A MODEL FOR THE THERMOACOUSTIC RESPONSE OF A PREMIXED SWIRL BURNER, PART I: ACOUSTIC ASPECTS

Abstract

Results from previous measurements on a small laboratory swirl burner undergoing self-excited acoustic oscillations with premixtures of either CH₄ or C₃H₈ are summarized. The measurements of acoustic pressure and the distribution of chemiluminescent emission were used to deduce semi-empirical descriptions of the flame response functions, and these are used here in conjunction with a validated model for the acoustics of the premixture supply system, burner, and combustion chamber to reproduce the excitation frequencies and to deduce the required amplitudes of the flame response function. Variations of the burner flow rate and the equivalence ratio are examined, as is the sensitivity of the results to the acoustic and flame parameters. The results are of considerable relevance to the response of industrial gas-turbine combustion systems, and the calculations lay the foundations for the fundamental model of the flame response that is derived in Part II.

Keywords:

• premixed
• turbulent flames
• instability
• unsteady combustion

Powergen plc originally supported the construction of the apparatus. The analysis reported here was carried out during a sabbatical period for CJL at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). The support of the Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst and of Prof. Thomas Sattelmayer of the Lehrstuhl fur Thermodynamik at the TUM is therefore also gratefully acknowledged.

Notes

N/A = Not available. *=Lower measured amplitude.