Aerodynamic Investigation of Multi-Swirler Array Utilizing Low and High Swirl Swirler Combinations for a Lean Direct Injection Combustor

An experimental study has been carried out to investigate the isothermal aerodynamic behavior and to discern the effects on the flow-field resulting from interactions between low and high-swirl counter-rotating radial-radial air swirlers in three Lean Direct Injection configurations utilizing a 3 × 3 array of radial-radial swirlers. Configurations consisted of varying combinations of two swirlers featuring high and low swirl intensity. Two-dimensional velocity data is presented from the measurement of 37 planes spanning the width of the LDI array. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was used to take velocity field measurements and to study the inter-swirler interactions. Three test cases were studied which utilized a combination of a low and high Swirl Number swirlers: the baseline case utilized 9 low swirl (SN about 0.6) swirlers, the second case used one high swirl (SN about 1.0) swirler in the center of the array, and the third case used 3 high swirl swirlers in a row within the array. The flow field developed by the three experimental cases differed significantly and inter-swirler interaction proved significant and highly complex. The velocity fields developed from swirlers in an array varied from that of the individual swirler, and as such, it should not be expected that the array have the same characteristics of the individual swirler. Placing a high-swirl swirler in a low-swirl array increased swirler interaction and led to substantial favorable changes in velocity fields and the recirculation zones developed downstream of each swirler in comparison to the baseline configuration including the development of a large CTRZ with weakened intensity for increased flame anchoring potential.Copyright © 2015 by ASME