Progress meeting: 3

Thermoacoustic analysis
for GT combustors using
distributed time lag
model
Abraham Benjamin and Santosh Hemchandra,
Department of Aerospace Engineering,
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

May 31st, 2023

Project execution timeline
Task Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Detailed mathematical formulation of thermoacoustic
analysis tool using a general impulse response function
model.
Implementation of Galerkin method and the analysis
methods given in the “Analysis methods” section

Formulation of exact solutions for a model and

comparison against Galerkin method results

Recompute results using a detailed DTL heat release

model for the cylindrical combustor test case

Explore other parametric conditions of interest to

Honeywell and setup for annular combustor analysis in
year 2
 Recap: DTL model for heat release rate

Frequency response function:

Rational function approximation:

Preetham, Santosh, H., Lieuwen, T., 2008, Jour. Prop & Pow, 24 3
Subramanian, P., Blumenthal, R.S., Polifke, W., Sujith, R.I., 2015, Comb. Theo. Mod. 19
Recap: LMSE fitting of the DTL
Frequency response functions:

Cost function:

• The cost function is a scalar value which is minimized using a

minimizing algorithm: fminsearch in MATLAB.
• Minimizing cost function results in the optimal values.

Komarek, T. et al., 2010, Jour. Of. Eng. Gas. Turb. & Pow. 132 FTF from experiments: 4
Setup exact solutions using single time lag model

• We now setup exact solutions for a dump combustor with a single

time lag model (STL).
• Implement STL model in the 3D Galerkin equations and compare the
solutions with the exact solution.
• The STL model will be replaced by the DTL model for further
investigations using the Galerkin equations.
• The exact solutions for an annular combustor setup will be
extracted using the acoustic network model.

5
Flame in a dump combustor

Harmonic oscillations:

Boundary conditions: Jump conditions:

BC Jump conditions BC

6
Dispersion relation gives the exact solution

BC Jump conditions BC

The dispersion relation is extracted from det(L) = 0

7
Eigenvalue spectrum

8
Annular combustor
• Simplest possible geometry: Plenum + Burner + Combustor
• Combustor and Plenum
• Transverse acoustics modelled using the narrow gap assumption: d <<D
• Neglects radial oscillations
Burners
• Burner – only axial acoustics
Plenum
d Combustor

D
x

9
Annular combustor: narrow gap assumption
r
L

θ
a
O x
b

Inlet Outlet
• Using the boundary and jump conditions, the dispersion
relation will be obtained.
• Comparison of 3D Galerkin model with the exact solutions.

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