Experimental study of a model gas turbine combustor swirl cup. Part 2: Droplet dynamics

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Journal of Propulsion and Power

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/3.51391· OSTI ID:45845

Wang, H; Mcdonell, V G; Sowa, W A; Samuelsen, S ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States)

As the second part of a study to characterize the performance of a 3 x scale gas turbine combustor swirl cup, the focus of the present article addresses the droplet dynamics. Droplet axial, radial, and tangential velocities as well as size were measured using phase Doppler interferometry. Bimodal droplet axial and tangential velocities distributions were observed in the shear layer close to the exit plane of the swirl cup. Bimodal droplet radial velocity distributions around the closing point of the on-axis recirculation zone and at the periphery of the spray were observed as well. Droplet velocity histograms, based on droplet size classes, reveal how these velocity bimodal distributions are formed and explain why velocity fluctuations for larger droplets are greater than those of the smaller droplets in some regions. Correlations between size and velocity, individual velocity components, and size and flow angle provide evidence of intermittent flowfield structures superimposed on the local and global turbulence. Specific flowfield structures and flowfield intermittencies are found to give rise to these bimodal distributions. Overall, these data add measurably to the understanding of the two-phase transport that can occur in practical systems. 2 refs.

• OSTI ID: 45845
• Journal Information: Journal of Propulsion and Power, Journal Name: Journal of Propulsion and Power Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 10; ISSN 0748-4658; ISSN JPPOEL
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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