Combustor LBO Design Model Evaluation.
Abstract
Long-term goals of the Air Force are to develop high-performance gas turbine combustors, and the design systems that can produce them. One aspect of an advanced combustor design system is the ability to calculate flame stability under fuel-lean conditions. Towards satisfying this latter desire the program had three principal objectives: (1) design, conduct and analyze experiments that establish a fundamental understanding of lean blowout, (2) provide a data base for evaluating and refining computer models of gas turbine combustion, and, (3) devise a calculation procedure for lean blowout. Two laboratory and one rig-standard combustors were successfully designed, fabricated and operated. A novel procedure using excess nitrogen as a diluent for simulating sub-atmospheric pressures was calibrated and verified. The sequence of events leading to lean blowout was identified, and observed to be common in all the combustors. Advanced diagnostic techniques were applied to enhance understanding of blowout. Some advanced mathematical modeling was shown to be inadequate for calculating blowout. A hybrid calculation procedure was devised that successfully modeled the influences on blowout of many important operating conditions and design variables. In this manner the program objectives were met.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA308753
Entities
People
- G. Sturgess
Organizations
- Pratt & Whitney