CFD Fuel Injector Design Tool Featuring Unsteady Atomization and Turbulent-Combustion Models

Fuel injectors play a vital role in the performance of high performance gas turbine combustion systems. However, current combustion CFD codes cannot accurately predict spray/atomization and turbulent-combustion processes. In this SBIR project, CFD Research Corporation (CFDRC) proposes to develop and validate a CFD fuel injector design tool that will accurately predict spray-combustion in gas turbines. The capability to run steady/unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) and practical Large Eddy Simulation (LES) computations will be included within the code and transferred to the Air Force. A key focus will be obtaining benchmark datasets for code validation. In Phase I, work focused on spray/atomization modeling with emphasis on modeling liquid jets-in-crossflow. Advanced features were implemented, starting from existing capabilities, to model atomization in transient sprays. Experimental data of pulsed fuel injection were collected and compared to code predictions. Good overall agreement was shown. In Phase II, the focus of the program will be to further validate the code for steady and pulsed jets-in-crossflow. In particular, data will be collected on fuel jets injected into a crossflow in a realistic augmentor configuration under both reacting and nonreacting flow conditions. Validation data will be collected using vitiated and nonvitiated air over a range of Mach numbers and jet-to-air momentum ratios. A parallel version of the software installed on 16 PCs will be delivered to the Air Force, and extensive training and support will be provided to facilitate adoption of the analytical tool by the Air Force.