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Vortices, sound and flames — a damaging combination

Part of: RAeS Lanchester Lecture Papers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

A. P. Dowling
A. P. Dowling*
Affiliation:
Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Abstract

The interaction between vortices, sound and combustion can lead to self-excited oscillations of such large amplitudes that structural damage is done. These occur because any small unsteadiness in the rate of combustion is a source of sound, generating pressure and velocity fluctuations. However, the velocity fluctuations perturb the flame, thereby altering the instantaneous rate of heat release. Instability is then possible because while acoustic waves perturb the combustion, the unsteady combustion generates yet more sound! Combustion oscillations can occur in afterburners and at idle in conventional aeroengine combustors. Lean premixed, prevapourised technology has tremendous potential to reduce NOx emissions, but is proving highly susceptible to self-excited oscillations. An overview of the physics of the interaction between vortices, sound and flames is presented, and illustrated by examples of instability in generic premixed ducted flames and in aeroengine combustors. The potential for both passive and active control is discussed.

Type
The 1999 Lanchester lecture
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 104 , Issue 1033 , March 2000 , pp. 105 - 116
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2000 

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