Understanding and Control of Combustion Dynamics in Gas Turbine Combustors

Georgia Institute of Technology

Ben T. Zinn, Tim Lieuwen, Yedidia Neumeier, and Ben Bellows

SCIES Project 02-01-SR095 DOE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT DE-FC26-02NT41431

Tom J. George, Program Manager, DOE/NETL Richard Wenglarz, Manager of Research, SCIES
Project Awarded (05/01/2002, 36 Month Duration) $452,695 Total Contract Value

Gas Turbine Need

Need: Gas turbine reliability and availability is

important factor affecting power plant economics

Problem: Combustion driven oscillations severely reduce part life, requiring substantially more frequent outages Ultimately affects consumer through price of electricity

Need: Maximum gas turbine power output is

needed in order to meet growing demand

Problem: Combustion driven oscillations often necessitate de-rating of turbine power output

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Project Objectives
Task 1 - Improved understanding of combustion

driven oscillations
Will improve capabilities for designing combustors with reduced dynamics problems

Task 2 - Active control of combustion driven

oscillations
Will improve capabilities for suppressing detrimental dynamics

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Project Schedule
Month 1 Task 1 Improved Understanding of Combustion Dynamics
6 12 18 24 30 36

Sub-task 1.1 - Turbulent Flame-Acoustic Wave Interactions 1. Low frequency turbulent flame-acoustic wave interaction modelling 2. Multi-connected flame fronts modelling 3. Experimental assessment of model predictions . Sub-task 1.2 Measurements and Physics-based Models of Background Noise Effects 1. Additive combustor noise source modelling 2. Parametric combustor noise source modelling 3.Measure background noise sources 4. Experimentally investigate noise effects 5. Experimentally investigate noise effects upon instability amplitude 6. Identify dominant background noise effects Sub-task 1.3 Measurements and Modeling of Nonlinear Combustor Characteristics 1. Experimental transfer function measurements 2. Deterministic flame dynamics modelling 3. Stochastic flame dynamics modelling Sub-task 1.4 - Evaluation of Modeling/Analysis Tools Upon Full Scale Data From Industrial Partner

Task 2 Active Control of Combustion Dynamics

Subtask 2.1 - Experimental Studies of Active Control Authority 1. Experimental studies of operating condition affects upon active control authority 2.Experimental studies of background noise effects upon control authority 3. Experimental studies of time delay affects upon control authority Sub-task 2.2 Modeling and Analysis of Active Control Authority 1. PDF modeling of parametric noise effects 2. PDF modeling incorporating active control terms 3. Statistical modeling incorporating time delays Sub-task 2.3 - Control Authority Tests on Full Scale System

Write Final Report

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Accomplishments
High impact accomplishments to date:
Improved understanding of factors that affect instability amplitude Experimental characterization of combustion process nonlinearities Developed and validated theoretical analysis for prediction of flame nonlinearities Improved methods for active instability control Demonstrated open loop control of instabilities Improved understanding of factors influencing open loop control effectiveness Developed and validated models of turbulent flame/acoustic wave interactions that occur during screeching instabilities

Results are improving understanding of

combustion instability physics and methods of suppressing oscillations

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Experimental Characterization of Heat Release Nonlinearities

Motivation: Linear and Nonlinear Processes in Unstable Combustors

Linear processes
t amplitude exponentially, A~e
Driving/Damping

Cause inherent disturbances to become self excited and grow in

Damping Driving

Nonlinear processes
Saturate amplitude of self-excited oscillations Amplitude prediction capabilities require understanding nonlinearities! Objective of this part of work is to

A1

A2

A3
Amplitude

measure shape of Driving curve

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Experimental Approach
Determine transfer function between chemiluminescence and

flow forcing amplitude Dependence upon driving frequency, flow rate, equivalence ratio Reactants premixed ahead of choke point to ensure constant fuel/air ratio Reynolds Number based on premixer exit diameter: 21000 43000 (mean velocity = 20-45 m/s) Amplitude dependence of transfer function determined at 96 conditions/frequencies
Key Findings:

Flame response nonlinearities significantly more complicated and varied than simple saturation Mechanisms identified: Amplitude-dependent flame liftoff Vortex roll-up Excitation of parametric instability
CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Nonlinear Transfer Function

0.5

CH*-u

0.4
o

CH* / CH*

0.3

relationship remains linear up to ~ 35% of mean velocity

CH* response

0.2

0.1

saturates at large amplitudes of driving

0.2 0.4 u / u 0.6
o

0 0

0.8

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Saturation Amplitude Can Vary Substantially!

1

Similar saturation

0.8 CH* / CH*

o

0.6

value as assumed in Dowling nonlinear flame model (temporary global extinction)

Mechanism is not

0.4 130 Hz 140 Hz 150 Hz 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

0.2

0 0

u / uo

instantaneous heat release equaling zero here, but flame liftoff

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Nonlinear Flame Response More Complicated than Simple Saturation

0.6 0.5 0.4 CH* / CH*
o

Very similar

0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0

behavior to recent observations of Balachandran et al. (C&F, 2005) Reynolds number ~21000, fdrive = 410 Hz

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4 u / u
o

0.5

0.6

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Even More Complicated Nonlinear Flame Response Observed as Well

0.3 0.25 0.2 CH* / CH*
o

Transfer function

shape changes drastically

Chemiluminescence initially increases then sharply decreases followed by further increase

0.15 0.1 0.05 0 0

Response of flame
st shifted to 1 160 Hz harmonic 170 Hz 180 Hz Reynolds number 0.4 0.5 ~ 30000

0.1

0.2 u /u
o

0.3

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Summary of Nonlinear Flame Characteristics

1 CH* Nonlinear Amplitude Re = 21000 Re = 30000 Re = 43000

Characterization of

0.8

0.6

flame nonlinearities substantially more complicated than simple saturation amplitude

Here, we plot

0.4

amplitude at which nonlinearity is first observed.

Results indicate that
150 200 250 300 Frequency (Hz) 350 400 450

0.2

0 100

variety of behaviors (shape, mechanisms) exist in single combustor

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Mechanisms of Nonlinearity
Performed Large Number of OH-PLIF Imaging

Studies to Elucidate Flame Dynamics at two driving frequencies- 130 and 410 Hz
5 driving amplitudes 8 phases taken during cycle, for total of 4000 images per data set Many thanks to D. Santavicca and J.G. Lee for

their assistance and advice!

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Simultaneous OH-PLIF Imaging to Elucidate Flame Dynamics -410 Hz

0.6 0.5 0.4 CH* / CH*
o

Subsequent

0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0

images taken at two indicated driving amplitudes

0.1

0.2

0.3 u / u

0.4
o

0.5

0.6

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Low Amplitude Forcing

0 45 90 135

Fdrive = 410 Hz Convecting structures can be seen in some images Any suggestions for good averaging techniques that dont turn images into mush?

315

270

225

180
CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Large Amplitude Forcing

0 45 90 135

Fdrive = 410 Hz Large

amplitude driving
Flame liftoff throughout driving cycle Stabilization point of flame moves from centerbody to local low velocity location downstream

315

270

225

180

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Simultaneous OH-PLIF Imaging to Elucidate Flame Dynamics -410 Hz

0.6 0.5 0.4 CH* / CH*
o

0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0

Initiation of Flame liftoff behavior coincides with saturation point

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4 u / u
o

0.5

0.6

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Simultaneous OH-PLIF Imaging to Elucidate Flame Dynamics -130 Hz

1

Subsequent
0.8 CH* / CH*
o

0.6

images taken at two indicated driving amplitudes

0.4

0.2

0 0

0.2

0.4 u / u
o

0.6

0.8

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Low Amplitude Forcing

0 45 90 135

Well-

Fdrive =

130 Hz

defined flame position, structure throughout driving cycle

315

270

225

180
CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Large Amplitude Forcing

0 45 90 135

Fdrive =

130 Hz

315

270 225 180 Turbulent flame speed is apparently modulated peaks at highest instantaneous velocity Vortex rollup with occasional merging (3-D effect)
CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Frequency Locking and Open Loop Control

Objective
Investigate nonlinear interaction between

driven acoustic oscillation and natural combustor mode during unstable combustion
Determine important parameters which are

affected by frequency spacing between driven oscillation and combustor mode

Investigate the effectiveness of open-loop

control on reduction in acoustic power in combustor

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Effect of Acoustic Forcing on Instability Amplitude

0.015

Unstable Mode Driven Oscillation Reduction in instability amplitude by open-loop forcing

0.01 p / p
o

0.005

0 0

200

400 600 Frequency (Hz)

800

1000

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Typical Result
0.02

AL
Increasing Driving Decreasing Driving RMS Pressure

Investigated

0.015 /p
o

0.01

0.005

p
0.1 0.2 u /u drive o 0.3

AE
0.4

parameters in this study Ledge Width, AL Instability Rolloff, p Entrainment Amplitude, AE

instability

0 0

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Pressure Entrainment Amplitude Characteristics

Pressure Entrainment
10 9 8 x 10
-3

Is velocity a better parameter?

pentrainment / po

exhibits nonlinear frequency dependence

7 6 5 4 3 150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Driving Frequency (Hz)

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Entrainment Amplitude Characteristics

0.3

Entrainment

0.25

0.2 A
E

amplitude increases with increasing frequency spacing

More intuitive

0.15

0.1

0.05 150

200

250 300 350 Frequency (Hz)

400

450

result compared to pressure dependence

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Acoustic Power Reduction

Maximum Reduction in Acoustic Power (%) 95

90

85

80

75

70 150

200

250 300 350 Frequency (Hz)

400

450

Acoustic power reduced by at least 70%. Best results seen

where pressure entrainment amplitude is minimized.

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER

Concluding Remarks
Experimental studies of flame nonlinearity Nonlinear flame characteristics significantly more complicated than simple saturation Shape of transfer function is a function of frequency, Reynolds number Single combustor can exhibit a variety of behaviors Mechanisms identified:

Amplitude-dependent flame liftoff Vortex roll-up Excitation of parametric instability

Nonlinear Entrainment studies Study clarifies nonlinear interactions between driven acoustic oscillations and unstable combustor modes Velocity entrainment amplitude seen to decrease with decreasing frequency spacing Open loop forcing of combustor at frequencies different from unstable mode shown to be quite effective at studied operating condition. Reduction in acoustic power up to 90%. Best results occur at pressure entrainment amplitude minima.

CLEMSONPRES.PPT, 10/28/2003, B.T. ZINN, T. LIEUWEN, Y. NEUMEIER