20-000000221: Jet in Crossflow Dynamics for Improved Durability and Reduced Weight of Navy Combustors
Abstract
This program will focus on jet in cross flow dynamics, targeting three primary benefits for the navy warfighter (1) shorter/lighter combustors, (2) improved turbine durability/life, and (3) reduced particulate/soot emissions. Reacting jets in crossflow (JICF) are an important fundamental problem at the intersection of combustion and fluid mechanics. This JICF is also a critical flow for navy warfighter applications, finding application in main combustion fuel injectors, augmentor fuel injectors, film cooling jets, and main combustor quench jets. The reacting JICF problem can consist of either fuel injection into an air stream, such as in the main combustor and augmentor fuel injectors, or air injection into a fuel-containing stream, such as in the quench section of an RQL (rich, quick-quench, lean) combustor. The latter application is the focus of this proposed effort, as RQL combustors are the standard design used in Navy engines like the F135, and the performance cycle is sensitive to pattern factor. JICF dynamics directly impact the larger engine and aircraft by controlling the mixing rate of the quench jets that, in turn, controls the combustor length, pattern factor and turbine durability. Improved mixing of the quench jets, if better optimized, could lead to shorter combustors and engines, and longer lasting turbines. It is the improved understanding and optimization of these latter processes that are the focus of this proposed program. The proposed program is for 3 years, leveraging existing experimental facilities at Georgia Tech’s Aerospace Combustion Lab, a leader in academic combustion research in the United States. The program envisions a TRL6.1-6.3 effort, using an existing facility with strong input from aircraft engine OEM s that is flexible and in an appropriate parameter regime (Reynolds numbers, quench jet momentum flux ratios, density ratios, etc.). It will consist of two main tasks- the first task will be the 6.1 component, focused on fundamental understanding. The second task will consist of 6.2 and 6.3 efforts focused on utilizing this knowledge to develop design changes to quench sections to optimize mixing, as well as demonstration of these concepts in our combustor rigs. The first task will occupy the first two years of the project, with data analysis continuing as needed through the third year. In the first year we will form a test matrix, configure the facility to align it with the test matrix, and begin measurements. These experiments will conclude early in the second year. The rest of the second year will be committed to post-processing and data analysis, which is most labor intensive for the velocity field measurements. The second task begins mid-way through the second year while we begin data analysis. We anticipate that OEM collaboration will guide our analysis, so this activity begins at the same time as the analysis activity. Through the middle of the third year, we will expand our OEM collaboration to begin designing modified jet injection strategies. We will use the remainder of the third year to test and assess these strategies using any or all the techniques from task 1 as needed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 06, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112077
Entities
People
- Tim Lieuwen
Organizations
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy