How do you simulate gas turbine combustion?

1 Basic steps

The first step to simulate gas turbine combustion is to define the geometry and boundary conditions of the problem. You need to model the shape and size of the combustor, the inlet and outlet ports, the fuel injectors, and any other relevant features. You also need to specify the properties and flow rates of the fuel and air, the initial temperature and pressure, and the heat transfer and radiation effects. Depending on the level of detail and accuracy you want, you can use different types of meshes to discretize the domain.

2 Software options

The next step is to choose a software package that can solve the governing equations of gas turbine combustion. These equations include the conservation of mass, momentum, energy, and species, as well as the chemical kinetics and turbulence models. There are many software options available, such as ANSYS Fluent, CFD++, STAR-CCM+, and OpenFOAM. Each software has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the features, flexibility, cost, and user-friendliness. You should select the software that suits your needs and capabilities.

3 Combustion models

The third step is to select a combustion model that can represent the chemical reactions and heat release in the gas turbine. There are different types of combustion models, such as premixed, non-premixed, partially premixed, and flamelet models. Each model has its own assumptions and limitations, depending on the fuel type, mixture ratio, flame structure, and operating conditions. You should choose the model that best matches the physics of your problem and the available data.

4 Validation and verification

The fourth step is to validate and verify your simulation results. Validation means comparing your results with experimental data or other reliable sources to check the accuracy and realism of your simulation. Verification means checking the quality and consistency of your numerical solution by performing grid refinement, sensitivity analysis, and error estimation. You should perform both validation and verification to ensure that your simulation is reliable and meaningful.

5 Post-processing and analysis

The final step is to post-process and analyze your simulation results. Post-processing means visualizing and extracting the relevant information from your simulation, such as temperature, pressure, velocity, species concentration, heat release, and emissions. Analysis means interpreting and understanding the results in terms of the physics and chemistry of gas turbine combustion, such as flame stability, ignition, extinction, blowout, flashback, and NOx formation. You should use post-processing and analysis tools to explore and evaluate your simulation results.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?