A new afterburner installation is proposed, fueled with pure hydrogen (100%H₂) or hydrogen–methane mixtures (60% H₂ + 40% CH_4, 80% H₂ + 20% CH₄) for use in cogeneration applications. Two prototypes (P1 and P2) with the same expansion angle (45 degrees) were developed and tested. P1 was manufactured by the classic method and P2 by additive manufacturing. Both prototypes were manufactured from Inconel 625. During the tests, analysis of flue gas (CO₂, CO, and NO concentration), PIV measurements, and noise measurements were conducted. The flue gas analysis emphasizes that the behavior of the two tested prototypes was very similar. For all three fuels used, the CO₂ concentration levels were slightly lower in the case of the additive-manufactured prototype P2. The CO concentration levels were significantly higher in the case of the additive-manufactured prototype P2 when 60% H₂/40% CH₄ and 80% H₂/20% CH₄ mixtures were used as fuel. When pure H₂ was used as fuel, the measured data suggest that no additional CO was produced during the combustion process, and the level of CO was similar to that from the Garrett micro gas turbine in all five measuring points. The NO emissions gradually decreased as the percentage of H₂ in the fuel mixture increased. The NO concentration was significantly lower in the case of the additive-manufactured prototype (P2) in comparison with the classic manufactured prototype (P1). Examining the data obtained from the PIV measurements of the flow within the mixing region shows that the highest axial velocity component value on the centerline was measured for the P1 prototype. The acoustic measurements showed that a higher H₂ concentration led to a reduction in noise of approximately 1.5 dB for both afterburner prototypes. The outcomes reveal that the examined V-gutter flame holder prototype flow was smooth, without any perpendicular oscillations, without chaotic motions or turbulent oscillations to the flow direction, across all tested conditions, keeping constant thermal power.

The paper is aimed at evaluating the impact of the combustion model on the accuracy of the results of the numerical simulations of turbulent reactive flows. For this, two numerical simulations of the well known Sandia Flame D case are carried out: a three-dimensional RANS integration of the Navier–Stokes equations using the Eddy Dissipation combustion Model (EDM), and a one-dimensional one, where simplified reaction–diffusion equations are numerically integrated over the radial direction, while the axial convection is modeled by empirical laws. The one-dimensional simulation, however, is based on a more physics related combustion model, the Linear Eddy Mixing model, which also controls the radial turbulent mixing and the large scale radial convection. The results of the two numerical simulations are compared to experimental data in the literature, showing a significantly better accuracy of the Linear Eddy Mixing (LEM) numerical simulation.

The transient regimes in a combustion chamber has to be as short as possible because flame front position and thickness can destroy the combustion chamber in couple seconds. The simulation of such a regime has to be performed unsteady. An experimental combustion chamber it is simulated at two unsteady regimes to see the flame front structure and comparison it is made with the experimental data to validate the results. For this analysis Ansys CFX was used and the turbulent model was DES while the combustion model was Eddy Dissipation. The two cases show different flame front structures while the boundary conditions for the two regimes are very similar.

The paper presents Particle Image Velocimetry experimental measurements and an ANSYS CFX numerical simulation of the mean and fluctuating velocity field in a turbulent, isothermal flow downstream of a V-shaped bluff body flame stabilizer equipping a post-combustion system installed downstream of a Garrett 30-67 gas turbine engine. The post-combustion system used as experimental model is described in detail, and the main characteristics of the Garrett 30-67 gas generator are included in the paper. Also, the instrumentation used on the experimental rig, including the Particle Image Velocimetry equipment, is briefly described. The presence of a bluff body inside the high speed flow creates a re-circulating wake structure, clearly seen in the experimental data. In the near field, the re-circulating region’s length and width of are captured reasonably well by the numerical simulation, but the momentum rate transfer further downstream is over-predicted, as the grid resolution worsens. An overall over prediction of the axial velocity by the numerical simulation is noted by comparing the numerical simulation results to the experimental data, explained by an over estimated inlet velocity in the numerical simulation, provided by Particle Image Velocimetry experimental measurements in the free exhaust jet behind the gas generator, without the installation of the post-combustion system, thus neglecting the effect of the latter on the operating regime of the gas turbine engine.