Fuel Composition Effects on the Velocity Field in a Lean Premixed Swirl-Stabilized Combustor

Abstract

Fuel composition effects on the flow-field of a lean premixed swirl-stabilized burner were studied. Methane (CH4) was enriched with hydrogen (H2) to vary the fuel composition. The burner inlet had 28-degree swirl vanes located in the annulus around a centerbody. Combustion occurred in an air-cooled quartz chamber at atmospheric pressure. The measurements were obtained, using the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique, which allowed the 2-D velocity and vorticity fields to be examined for different fuels. The average velocity field was significantly altered, including the shape of the central and corner recirculation zones in the H2 enriched flames. The instantaneous velocity fields showed corresponding differences as well. The length scales and vorticity levels of the time-averaged velocity field differed from those for the instantaneous fields, indicating the importance of temporally resolved measurements.