Cranfield University

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Course description

The course has been devised to provide detailed instruction in the theory, design and performance of combustion systems in the aero and marine propulsion; energy and power generation; and oil, gas and process industries. All the material covered is relevant to the requirements of those actively engaged in research, development and design in this field. The syllabus includes a number of lectures on basic subjects related to combustion, such as aerothermodynamics and heat transfer, but is mainly devoted to consideration of theoretical analysis appropriate to design, practical information on design procedure, and methods of overcoming problems in combustion development. Particular attention is paid to the problems of minimising smoke, gaseous pollutant emissions and low NOx design strategies.

• This course also includes up-to-date presentations in computational modelling.
• Printed supplements are provided for much of the material covered in the course.
• Active participation from the delegates is strongly encouraged.

Course content

Pre Combustor Diffusers

Role of the pre-combustor diffuser, sizing, design technique, dump diffusers, aerodynamic diffusers and alternative configurations.

Combustion in the Gas Turbine

Performance criteria – combustion efficiency, stability and ignition performance, temperature traverse quality, exhaust emissions.

Design criteria – determination of chamber dimensions and pressure loss to meet stipulated performance requirements. Relative merits of tubular and annular chambers.

Combustion chamber aerodynamics – mixing, stability and flameholding in main combustors and reheat systems. Choice of primary zone mixture strength.

Fuel injection methods – spray injectors, vaporising systems, airblast atomizers. Injection and vaporisation of heavy fuels.

Retrofitting for Multi-Fuel Capability – fuel property effects on efficiency, stability, heat transfer, and emissions. Fuel injector-combustor compatibility issues for fuel-tolerant design, retrofitting for improved fuel burn and reduced emissions, design modifications procedures.

Ignition in the gas turbine. Fundamentals of the ignition process. Influence of chamber variables on minimum ignition energy. High altitude ignition. Ignition of heavy fuels.

Flame stabilization. Combustion instability.

Pollutants

Carbon formation and exhaust smoke. Mechanism of formation. Influence of fuel properties, fuel-air mixing, etc. on smoke production.

Gaseous pollutants. Mechanisms of production of carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons, and aldehydes. Effect on fuel-air ratio, inlet temperature, etc. on pollutant emissions. Practical methods of reduction.

Fuels

Hydrocarbon fuel types for gas-turbine combustors. Chemical and physical properties, Significance of standard laboratory tests. Factors influencing fuels selection laboratory tests. Factors influencing fuel selection and specifications. Operational fuel problems in aircraft and industrial gas turbine fuel systems and combustors. Implications to turbine materials and design. The substitute fuels for the future.

Computational Modelling

Alternative modelling strategies; empirical correlation’s, zero-dimensional models, chemical reactors. Computational Fluid Dynamics applied to combustion flows; turbulence models, Chemical source term closures, numerical procedures, grid specification. Model validation, flow field prediction and experiment.

Heat Transfer

General heat transfer processes in combustion chambers, regenerators, and reheat ducts. Forced convection, conduction and luminous and non-luminous radiation from hot gases. Film and transpiration cooling. Double skin combustors. Materials and coatings.

Who should attend

While no precise academic standards are laid down, the course will be of greatest benefit to delegates with a university degree, or equivalent qualification, in science or engineering. Although mainly intended for people actively engaged in the gas turbine industry, the course would also be useful to those about to enter that field, and to users of gas turbine equipment (power, process, oil and gas and marine industries).

The course includes presentations from leading academic and industrial contributors from the UK, Europe and the USA.

Course Director