II.

Historical Overview

I. Introduction II. Historical Overview III. Linear and nonlinear stability concepts IV. Unsteady Flow Fields V. Linear Acoustic Wave Propagation VI. Thermo-acoustics/Stability analysis VII. Nonlinear Analysis VIII. Passive and Active Control of Combustion Instabilities IX. Data Analysis and Experimental Methods
AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,
From Liquid Propellant Rocket Combustion Instability, Ed. Harrje and Reardon, NASA Publication SP-194

A. Thermo-acoustics
Rijke Tube (heated gauze in tube) Self-excited oscillations in cryogenic tubes (N. Rott) Thermo-acoustic refrigerators/heat pumps (Swift, Garrett) See Swift Reference

Purdues Thermoacoustic Refrigerator

Los Alamos NLs Thermoacoustic Engine

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Rijke Tube

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p pressure oscillation

u velocity oscillation

Fuel+Air
Figure 3. An example of a flame driven instability in a tube open at both ends.

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B. Industrial Systems
(see Putnams book)

Oil fired heating units Scrap melting burners Boilers Pulse combustion

From Thring et al., ed. , Pulsating Combustion: The Collected Works of F.H. Reynst, Pergamon Press, 1961
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Ramjets and Afterburners

Vortex-flame interactions generated large oscillations Caused un-starting of inlet shock, thus improper performance

From D. Smith, Ph.D. thesis

AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,

AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,

AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,

AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,

AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,

Figure 4. Landfill gas flares that experienced low frequency, combustion driven oscillations13.

AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,

AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,

C. Liquid Rockets
Range of mechanisms related to atomization, evaporation, mixing, reaction F-1 Engine
used on Saturn V largest thrust engine developed by U.S
Problem overcome with over 2000 (out of 3200) full scale tests

From Liquid Propellant Rocket Combustion Instability, Ed. Harrje and Reardon, NASA Publication SP-194
AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,

AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,

F. Solid Rockets
Examples:
SERGEANT Theater ballistic missile tangential instabilities generated roll torques so strong that outside of motor case was scored due to rotation in restraints Minuteman missile USAF experienced 5 flight failures in 1968 during test due to loss of flight control because of severe vibrations Sidewinder missile Space shuttle booster- 1-3 psi oscillations (1 psi = 33,000 pounds of thrust) Mars pathfinder descent motor

From Blomshield, AIAA Paper #2001-3875

Adverse effects thrust oscillations, mean pressure changes, changes in burning rates

AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,

AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,

AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,

AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,

G. Gas Turbines
Dry low NOx systems have huge dynamics problems!
Introduced by low emissions designs Operate near lean blowout:
system already right on stability line, small perturbations give very large effects

Some reasons:

Minimal combustor cooling air (to minimize CO) as in aero combustors:

acoustic damping substantially reduced Pressure maximum at flame Heat release concentrated at pressure maximum
From Flamebeat: Predicting Combustion Problems from Pressure Signals, by Adriaan Verhage, in Turbomachinery, Vol. 43(2), 2002

High velocity premixer for flashback:

Compact reaction zone for CO

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G. Gas Turbines GE Power Systems

DLN 2.0

DLN-1.0
Started with single fuel nozzle Went to multiple nozzles to minimize dynamics

DLN-2.0
Less stable but lower NOx, CO than DLN1 Has controllable fuel split between burners Splits used to minimize dynamics

DLN 2.0+ - 2.6

Similar ideas using variable fuel splits Cross fire tubes cause different combustors to acoustically interact

From Combustion Instability in Stationary Gas Turbine Combustors, Jeff Lovett, presentation at AGTSR Combustion Workshop III, 1996
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G. Gas Turbines GE Aeroderivatives

Dynamics problems at high power Combustor design parameters affecting dynamics
Flame temperature Axial fuel staging Velocity Diffusion fuel

Premixer design parameters that affect dynamics

Swirl Fuel injection location

From Combustion Instability Problems in Low Emission Industrial Gas Turbine Engines, R. Pandalai, presentation at AGTSR Combustion Workshop II, 1995
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G. Gas Turbines GE Aeroderivatives

From Combustion Instability Problems in Low Emission Industrial Gas Turbine Engines, R. Pandalai, presentation at AGTSR Combustion Workshop II, 1995
AE 6410 - Combustion Dynamics Course,

G. Gas Turbines Solar Turbines

Centaur 50
Oscillation below 0.5 psi from 50-90% load Full load oscillations > 0.5 psi, 430 Hz 6-16% pilot used to minimize oscillations Injector fretting, sheet metal fatigue

Mars 100

From Experience at Solar Turbines with Combustion Oscillations in Lean Premixed Combustion, presentation at 1995 AGTSR meeting

Acceptable oscillations at full load Fretting, metal fatigue 360 Hz oscillation Increasing pilot reduces amplitude

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G. Gas Turbines Siemens-Westinghouse

Dynamics problems near full load in VX4.3A
217 and 433 Hz (2nd and 4th harmonics)
Problem dealt with by
Symmetry breaking varying premixer config. around circumference Cylindrical burner extension welded to nozzle

From Application of Active Combustion Instability Control to a Heavy Duty Gas Turbine, J. Hermann et al., presentation at 1997 Workshop on Dynamics and Control of Combustion Instabilities in Propulsion and Power Systems
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