Effect of Geometrical Parameters on the Exit Pattern Factors Of An Annular Combustor: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Combustor is an important component of a gas turbine engine and its performance governs the overall performance of the engine. Combustor exit pattern factors are very critical from the consideration of turbine blade and vane life. To achieve the desired goal of pattern factors, the air-management through different zones of combustor is to be carried out very carefully with proper fuel-air mixing followed by complete combustion in the primary zone. During the development stage, extensive studies have been carried out to establish the effect of different geometrical parameters of the combustor on the exit pattern factors. This paper describes the details of the experimental investigations carried out on a full- scale combustor with different geometrical parameters such as diffuser geometry, swiller configuration, atomizer flow passage and dilution zone configurations to study their effect on the exit pattern factors. Dilution zone geometrical parameters and swirler configuration are found to have strong influence in controlling the combustor exit pattern factors and there is an optimum size and spacing of the dilution holes to achieve desired pattern factors at combustor exit.