Study on the Performance of a Novel Air-bleeding Aerodynamic Combustor Diffuser

Yan, Y.; Li, D.; Zhu, Y.; Liang, H.; Suo, J.; Wu, Y.

doi:10.47176/jafm.17.10.2615

Study on the Performance of a Novel Air-bleeding Aerodynamic Combustor Diffuser

Document Type : Regular Article

Authors

School of Power and Energy, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi`an 710072, China

10.47176/jafm.17.10.2615

Abstract

The pressure ratio of a compressor increases when the engine performance is improved, which leads to a higher air velocity in the combustion chamber. This aggravates the pressure loss in a conventional diffuser, which is proportional to the square of the inlet velocity. It is, therefore, an urgent need for a new diffuser technology. Regardless of whether high-temperature, or low-pollution, combustion chambers are being used, the significant difference when compared with other chambers is the notable increase in the combustion air and its entry through the dome of the flame tube. However, the increased amount of air in the dome causes a mismatch between the diffuser outlet and the dome intake of the flame tube. Therefore, to solve the problem of an excessive total pressure loss and a mismatch of the intake air in the combustor, a novel air-bleeding aerodynamic diffuser has here been proposed. The effects of various parameters (including the number of air-bleed holes, the position of the first row of holes, and the position of the second row of holes) and their interactions on the performance of this diffuser have then been investigated by using the experimental design presented by Taguchi. The maximum static pressure recovery was achieved by using a genetic algorithm combined with the CFD method. Among the three parameters, the results revealed that the position of the first row of holes had the largest impact on the performance of the diffuser. Also, the optimal values of the three parameters varied for the inlet Mach numbers 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20. The relative difference between the predicted values and the values obtained by the numerical simulations were all below 3%, which showed the reliability of the predictions. As compared with the reference case, the optimized results for the three working conditions increased by 19.16%, 21.38%, and 40.62%, respectively.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Combustion and Reactive Flows

References

Adkins, R. C. (1975). A short diffuser with low pressure loss. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 97(3), 297-302. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3447306.

Adkins, R. C., Matharu, D. S., & Yost, J. O. (1980, March 10-13). The hybrid diffuser. Proceedings of the ASME 1980 International Gas Turbine Conference and Products Show. https://doi.org/10.1115/80-gt-136.

Arvanid, S., Sabarinathan, G., Dhinakaran, S., & Sanjay Kumar, S., Sundararaj, K. & Sanal Kumar, V. R. (2020, August 24-28). Design optimization of dump diffusers with NACA 66-021 shaped flame tube. AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2020-3705.

Bohan, B. T., & Polanka, M. D. (2017, Januray 9-13). Development and testing of a variable geometry diffuser in an ultra-compact combustor. 55th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA 2017-0777. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2017-0777.

Bruce Ralphin Rose, J., & Prawin, L. (2023). Numerical characterization on the influence of flame tube geometry and dump gap in the diffuser performance at high altitudes. Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section A: Physical Sciences, 94(1), 47-61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40010-023-00865-5

Chen, X. (1989). Experimental investigation on improvement of performance of subsonic two dimensional diffuser. Journal of Propulsion and technology, 1989(03), 30-35. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:TJJS.0.1989-03-005.

Chin, J. (2019, August 19-22). Suggestions on high temperature rise combustor. Proceedings of the AIAA Propulsion and Energy 2019 Forum. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2019-4327.

Fishenden, C. R. (1977). Performance of annular combustor-dump diffuser. Journal of Aircraft, 14(1), 60-67. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.58749.

Guo, M., Meng, X., Zuo, Z. G., & Liu, S. H. (2021). Experimental influence of a splitter vane on the flow fields in a wide-angled diffuser. 2021 IOP Conferience Series: Earth Environmental Science, 774 012051. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/774/1/012051.

He, P., Suo, J. Q., Xie, K., Chen, S., Shen, S., & Zeng, Q. (2013, June 3-7). The influence of dump gap on aerodynamic performance of a low-emission combustor dump diffuser. Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2013: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition, 18. https://doi.org/10.1115/gt2013-95230.

Ji, B. B., Zhang, X. X., & Gu, Y. (2015). ANSYS ICEM CFD basic tutorials and examples. Machinery Industry Press.

Jiang, L. Y. (2017). RANS modelling of turbulence in combustors. Turbulence Modelling Approaches - Current State, Development Prospects, Applications. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.68361.

Klein, A. (1995). Characteristics of combustor diffusers. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 31, 171-271. https://doi.org/10.1016/0376-0421(95)00006-K.

Li, H., Suo, J. Q., Liang, H. X., Li, M., & Liu, Q. (2012). Experimental study of distributor diffuser plate. Science Technology and Engineering, 12(11), 2631-2636. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1671-1815.2012.11.026

Liang, H. X., Suo, J. Q., & Li, M. (2013, June 3-7). Experimental study of the flow and pressure drop performances in advanced combustor distributor diffuser. Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2013: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2013-94209.

Meng, X., Zuo, Z., Nishi, M., & Liu, S. (2020). A numerical study on the flow mechanism of performance improvement of a wide-angle diffuser by inserting a short splitter vane. Processes, 8(2), 143. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8020143.

Sanal Kumar, V. R., Abhijit, M., Khan, Y., Arokkiaswamy, A., & Gemson, R. M. O. (2007, July 8-11). Studies on dump diffusers for modern aircraft engines. 43rd AIAA/ ASME/ SAE/ ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2007-5161.

Shen, J. J., Gao, A. S., Gao, T. T., & Zhao, J. Z. (2021). Optimization of extraction technology of sterols from discarded soybean pod by response surface methodology. Environmental Challenges, 5, 100272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2021.100272.

Shen, S., He, P., Shang, M., & Mao, R. (2014, June 16-20). The effects of cowling geometry, area ratio and dump gap on a combustor diffusion system. Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2014: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition, Volume 4B. https://doi.org/10.1115/gt2014-26652.

Smith, J. M., & Juhasz, A. J. (1978). Performance of a short Annular Dump Diffuser using suction-stabilized vortices at Inlet Mach Numbers to 0.41 NASA Technical Paper 1194.

Srinivasan, R., Freeman, G., Grahmann, J., & Coleman, E. (1990, July 16-18). Parametric evaluation of the aerodynamic performance of an annular combustor-diffuser system. 26^th Joint Propulsion Conference. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.1990-2163.

Sun, S. S., Zhu, Y. M., Gu, Z. S., Chu, H. Y., Hu, C. S., Gao, L. J., & Zhao, X. F. (2020). Mechanical properties of ZSM-5 extruded catalysts: calcination process optimization using response surface methodology. Journal of Chemical Engineering Communications, 13(9), 6108-6123. https://doi.org/10.1080/00986445.2020.1803295.

Taguchi, G. (1990). Introduction to quality engineering， Tokyo. Asian Productivity Organization, 4(2), 10-15. http://worldcat.org/isbn/9283310845.

Walker, A. D., & Denman, P. A. (2005). Hybrid diffusers for radially staged combustion systems. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 21(2), 264-273. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.6680.

Walker, A. D., Carrotte, J. F., & McGuirk, J. J. (2009). The influence of dump gap on external combustor aerodynamics at high fuel injector flow rates. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 131(3), 031506. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3028230.

Walker, A. D., Denman, P. A., & McGuirk, J. J. (2004). Experimental and computational study of hybrid diffusers for gas turbine combustors. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 126(4), 717-725. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1772403.

Wu, Y. L., Zhu, Y. J., Song, S., Wu, Y. N., & Hu, S. Q. (2022). Optimize the preservation effect of mint, clove and chitosan on fresh-cut apple by response surface methodology. Science and Technology of Food Industry, 43(3), 317-324. https://doi.org/10.13386/j.issn1002-0306.2021050258.

Xiang, H. H., Hou, M. J., & Liu, Z. G. (2014). Correlative analysis of performance experimental data of axial flow fans/ compressors based on statistical characteristic. Journal of Aerospace Power, 29(01), 146-152. https://doi.org/10.13224/j.cnki.jasp.2014.01.019.

Yan, C., Yu, J., Xu, J. L., Fan, J. J., Gao, R. Z., & Jiang, Z. H. (2011). On the achievement and prospects for the methods of computational fluid dynamics. Advances in Mechanics, 41(5), 562-589. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A1000257

Zhang, P., Zhang, C., & Wang, Z. (2022). Optimization of crescent‑shaped block downstream a row of cylindrical holes to enhance film cooling effectiveness. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 2022(147), 11205-11219. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-022-11346-z.

Zhao, C. C., Suo, J. Q., Liang, H. X., & Wang, J. Z. (2014). Further research for single-plate annular distributor type diffuser performance. Journal of Propulsion and Technology, 35(9), 1241-1246. https://doi.org/10.13675/j.cnki.tjjs.2014.09.013