Effect of swirl on the flow characteristics in the outer annulus of a prototype reverse-flow gas turbine combustor

• Published in: Experimental thermal and fluid science Vol. 25; no. 6; pp. 337 - 347
• Main Authors: Bharani, Sanjeev, Singh, S.N., Agrawal, D.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.12.2001; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cooling; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Furnaces. Firing chambers. Burners; Gas turbines; Gaseous fuel burners and combustion chambers; Swirling flow; Turbulent flow; Reversed flow; Combustion chamber; Annular space; Test facility; Pressure distribution; Vortex generator; Velocity distribution; Gas turbine; Experimental study; Turbulence structure
• ISSN: 0894-1777; 1879-2286
• DOI: 10.1016/S0894-1777(01)00089-9

Flow characteristics in the outer annulus and its effects on the flow splits through different liner holes have been established by conducting experiments on a full annulus prototype reverse-flow gas turbine combustor for different intensities of swirl imposed on the inlet flow. Measurements have been taken with a direction-sensitive pressure probe and a standard hot wire probe. It is seen that imposition of swirl improves the uniformity of outlet flow in θ-plane. It is observed that the flow split through the turn-section cooling holes and primary holes remains nearly constant up to S=0.55, while the split through the dilution holes decreases. With increase in the swirl intensity ( S=0.84) the flow split through the turn-section and dilution holes increases while flow split through the primary holes reduces. The turbulence intensity level at the outlet is not affected by the imposed inlet swirl.