Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/M98715/01
Title:	ESR21:OSCILLATIONS IN STAGED PREMIXED COMBUSTORS
Principal Investigator:	Dowling, Professor Dame A
Other Investigators:	Cant, Professor R
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	National Power Rolls-Royce Plc (UK)
Department:	Engineering
Organisation:	University of Cambridge
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 May 2000	Ends:	30 April 2003	Value (£):	191,468
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Aerodynamics Combustion
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Manufacturing Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Axial staging, whereby premixed fuel and air are introduced at two or more positions along a combustor, can be used to achieve dramatically low levels of chemical emissions. However, premixed combustion is notoriously susceptible to combustion oscillations and interaction between adjacent stages of an axially staged combustor introduces a new source of combustor dynamics not previously studied. Unsteady burning in a combustion zone leads to significant fluctuations in the temperature of the gas entering a downstream stage, and hence to even larger changes in the rate of burning the premixed fuel and air injected into that stage. We will use experiment and computational fluid dynamics to investigate the major influences on unsteady combustion. A model will be developed to describe the unsteady response of a staged combustor to oncoming fluctuations. This will be combined with a theoretical analysis of linear flow disturbances in interconnected pipework systems to predict the oscillation frequency, mode shape and onset of combustion instability. Predictions will be validated against both laboratory and full-scale rig data.This project will lead to an improved understanding of oscillations in premixed combustors, and will help in the design and operation of power stations that run cleanly, reliably and safely.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.cam.ac.uk