Title: Lean methane flame stability in a premixed generic swirl burner: isothermal flow and atmospheric combustion characterization

Citation
Runyon JP, Marsh R, Bowen PJ, et al. (2017). Lean methane flame stability in a premixed generic swirl burner: isothermal flow and atmospheric combustion characterization. Cardiff University. https://doi.org/10.17035/d.2017.0011500240

Dataset Details

Publisher: Cardiff University

Date (year) of data becoming publicly available: 2017

Data format: .xls, .xlsx, .image

Software Required: Dantec DynamicStudio (.image)

Estimated total storage size of dataset: Less than 1 terabyte

Number of Files In Dataset: 2081

DOI : 10.17035/d.2017.0011500240

DOI URL: http://doi.org/10.17035/d.2017.0011500240

Related URL: http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/K021095/1

Description

Gas turbine combustors operating in lean premixed mode are known to be susceptible to flame blowoff due to competing influences of increasing chemical timescales and decreasing flow time scales under these conditions. In this study, combustion stability and the onset of flame blowoff in particular, are characterized in a new swirl burner operated with fully premixed methane (CH4) and air at thermal power of 55 kW, atmospheric combustor inlet pressure, and ambient (~290 K) combustor inlet temperature. The onset of flame blowoff was shown repeatedly to exhibit high amplitude, low frequency combustion instabilities as a result of periodic flame extinction and reignition events. In addition to detailed isothermal characterization of the burner velocity field using particle image velocimetry, a combination of dynamic pressure sensing and optical combustion diagnostics, including OH* chemiluminescence and OH planar laser induced fluorescence, give indication of the combustion rig acoustic response and changes in flame acoustic response, heat release, and flame anchoring location related to the onset and occurrence of blowoff. This analysis shows that the onset of this instability was preceded by a marked reduction in dominant frequency and amplitude until frequency collapse and high amplitudes were observed throughout the burner inlet mixing plenum, burner pilot, combustion chamber, and exhaust ducting. Acoustic and optical signal analysis show potential viability for use in practical applications for precursor indications of lean blowoff. The flame anchoring location within the combustion chamber was shown to detach from the burner exit nozzle and stabilize within the outer and central recirculation zones near the lean blowoff limit, providing evidence of changes to both chemical and flow time scales. Chemical kinetic modelling is used in support of the empirical studies, in particular highlighting the relationship between maximum heat release rate and OH* chemiluminescence intensity.
This dataset includes single value measurements of the high-pressure combustion rig operating conditions (temperature (°C), pressure (bara), mass flow (g/s), and pressure drops (mbar)) during each test point of the referenced experimental programme. The data also includes chemiluminescence images, planar laser induced fluorescence images, particle image velocimetry images, and dynamic pressure measurements.
The raw chemiluminescence, PLIF, and PIV images are captured through Dantec's DynamicStudio software (IMAGE files) and the dynamic pressure measurements are captured through National Instrument's SignalExpress (XLSX files). Chemical kinetics modelling outputs (using CHEMKIN PRO software) are also provided. Single value rig logs and chemical kinetics modelling outputs are provided in Microsoft Excel (XLS/XLSX) format.
The combustion experimental programme was undertaken at Cardiff University’s Gas Turbine Research Centre (GTRC) in support of Work Package 2 - Combustion, Fuels, and Operability, particularly Task 2A - Gaseous Mixtures, of the EPSRC Flexible and Efficient Power Plant: Flex-E-Plant project (EP/K021095/1).

Research results based upon these data are published at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expthermflusci.2017.11.019