Computations of Three-Dimensional Gas-Turbine Combustion Chamber Flows

The paper presents a mathematical model for three-dimensional, swirling, recirculating, turbulent flows inside can combustors. The present model is restricted to single-phase, diffusion-controlled combustion, with negligible radiation heat-transfer; however, the introduction of other available physical models can remove these restrictions. The mathematical model comprises differential equations for: continuity, momentum, stagnation enthalpy, concentration, turbulence energy, its dissipation rate, and the mean square of concentration fluctuations. The simultaneous solution of these equations by means of a finite-difference solution algorithm yields the values of the variables at all internal grid nodes. The prediction procedure, composed of the mathematical model and its solution algorithm, is applied to predict the fields of variables within a representative can combustor; the results are compared with corresponding measurements. The predicted results give the same trends as the measured ones, but the quantitative agreement is not always acceptable; this is attributed to the combustion process not being truly diffusion-controlled for the experimental conditions investigated.