Large-Eddy Simulation With a New Flamelet Model for Partially Premixed Combustion in a Gas-Turbine Combustor

Turbulent combustion flows in the partially premixed combustion field of a dry low-emission gas-turbine combustor were investigated numerically by large-eddy simulation with a 2-scalar flamelet model. Partially premixed combustion was modelled with 2-scalar coupling based on the conservative function of the mixture fraction and the level set function of the premixed flame surface; the governing equations were then used to calculate the gas temperature in the combustion field with flamelet data. A new combustion model was introduced by defining a nondimensional equilibrium temperature to permit the calculation of adiabatic flame temperatures in the combustion field. Furthermore, a conventional G-equation was modified to include spatial gradient terms for the adiabatic flame temperature to facilitate smooth propagation of a burnt-state region in a predominantly diffusion flame. The effect of flame curvature was adjusted by means of an arbitrary parameter in the equation. The simulation results were compared with those from an experiment and a conventional model. Qualitative comparisons of the instantaneous flame properties showed a dramatic improvement in the new combustion model. Moreover, the experimental outlet temperature agreed well with that predicted by the new model. The model can therefore reproduce the propagation of a predominantly diffusion flame in partially premixed combustion.