特性,特别是火焰结构;然后,关注了熄火特性;接着,对释热和可压缩性影响进行了总结;最后,给出了燃烧不稳定性的研究进展。通过综述可知,超声速混合层燃烧研究仍需开展大量工作。在着火特性、火焰特性和熄火特性方面,后续研究可重点采用湍流数值模拟和详细反应机理,研究着火过程、火焰传播过程和熄火过程,以及流动参数、热力学参数、组分参数和外界因素对着火距离、火焰结构和熄火位置的影响;在释热和可压缩性影响方面,后续研究可采用高精度数值或实验方法,重点研究高释热和高可压缩性条件下有反应超声速混合层的瞬变特性和统计特性;燃烧不稳定性方面,后续研究可采用高精度数值或实验方法,重点研究超声速混合层燃烧不稳定性产生的普遍准则及其内在机制。     

双级轴向旋流器气量分配对流场特性影响的数值模拟与试验验证

为了探究双级轴向旋流器气量分配对流场特性的影响,对相同进口条件下不同旋流器流场特性进行数值模拟,并结合流量特性试验和粒子图像测速仪流场试验进行验证。结果表明:当第1、2级旋流器气量比由0.32增大到1.48时,旋流器下游轴向、径向速度降低,气流扩张角、回流区宽度以及回流率均减小;不同气量分配的第1、2级旋流在文氏管出口与套筒出口之间剧烈掺混,经过套筒出口后,旋流数均小于0.4;在相同的结构形式下,不同气量分配的双级旋流器通过改变第1、2级旋流器在文氏管出口处的旋流数,进而改变了第1、2级旋流相互掺混的强度,并最终影响了下游流场。     

基于PaSR模型的低旋流燃烧大涡模拟

为了深入理解低旋流流场特征和燃烧稳定性,基于OpenFOAM平台,采用动态k方程模型和有限速率PaSR模型对甲烷/空气预混低旋流燃烧进行了大涡模拟,研究了气流入口速度、当量比和压力等流场参数对流场结构和燃烧非稳态特性的影响,分析了流场大尺度结构与火焰相互作用。结果表明,流场结构和火焰抬升高度受入口速度影响较小,流场和火焰形态能够保持自相似性;随着当量比和压力提高,流场扩张性增强并在燃烧区下游产生回流区,火焰稳定不依赖回流区,根部火焰锋面形状由U形转变为W形,火焰抬升高度降低。火焰锋面稳定在剪切层,剪切层产生的周期性有序涡结构引起当地流场速度脉动和火焰表面褶皱,反映了流场非稳态特性;通过剪切层监测点瞬时轴向速度分析,涡结构特征频率随速度增大而提高,由250Hz提高至300Hz,随当量比和压力提高而降低,由250Hz降低至125Hz。     

锥形旋流器内燃料分布对模型燃烧室近贫熄状态的影响

针对近贫熄状态,研究锥形旋流器内燃料分布对模型燃烧室燃烧稳定的影响。在不同空气流量下对头部燃料分布A和B分别进行了锥形旋流器模型燃烧室的贫熄状态实验。结果表明:同样的进气条件下,分布B在贫熄时刻的过量空气系数是分布A的4倍以上,并在可比较的实验流量范围内保持明显的优势;分布B的火焰可以由锥形旋流器外缩入锥形旋流器内熄灭,而分布A的火焰不能缩入旋流器内部,只能在锥形旋流器外部以整团火焰的形态熄灭;锥形旋流器头部中心轴线上引入的少量燃料对燃烧室近贫熄状态的压力脉动有极大影响,分布B的压力波动幅值比分布A降低90%以上,压力波动主频从88Hz减小到50Hz。结合数值模拟计算,从切向涡量角度分析了近贫熄火焰前端稳定在不同位置的原因,比较了两种燃气分布下局部流场物理参数分布的差异,有助于理解与认识锥形旋流器内燃料分布对燃烧稳定性的影响。