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Experimental and numerical investigation of the stabilization mechanism of a swirl micromix combustor for humid air turbine application

Author

Listed:
  • Liu, Ce
  • Wang, Zhonghao
  • Sa, Bowen
  • Shao, Weiwei
  • Zhang, Zhedian
  • Xu, Xiang

Abstract

The humid air turbine cycle (HAT) represents an efficient and clean advanced thermal cycle. However, the increased humidity content of the combustion chamber inlet air has the potential to affect flame stability, thereby increasing the risk of blowoff. This paper presents a low swirl micromix combustor. The high-temperature flue gas recirculation is induced by swirl, which provides a high-temperature environment and free radicals at the flame root. The objective is to enhance the methane-humid air flame's stability and extend the combustor's stable boundary. A combination of experimental and numerical simulation was employed to examine the influence of the swirl intensity of the micromix combustor on the combustion characteristics, such as flame structure, lean blowoff limits, and pollutant emissions. Experimental results revealed that a low swirl micromix combustor with a swirl number of 0.15 reduced the lean blowoff limit by about 100 K compared to the non-swirl combustor. Furthermore, the stabilization mechanisms of non-swirl and swirl flames are analyzed using the Damköhler number (Da) based on the mean flow strain rate and laminar flame extinction stretch rate. The high-Da zone is predominantly situated within the inner recirculation zone.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Ce & Wang, Zhonghao & Sa, Bowen & Shao, Weiwei & Zhang, Zhedian & Xu, Xiang, 2025. "Experimental and numerical investigation of the stabilization mechanism of a swirl micromix combustor for humid air turbine application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:322:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225012356
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.135593
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