Influence of the Configurations of Fuel Injection on the Flame Transfer Function of Bluff Body-Stabilized, Non-Premixed Flames

Haitao Sun, Yan Zhao, Xiang Zhang, Suofang Wang and Yong Liu ()
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Haitao Sun: Sichuan Gas Turbine Establishment, Aero Engine Corporation of China, Mianyang 621000, China
Yan Zhao: College of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Xiang Zhang: College of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Suofang Wang: College of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Yong Liu: College of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-18

Abstract: Combustion instability poses a significant challenge in aerospace propulsion systems, particularly in afterburners that employ bluff-body flame stabilizers. The flame transfer function (FTF) is essential for characterizing the dynamic response of flames to perturbations, which is critical for predicting and controlling these instabilities. This study experimentally investigates the effect of varying the number of fuel injection holes (N = 3, 4, 5, 6) on the FTF and flame dynamics in a model afterburner combustor. Using acoustic excitations, the FTF was measured across a range of frequencies, with flame behavior analyzed via high-speed imaging and chemiluminescence techniques. Results reveal that the FTF gain exhibits dual-peak characteristics, initially decreasing and then increasing with higher N values. The frequencies of these gain peaks shift to higher values as N increases, while the time delay between velocity and heat release rate fluctuations decreases, indicating a faster flame response. Flame morphology analysis shows that higher N leads to shorter, taller flames due to enhanced fuel distribution and mixing. Detailed examination of flame dynamics indicates that different pulsation modes dominate at various frequencies, elucidating the observed FTF behavior. This research provides novel insights into the optimization of fuel injection configurations to enhance combustion stability in afterburners, advancing the development of more reliable and efficient aerospace propulsion systems.

Keywords: flame transfer function; bluff body; flame dynamics; non-premixed flames; afterburner (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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