Session: 03-03 Hydrogen Applications 1

Paper Number: 129104

129104 - Combustion Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations of a Range of Experimental Lean Hydrogen/Natural Gas Blend Flames 

Pierre Gauthier¹, Malika Zghal¹, Antoine Durocher², Patrizio Vena², Luming Fan², Benjamin Francolini³, Jeffrey M. Bergthorson³, Sean Yun²

¹Siemens Energy Canada Limited, Dorval, Quebec, Canada; ²National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; ³McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Hydrogen micromix combustion is a promising technology to reduce the environmental impact of both aero and land-based gas turbines by delivering carbon-free and ultra-low-NOx combustion with a greatly reduced risk of autoignition or flashback.

A preliminary investigation of such novel injector geometries, that may be capable of stabilizing premixed, partially premixed, and diffusion flames, using fuel mixtures ranging from pure methane to pure hydrogen, was performed in an Atmospheric Combustion Rig at the National Research Council Canada. PIV, OH and acetone planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF), are compared against Combustion Computational Fluid Dynamics (CCFD) RANS and LES simulations, across a range of combustion modes. CCFD Methods and Tools were developed, validated, and calibrated, against these experimental results, for multiple flame shapes and combustion modes resulting from fuel lean mixtures of H2/CH4 ranging from 70/30, 90/10, to 100/0%, by volume.

Within the current study a single injector, as well as an array of 5 injectors were investigated. Both RANS and LES simulations of the entire experimental injector and test section assembly were used. Two combustion model were compared: a flamelet-based approach (FGM), with the kinetic rate closure and a Complex Chemistry approach with the Laminar Flame Concept (LFC). Good agreement for the flame shapes and positions, over the range of operating conditions, was obtained. Further work is underway in applying, and assessing, the validated CCFD methodology at higher pressure conditions.

Presenting Author: Pierre Gauthier Siemens

Presenting Author Biography: Senior Combustion Key Expert and Combustion CFD Technical Focal Point, Siemens Gas and Power. .
Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor of Low Emissions Combustion System Modelling, Cranfield University, UK
Affiliate Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada

Authors:

Pierre Gauthier Siemens
Malika Zghal Siemens Energy
Antoine Durocher NRC
Patrizio Vena NRC
Luming Fan NRC
Benjamin Francolini McGill University
Jeffrey . Bergthorson McGill University
Sean Sean NRC