Course description
This course has been devised to provide appropriate instruction in theory, design and performance of combustion systems, aero and marine propulsion; energy and power generation; and oil, gas and process industries.
All the material covered is relevant to the requirements of those engaged in research, development and design in this field..
The syllabus includes lectures on basic subjects related to combustion, such as aerothermodynamics and heat transfer, but is mainly devoted to consideration of theoretical analysis appropriate to design, practical information on design procedure, and methods of overcoming problems in combustion development. Particular attention is paid to the problems of minimising smoke, gaseous pollutant emissions and low NOx design strategies.
Cranfield’s well-established one-week course in Gas Turbine Combustion is internationally known. We have a large well recognised team of engineers and scientists in the field of gas turbine combustion, supported by experimental facilities unique in the university sector, allowing combustion research and development. The facilities include high, medium and low pressure and high temperature rigs, supported by specialist instrumentation including those required for emissions measurements. Many experiments are designed specifically to suit particular investigations.
Upcoming start dates
Suitability - Who should attend?
While no precise academic standards are laid down, the course will be of greatest benefit to delegates with a university degree, or equivalent qualification, in science or engineering, or relevant experience. Although mainly intended for people actively engaged in the gas turbine industry, the course would also be useful to those about to enter that field, and to users of gas turbine equipment (power, process, oil and gas and marine industries).
Outcome / Qualification etc.
What you will learn
Gas turbine combustion is a wide and complex subject. This course offers an opportunity to acquire an overview and it provides a “road map” to guide design and development options.
On completion of the course, the course delegates should understand basis concepts and theories of gas turbine combustors concerning combustor structures, fuel preparation, ignition, diffuser performance calculation, combustions efficiency, operational criteria, pollutant emissions, cooling and material technology, and the role of CFD in combustor design and performance simulation.
Training Course Content
Core content
Pre Combustor Diffusers
- Role of the pre-combustor diffuser, sizing, design technique, dump diffusers, aerodynamic diffusers and alternative configurations.
Combustion in the Gas Turbine
- Performance criteria – combustion efficiency, stability and ignition performance, temperature traverse quality, exhaust emissions
- Design criteria – determination of chamber dimensions and pressure loss to meet stipulated performance requirements. Relative merits of tubular and annular chambers.
- Combustion chamber aerodynamics – mixing, stability and flame holding in main combustors and reheat systems. Choice of primary zone mixture strength.
- Fuel injection methods – spray injectors, vaporising systems, air blast atomizers. Injection and vaporisation of heavy fuels.
- Retrofitting for Multi-Fuel Capability – fuel property effects on efficiency, stability, heat transfer, and emissions. Fuel injector-combustor compatibility issues for fuel-tolerant design, retrofitting for improved fuel burn and reduced emissions, design modifications procedures.
- Ignition in the gas turbine. Fundamentals of the ignition process. Influence of chamber variables on minimum ignition energy. High altitude ignition. Ignition of heavy fuels.
- Flame stabilization. Combustion instability
Pollutants
- Carbon formation and exhaust smoke. Mechanism of formation. Influence of fuel properties, fuel-air mixing, etc. on smoke production.
- Gaseous pollutants. Mechanisms of production of carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons and aldehydes. Effect on fuel-air ratio, inlet temperature, etc. on pollutant emissions. Practical methods of reduction.
Fuels
- Hydrocarbon fuel types for gas-turbine combustors.
- Chemical and physical properties.
- Significance of standard laboratory tests.
- Factors influencing fuels selection laboratory tests.
- Factors influencing fuel selection and specifications.
- Operational fuel problems in aircraft and industrial gas turbine fuel systems and combustors.
- Implications to turbine materials and design.
- The substitute fuels for the future.
Computational Modelling
- Alternative modelling strategies; empirical correlations, zero-dimensional models, chemical reactors.
- Computational Fluid Dynamics applied to combustion flows; turbulence models.
- Chemical source term closures, numerical procedures, grid specification.
- Model validation, flow field prediction and experiment.
Heat Transfer
- General heat transfer processes in combustion chambers, regenerators and reheat ducts.
- Forced convection, conduction and luminous and non-luminous radiation from hot gases.
- Film and transpiration cooling.
- Double skin combustors.
- Materials and coatings.
Course delivery details
Course structure
In addition to lectures, this course also includes up-to-date presentations in computational modelling. Printed supplements are provided for much of the material covered in the course. A number of worked examples are undertaken by the delegates. Active participation from the delegates is strongly encouraged. All delegates will receive a Certificate of Attendance upon completion of this course.
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Cranfield University
Cranfield is a specialist postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management. We have many world-class, large-scale facilities, including our own global research airport, which offers a unique environment for transformational education...