An Experimental Study on Modeling of Fuel Atomization for Simulating the Idle Regime of a Gas Turbine Combustor by Atmospheric Testing

An experimental investigation is carried out on modeling of fuel atomization for the purpose of simulating the idle regime of a gas turbine combustor through atmospheric testing. If the simulation is successfully applied, it will significantly reduce the cost of testing. The simulation must sustain nearly the same fuel spray characteristics and the same aerodynamics at the exit of the frontal device. Air assisting through the main stage of a dual orifice fuel nozzle is employed to match the fuel spray characteristics. Optical diagnostic methods including flow visualization and Adaptive Phase/Doppler Velocimetry are used for the investigation of spray characteristics. Once the fuel spray characteristics are matched by air assisting, the combustor characteristics may then be matched by maintaining the loading parameter constant. The possibility of modeling with air assisting is shown and appropriate conditions for air assisting are found.© 1997 ASME