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Numerical analysis of flow characteristics of a swirl-stabilized premixed burner with different swirl vane configurations

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Abstract

This study numerically investigates the flow and combustion characteristics of a swirl-premixed burner with a curved vane swirler (i.e., curved type) to reduce the pressure loss of the burner nozzle with a conventional vane swirler (i.e., flat type). For the curved type swirler, the pressure loss is decreased by 35 % due to the inhibition of flow separation at the vane, and NOX emission is reduced by 69 % because fuel-air mixing is enhanced at the flame front, leading to more uniform fuel distribution toward downstream. In addition, the characteristics of the jet penetration are analyzed because the jet behavior is crucial to fuel-air mixing. The jet trajectory in non-swirling flow can be reasonably predicted by a conventional formula, but it is difficult to predict the jet trajectory in swirling flow by this formula because of the effect of a radial pressure gradient formed by the swirling flow.

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Abbreviations

c :

Reaction progress variable

d j :

Diameter of fuel jet

D hub :

Diameter of swirler hub

D sw :

Diameter of swirler vane

f :

Fuel mass fraction

f′:

Fluctuation of fuel mass fraction (f − \(\overline f \))

\(\overline f \) :

Mean of fuel mass fraction

G t :

Axial thrust

G m :

Axial flux of angular momentum

p :

Static pressure

r :

Radius of vane

S N :

Swirl number

S N,const :

Swirl number for swirler with constant vane

S N,var :

Swirl number for swirler with variable vane

u, U :

Axial velocity

U g :

Velocity magnitude of upstream gas

U j :

Velocity magnitude of jet

w, W :

Tangential velocity

X :

Axial distance

Y :

Penetration depth

θ :

Angle of vane

ρ :

Density

ρ g :

Density of upstream gas

ρ j :

Density of jet

JIC :

Jet in cross type

FS1 :

Fuel stage 1

FS2 :

Fuel stage 2

FV :

Fuel velocity

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by KIMM’s research funds for gas turbine development.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon, Korea

    Hae-ji Ju & Ju Hyeong Cho

  2. Department of Zero-carbon Fuel & Power Generation, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon, Korea

    Ju Hyeong Cho & Jeongjae Hwang

Authors
  1. Hae-ji Ju
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  2. Ju Hyeong Cho
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  3. Jeongjae Hwang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ju Hyeong Cho.

Additional information

Hae-ji Ju is a Ph.D. candidate of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon, Korea. Her research interests include burner design and numerical simulation of gas turbine combustors.

Ju Hyeong Cho is a Principal Researcher in Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, and a professor in University of Science & Technology, Daejeon, Korea. His research interests include design of gas turbine combustors and thermoacoustic analysis.

Jeongjae Hwang is a Senior Researcher in Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon, Korea. His research interests include design of gas turbine combustors and experimental analysis using laser diagnostics.

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Ju, Hj., Cho, J.H. & Hwang, J. Numerical analysis of flow characteristics of a swirl-stabilized premixed burner with different swirl vane configurations. J Mech Sci Technol 36, 5793–5800 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-022-1040-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-022-1040-7

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