Session: 04-30 Hydrogen III

Submission Number: 179197

Cold Flow Characterization of a Novel Swirl-Stabilized Hydrogen Burner for Aero Engine Applications 

Hydrogen currently represents one of the most promising solutions for reducing emissions in the aeronautical sector. However, the high reactivity and diffusivity of hydrogen strongly influence the air–fuel interaction, making the mixing process a key aspect to be understood and controlled for achieving stable combustion. Moreover, studying the mixing phenomenon is crucial for understanding and predicting NOx formation. This paper presents both an experimental and numerical investigation of a novel 100% hydrogen burner, originally introduced in a previous work and designed to promote efficient air-fuel mixing in a coaxial triple-swirler configuration. A new non-reactive test rig was developed to characterize the mixing field using a helium-air mixture as a surrogate for the hydrogen–air flow. Mixing measurements were performed using a newly developed concentration probe based on the fluorescence response of an oxygen-sensitive sensor. The probe was specifically designed to minimize size and spatial intrusiveness, enabling local measurements in the near-burner region where the mixing process is most intense. Additionally, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was employed to capture the velocity field, providing a complete characterization of the cold-flow conditions. The test campaign was complemented by a numerical investigation of the non-reactive flow behavior through a high-fidelity simulation. This combined analysis offers cross-validation between experimental and numerical data, enabling a deeper understanding of the mixing mechanisms that guided the burner design. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the swirling mixing flow, serving as a basis for the upcoming reactive experimental campaign at the Laboratory of Technology for High-Temperature (THT-Lab) of the University of Florence.

Presenting Author: Fabio Travaglini Università degli Studi di Firenze

Presenting Author Biography: Fabio Travaglini is a PhD student in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Florence, where he also earned his Master’s degree in 2024. His current research focuses on combustion diagnostics and heat transfer in gas turbines.

Authors:

Fabio Travaglini Università degli Studi di Firenze
Alessio Picchi Università degli Studi di Firenze
Sofia Galeotti Università degli Studi di Firenze
Andrea Ballotti Università degli Studi di Firenze
Bruno Facchini Università degli Studi di Firenze
Antonio Andreini Università degli Studi di Firenze