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Tomorrow's Sequential Combustion Technologies for Low Emissions and High Fuel Flexibility

Applicant Noiray Nicolas
Number 160579
Funding scheme Assistant Professor (AP) Energy Grants
Research institution Institut für Energietechnik ETH Zürich
Institution of higher education ETH Zurich - ETHZ
Main discipline Fluid Dynamics
Start/End 01.09.2015 - 31.08.2019
Approved amount 1'195'704.00
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Keywords (10)

fluid mechanics; combustion; acoustics; thermoacoustics; control theory; gas turbine; fuel flexibility; syngas; biogas; operational flexibility

Lay Summary (French)

Lead
Dans le monde, 90 pourcents de l’énergie consommée résulte de la combustion et cette dernière restera la source d’énergie dominante pour les prochaines décennies. L’augmentation massive de la part des énergies renouvelables cause des problèmes de stabilité des réseaux électriques en raison de leur caractère intermittent. Contrairement aux centrales nucléaires ou à charbon, les turbines a gaz sont capables de compenser ces fluctuations rapides de la production. Elles vont ainsi jouer un rôle crucial dans les réseaux de demain du fait de leur flexibilité d’opération, de leur haut rendement et de leurs émissions de CO2 moitié moins importantes que celles des centrales à charbon. Augmenter la flexibilité des combustibles utilisés (gaz naturel, gaz de synthèse riche en hydrogène ou encore gaz issu de la biomasse) tout en garantissant une combustion stable et de très faibles émissions d’oxydes d’azote constitue le grand challenge dans lequel s'inscrit ce projet de recherche.
Lay summary

Contenu et objectifs du travail de recherche

Notre principal objectif est de développer des méthodes pour la prédiction et le contrôle des instabilités de combustion dans un nouveau type de chambre qui équipera les prochaines générations de turbines à gaz. Ce saut technologique se base sur une architecture de combustion séquentielle à pression constante. En particulier, nous allons (i) identifier les mécanismes fondamentaux à l’origine des phénomènes de résonance résultant des couplages non-linéaires entre l’écoulement réactif, l’acoustique du système et les ondes d’entropie, (ii) développer des outils théoriques et numériques permettant de prédire les instabilités de combustion, (iii) valider expérimentalement ces méthodes au moyen de bancs génériques et (iv) développer un système de contrôle actif par plasma froid.

 

Contexte scientifique et social du projet de recherche

Notre travail génèrera des outils théoriques et numériques indispensables au développement et à l’optimisation des chambres de combustion séquentielles équipant les turbines à gaz de demain. Ces systèmes à faibles émissions polluantes procureront une bien meilleure flexibilité en termes d’opération et de combustibles, une puissance et un rendement accrus par rapport aux systèmes modernes ainsi que la capacité à compenser les fluctuations de production inhérentes aux énergies solaires et éoliennes.
Direct link to Lay Summary Last update: 24.08.2015

Responsible applicant and co-applicants

Employees

Publications

Publication
Low order modelling of thermoacoustic instabilities and intermittency: Flame response delay and nonlinearity
Bonciolini Giacomo, Faure-Beaulieu Abel, Bourquard Claire, Noiray Nicolas (2021), Low order modelling of thermoacoustic instabilities and intermittency: Flame response delay and nonlinearity, in Combustion and Flame, 226, 396-411.
Investigation of thermoacoustic instability in sequential combustor during first stage lean blow-off
Xiong Yuan, Droujko Jessica, Schulz Oliver, Noiray Nicolas (2021), Investigation of thermoacoustic instability in sequential combustor during first stage lean blow-off, in Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 38(4), 6165-6172.
Towards robust BOS measurements for axisymmetric flows
Xiong Yuan, Kaufmann Tim, Noiray Nicolas (2020), Towards robust BOS measurements for axisymmetric flows, in Experiments in Fluids, 61(8), 178-178.
Analysis and reduction of spurious displacements in high-framing-rate background-oriented Schlieren
.
Combustion regimes in sequential combustors: Flame propagation and autoignition at elevated temperature and pressure
Schulz Oliver, Noiray Nicolas (2019), Combustion regimes in sequential combustors: Flame propagation and autoignition at elevated temperature and pressure, in Combustion and Flame, 205, 253-268.
Bifurcation dodge: avoidance of a thermoacoustic instability under transient operation
Bonciolini Giacomo, Noiray Nicolas (2019), Bifurcation dodge: avoidance of a thermoacoustic instability under transient operation, in Nonlinear Dynamics, 96(1), 703-716.
Autoignition-cascade in the windward mixing layer of a premixed jet in hot vitiated crossflow
Schulz Oliver, Piccoli Emile, Felden Anne, Staffelbach Gabriel, Noiray Nicolas (2019), Autoignition-cascade in the windward mixing layer of a premixed jet in hot vitiated crossflow, in Combustion and Flame, 201, 215-233.
Plasma enhanced auto-ignition in a sequential combustor
Xiong Yuan, Schulz Oliver, Bourquard Claire, Weilenmann Markus, Noiray Nicolas (2018), Plasma enhanced auto-ignition in a sequential combustor, in Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 1-1.
Synchronization of Thermoacoustic Modes in Sequential Combustors
Bonciolini Giacomo, Noiray Nicolas (2018), Synchronization of Thermoacoustic Modes in Sequential Combustors, in Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 141(3), 031010-031010.
Large Eddy Simulation of a Premixed Flame in Hot Vitiated Crossflow With Analytically Reduced Chemistry
Schulz Oliver, Noiray Nicolas (2018), Large Eddy Simulation of a Premixed Flame in Hot Vitiated Crossflow With Analytically Reduced Chemistry, in Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 141(3), 031014-031014.
Thermoacoustic instability in a sequential combustor: Large eddy simulation and experiments
Schulz O., Doll U., Ebi D., Droujko J., Bourquard C., Noiray N. (2018), Thermoacoustic instability in a sequential combustor: Large eddy simulation and experiments, in Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 1-1.
Ignition of a sequential combustor: Evidence of flame propagation in the autoignitable mixture
Ebi D., Doll U., Schulz O., Xiong Y., Noiray N. (2018), Ignition of a sequential combustor: Evidence of flame propagation in the autoignitable mixture, in Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 1-1.
Effect of wall thermal inertia upon transient thermoacoustic dynamics of a swirl-stabilized flame
Bonciolini Giacomo, Ebi Dominik, Doll Ulrich, Weilenmann Markus, Noiray Nicolas (2018), Effect of wall thermal inertia upon transient thermoacoustic dynamics of a swirl-stabilized flame, in Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 1-1.
Large Eddy Simulation of a Premixed Flame in Hot Vitiated Crossflow With Analytically Reduced Chemistry
Schulz Oliver, Noiray Nicolas (2018), Large Eddy Simulation of a Premixed Flame in Hot Vitiated Crossflow With Analytically Reduced Chemistry, in ASME Turbo Expo 2018: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition, Oslo, Norway-, -.
Autoignition flame dynamics in sequential combustors
Schulz Oliver, Noiray Nicolas (2018), Autoignition flame dynamics in sequential combustors, in Combustion and Flame, 192, 86-100.
Experiments and modelling of rate-dependent transition delay in a stochastic subcritical bifurcation
Bonciolini Giacomo, Ebi Dominik, Boujo Edouard, Noiray Nicolas (2018), Experiments and modelling of rate-dependent transition delay in a stochastic subcritical bifurcation, in Royal Society Open Science, 5(3), 172078-172078.
Flame Dynamics Intermittency in the Bi-Stable Region Near a Subcritical Hopf Bifurcation
Ebi d., Denisov A., Bonciolini Giacomo, Boujo Edouard, Noiray Nicolas (2018), Flame Dynamics Intermittency in the Bi-Stable Region Near a Subcritical Hopf Bifurcation, in Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 0.
Flame Dynamics Intermittency in the Bi-Stable Region Near a Subcritical Hopf Bifurcation
Ebi D., Denisov A., Bonciolini G., Boujo E., Noiray N. (2017), Flame Dynamics Intermittency in the Bi-Stable Region Near a Subcritical Hopf Bifurcation, in ASME Turbo Expo 2017: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA-, -.
Output-only parameter identification of a colored-noise-driven Van-der-Pol oscillator: Thermoacoustic instabilities as an example
Bonciolini Giacomo, Boujo Edouard, Noiray Nicolas (2017), Output-only parameter identification of a colored-noise-driven Van-der-Pol oscillator: Thermoacoustic instabilities as an example, in Physical Review E, 95(6), 062217-1-062217-15.
A criterion to distinguish autoignition and propagation applied to a lifted methane–air jet flame
Oliver Schulz Thomas Jaravel Thierry Poinsot Benedicte Cuenot Nicolas Noiray (2017), A criterion to distinguish autoignition and propagation applied to a lifted methane–air jet flame, in Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 36(2), 1637-1644.

Collaboration

Group / person Country
Types of collaboration
CERFACS, Toulouse France (Europe)
- in-depth/constructive exchanges on approaches, methods or results
- Publication
Combustion Research Laboratory at the Paul Scherrer Institute Switzerland (Europe)
- in-depth/constructive exchanges on approaches, methods or results
- Publication
- Research Infrastructure

Scientific events

Active participation

Title Type of contribution Title of article or contribution Date Place Persons involved
Near-Limit Flames Workshop Talk given at a conference Combustion Dynamics in Sequential combustors 27.07.2019 Beijing, China Xiong Yuan; Noiray Nicolas; Schulz Oliver; Bonciolini Giacomo;
11th Mediterranean Combustion Symposium Talk given at a conference SIMULATION OF THE SELF- IGNITION OF A COLD PREMIXED ETHYLENE-AIR JET IN HOT VITIATED CROSSFLOW 17.06.2019 Tenerife, Spain Schulz Oliver; Noiray Nicolas;
Seventeenth International Conference on Numerical Combustion Talk given at a conference The ignition process of a premixed reactive jet in hot vitiated crossflow 04.04.2019 aachen, Germany Schulz Oliver; Noiray Nicolas;
37th International Symposium on Combustion 2018 Talk given at a conference Thermoacoustic instability in a sequential combustor: Large eddy simulation and experiments 29.07.2018 Dublin, Ireland Noiray Nicolas; Schulz Oliver;
37th International Symposium on Combustion 2018 Talk given at a conference Plasma enhanced autignition in a sequential combustor 29.07.2018 Dublin, Ireland Schulz Oliver; Xiong Yuan; Noiray Nicolas;
37th International Symposium on Combustion 2018 Talk given at a conference Effect of wall thermal inertia upon transient thermoacoustic dynamics of a swirl-stabilized flame 29.07.2018 Dublin, Ireland Noiray Nicolas; Bonciolini Giacomo;
37th International Symposium on Combustion 2018 Talk given at a conference Ignition of a sequential combustor: Evidence of flame propagation in the autoignitable mixture 29.07.2018 Dubin, Ireland Noiray Nicolas; Xiong Yuan; Schulz Oliver;
Workshop on Premixed Turbulent Flames Individual talk Combustion dynamics in sequential combustors 26.07.2018 Dublin, Ireland Noiray Nicolas;
18th International Symposium on Flow Visualization (ISFV18) Talk given at a conference Noise analysis and reduction in high-framing-rate background oriented 26.06.2018 Zurich, Switzerland Xiong Yuan; Noiray Nicolas;
ASME 2018 Turbo Expo Talk given at a conference Synchroniszation of thermoacoustic modes in sequential combustors 11.06.2018 Oslo, Norway Bonciolini Giacomo; Noiray Nicolas;
ASME 2018 Turbo Expo Talk given at a conference Large eddy simulation of a premixed flame in hot vitiated crossflow with analytically reduced chemistry 11.06.2018 Oslo, Norway Noiray Nicolas; Schulz Oliver;
Joint meeting the German and Italian Section of the Combustion Institute Talk given at a conference The transition from autoignition to propagation at elevated temperatures obtained from 1-D 04.06.2018 Sorrento, Italy Schulz Oliver;
Joint Meeting of the German and Italian sections of the Combustion Institute Talk given at a conference The transition from autoignition to propagation at elevated temperatures obtained from 1-D flame simulations 23.05.2018 Sorrento, Italy Schulz Oliver; Noiray Nicolas;
70th Annual Meeting of the APS Division on Fluid Dynamics 2017 Talk given at a conference Large eddy simulations of a reactive jet in hot vitiated cfossflow: flame stabilisation mechanism 19.11.2017 Denver, Colorado, United States of America Schulz Oliver; Noiray Nicolas;
ICDERS 2017 Talk given at a conference Subcritical thermoacoustic bifurcation in turbulent combustors: effects of inertia 01.08.2017 Boston, United States of America Bonciolini Giacomo; Noiray Nicolas;
ENOC 2017 Talk given at a conference Inertial effects in thermoacoustic subcritical bifurcation 21.06.2017 Budapest, Hungary Bonciolini Giacomo; Noiray Nicolas;
ASME Turbo Expo 2017 Talk given at a conference Flame dynamics intermittency in the bi-stable region near a subcritical Hopf bifurcation 21.06.2017 Charlotte, United States of America Bonciolini Giacomo; Noiray Nicolas;
16th SIAM International Conference on Numerical Combustion Talk given at a conference Flame Dynamics of a second stage Sequential Combustor flame 03.04.2017 miami, United States of America Noiray Nicolas; Schulz Oliver;
GE Thermoacoustic Summit Talk given at a conference Combustion Dynamics and Control – Reduced Chemistry for Large Eddy Simulations of Autoignition 16.02.2017 Baden, Switzerland Noiray Nicolas;
Global Power and Propulsion Forum GPPF Talk given at a conference Combustion Regimes in Sequential Combustors 16.01.2017 zurich, Switzerland Noiray Nicolas; Schulz Oliver;
36th International Symposium on Combustion 2016 Talk given at a conference A criterion to distinguish autoignition and propagation applied to a lifted methane-air jet flame 22.08.2016 Seoul, Korean Republic (South Korea) Noiray Nicolas; Schulz Oliver;
Thermoacoustic Instabilities in Gas Turbines and Rocket Engines: Industry meets Academia Talk given at a conference Autoignition Flame Dynamics in Sequential Combustors 30.05.2016 Institute for Advance Study, Technische Universität München, Germany Schulz Oliver; Noiray Nicolas;
Thermoacoustic Instabilities in Gas Turbines and Rocket Engines: Industry meets Academia Talk given at a conference Effect of turbulence-induced colored noise on thermoacoustic instabilities in combustion chambers 30.05.2016 Institute for Advance Study, Technische Universität München, Germany Noiray Nicolas; Bonciolini Giacomo;


Communication with the public

Communication Title Media Place Year
Talks/events/exhibitions EPFL IGM Colloquium International 2018
Talks/events/exhibitions Swiss Combustion Day 2017 German-speaking Switzerland 2017
Talks/events/exhibitions ETH Industry Day 2016 International 2016
Talks/events/exhibitions Inaugural Lecture of Nicolas Noiray: The Sound of Flames International 2015
Talks/events/exhibitions Swiss Combustion Day 2015 German-speaking Switzerland 2015

Awards

Title Year
"Best Scientific Paper and Presentation" at the International Symposium on Thermoacoustic Instabilities (May 2016, Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München) 2016

Associated projects

Number Title Start Funding scheme
165922 The physics of baryons at high and low-redshift; from the earliest galaxies and massive black holes to galactic coronae 01.09.2016 Project funding
184617 Thermoakustische Instabilitäten in Rohr-Ringbrennkammern 01.03.2020 Project funding

Abstract

The proposed research aims at developing a novel theoretical and numerical framework to predict and control combustion instabilities in a new type of combustion chambers for the next generation of heavy-duty gas turbines. This technology step change is based on constant pressure sequential combustion architectures and provides higher fuel and operational flexibility and higher efficiency and power compared to modern single stage combustion chambers. In particular, it will be fuel-flexible and capable of burning conventional gaseous and liquid fuels as well as bio- and syn(thetic)- gas on demand. This research will provide essential tools for sequential combustor development and optimisation. Active control of combustion instabilities in sequential combustion systems using non-thermal plasma will also be investigated at high pressure, which is the first step toward a practical usage of this control technology and which could constitute a further improvement of the constant pressure sequential combustion systems.
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