Influence of strut on trapped vortex cavity flameholder: Ignition and flame propagation performances. (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Wenbo; Yue, Chen; Fan, Yuxin; Deng, Yu
• Is Part Of: Acta astronautica. Volume 204(2023)
• Page Start: 132
• Page End: 142
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: Strut -- Flow field -- Ignition -- Flame kernel development -- Trapped vortex cavity; Astronautics -- Periodicals; Outer space -- Exploration -- Periodicals; Astronautics; Periodicals; 629.405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.12.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-5765

Abstract

Abstract: In order to improve the performance of pilot flame propagation to the core flow, a novel strut design was proposed for the trapped vortex cavity flameholder. Experiments were conducted under high subsonic flow conditions to investigate the influences of strut on the ignition performance and flame propagation performance of trapped vortex cavity combustor. Furthermore, the flame development was acquired using a high-speed camera and the flame information and the flow field were combined to explicate the flame stabilization mechanisms of two flameholder layouts. The results showed that, both flameholder layouts achieved reliable ignition and flame stability under inlet flow velocity lower than Ma = 0.42. Cavity combined with strut weakened the ignition performance of the trapped vortex cavity-only flameholder based combustor, but improved the blowout performance and enhanced the flame stability. Compared with the cavity-only flameholder layout, the lean ignition equivalence ratio of the cavity-strut flameholder layout was increased of 14.6%, and the lean blowout equivalence ratio was decreased by 56.2%, under the inlet flow at 600 K. Strut changed the original flame propagation path of the cavity-only layout, and caused the flame stabilization mechanism change from cavity flame stabilization to strut flame stabilization. Although the change of flame stabilization mechanism prolongs the ignition delay time, it enhances the flame stability of the combustor. Moreover, the flame propagation ability to the radial direction behind the cavity combined with strut is enhanced, which is more suitable to the engineering combustor with higher requirements on circumferential flame propagation. Highlights: A novel flameholder was proposed through integrated the strut into the trapped vortex cavity. The influence of strut on the ignition reliability and flame propagation performance were studied . The flame stabilization mechanisms of the novel flameholder layouts was investigated.