Session: 06-12 Pressure gain combustion II

Submission Number: 176872

Quantification of Pressure-Gain Combustion Potential via 0-D Modeling: Deriving an Equivalent Cycle From 1-D Model Data 

Research in Pressure Gain Combustor (PGC) has seen a rapid increase in the last decade, and it is gaining more and more attention in gas turbine sector. Indeed, this non-conventional cycle could potentially provide a significant performance increase beyond the current state of the art. The inherent dynamic and non-uniformity of the flow creates a periodic variability at the turbine inlet, which (1) decreases the turbomachinery efficiencies and (2) makes it difficult to compare with conventional steady-state cycles. The comparison with standard gas turbine cycles is essential to quantify the potentialities of these innovative processes. In current research, various strategies exist to define an equivalent cycle. However, it has been proven that different methods lead to different results, and they consistently lack validation through real-world test cases. This paper explores and applies various strategies to describe the operation of a novel deflagrative-based Pressure Gain Combustor through 0D modeling. Inspired by pistonless Internal Combustion Engines, the approximate Constant Volume Combustor under investigation achieves the pressure gain through the combustion chamber geometry and the management of intake and exhaust flows. Transient thermodynamic data at the combustor outlet served to test the validity of each strategy and to define an equivalent end-of-combustion state, which is representative of the overall mean cycle and allows a direct comparison with conventional gas turbine operations.

Presenting Author: Claretta Tempesti Università degli Studi di Firenze

Presenting Author Biography: Claretta Tempesti graduated in Energy Engineering at the University of Pisa in 2020. She received her PhD in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Florence this year and is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher. Her PhD work focused on a combined experimental and numerical approach for the development of a deflagrative-based Pressure Gain Combustor.

Authors:

Claretta Tempesti Università degli Studi di Firenze
Luca Romani Università degli Studi di Firenze
Fabio Ciccateri Finno Exergy
Giovanni Ferrara Università degli Studi di Firenze