A novel combustor design, referred to as a stagnation-point reverse-flow (SPRF) combustor, was recently developed to overcome the stability issues encountered with most lean premixed combustion systems. The SPRF combustor is able to operate stably at very lean fuel-air mixtures with low emissions. The reverse flow configuration causes the flow to stagnate and hot products to reverse and leave the combustor. The highly turbulent stagnation zone and internal recirculation of hot product gases facilitates robust flame stabilization in the SPRF combustor at very lean conditions over a range of loadings. Various optical diagnostic techniques are employed to investigate the flame characteristics of a SPRF combustor operating with premixed natural gas and air at atmospheric pressure. These include simultaneous planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging of OH radicals and chemiluminescence imaging, and spontaneous Raman scattering. The results indicate that the combustor has two stabilization regions, with the primary region downstream of the injector where there are low average velocities and high turbulence levels where most of the heat release occurs. High turbulence levels in the shear layer lead to increased product recirculation levels, elevating the reaction rates and thereby enhancing the combustor stability. The effect of product entrainment on the chemical time scales and the flame structure is quantified using simple reactor models. Turbulent flame structure analysis indicates that the flame is primarily in the thin reaction zone regime throughout the combustor. The flame tends to become more flameletlike, however, for increasing distance from the injector.
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Flame Structure and Stabilization Mechanisms in a Stagnation-Point Reverse-Flow Combustor
Mohan K. Bobba,
Mohan K. Bobba
School of Aerospace Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
, Atlanta, GA 30332-0150
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Priya Gopalakrishnan,
Priya Gopalakrishnan
School of Aerospace Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
, Atlanta, GA 30332-0150
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Karthik Periagaram,
Karthik Periagaram
School of Aerospace Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
, Atlanta, GA 30332-0150
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Jerry M. Seitzman
Jerry M. Seitzman
School of Aerospace Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
, Atlanta, GA 30332-0150
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Mohan K. Bobba
School of Aerospace Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
, Atlanta, GA 30332-0150
Priya Gopalakrishnan
School of Aerospace Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
, Atlanta, GA 30332-0150
Karthik Periagaram
School of Aerospace Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
, Atlanta, GA 30332-0150
Jerry M. Seitzman
School of Aerospace Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
, Atlanta, GA 30332-0150J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. May 2008, 130(3): 031505 (8 pages)
Published Online: April 2, 2008
Article history
Received:
June 6, 2007
Revised:
July 3, 2007
Published:
April 2, 2008
Citation
Bobba, M. K., Gopalakrishnan, P., Periagaram, K., and Seitzman, J. M. (April 2, 2008). "Flame Structure and Stabilization Mechanisms in a Stagnation-Point Reverse-Flow Combustor." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. May 2008; 130(3): 031505. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2836614
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