Numerical investigation on flow structures of a laboratory-scale trapped vortex combustor

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering Vol. 66; no. 1-2; pp. 318 - 327
• Main Authors: Jin, Yi, He, Xiaomin, Zhang, Jingyu, Jiang, Bo, Wu, Zejun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cavity flow; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Flow structure; Fluid flow; Heat transfer; Mathematical models; Numerical investigation; Planes; Struts; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Trapped vortex combustor; Turbulence model; Turbulence models; Turbulent flow; Vortices; Turbulence model; Flow structure; Trapped vortex combustor; Numerical investigation; Turbulence; Combustion chamber; Models; Vortex; Modeling
• ISSN: 1359-4311
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2014.02.030

Flow fields of combustors have been commonly used to help understand combustion characteristics. In this paper, numerical simulations with validated methodology are employed to provide insight of the flow structures of a laboratory-scale trapped vortex combustor (TVC). Turbulence model determination and numerical method validation are accomplished with the help of experimental data from particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements. A comparison of numerical and experimental results suggests that the standard k–ε turbulence model is able to provide a satisfactory prediction of the flow structures. Both of the two typical cavity flow patterns mentioned are observed: in a plane between two radial struts, the cavity flow features the dual-vortex pattern, however, in a plane along a radial strut, the cavity flow is dominated by the single-vortex pattern. This difference in flow patterns of different planes indicates the difference in cavity stream–mainstream mixing mechanism, which further, is believed to lead to enhanced mixing in spanwise direction. •The standard k–ε turbulence model is proved to be able to provide a satisfactory prediction of flow structures of trapped vortex combustors.•Both the single-vortex and the dual-vortex flow pattern are observed to be exist in cavities.•The difference in flow patterns of different planes is thought to be helpful to the mixing in the spanwise direction.•The flow structure obtained by the present work could help widening understandings of trapped vortex combustor.