A Consortium of Large Scale Facilities in the Field of Energy, Combustion and the Environment

Combustion Technology: Research, Development & Training
Transnational Access to Major Research Infrastructures

Project listing - Cardiff University, Cardiff
Dr D M ODoherty

1. Thermal stress modelling of heat exchanger surfaces
2. Droplet Coalescence and Break-Up

All projects are centred on thermal stress modelling of components within a combustion system. A typical project is described below.

Thermal stress modelling of heat exchanger surfaces

Current work is being undertaken on the efficient removal of heat from the combustion process for use in various industrial scenarios, e.g. combined cycles. This project will consider the thermal stresses occurring in various surface configurations such as dimpled surfaces, turbine blade cooling etc., by creating two or three dimensional finite element models using the package MARC

Droplet Coalescence and Break-Up

A comprehensive experimental database has been built up for a range of atomizers - pressure, twin-fluid and effervescent, typically of capacity around 1-2 MW. The database has been assembled via carefully controlled experiments using non-intrusive laser diagnostic techniques. The measurements consist of two dimensional droplet velocities together the diameter of each validated droplet. The database is extensive comprising over one million droplets for each spray field.

The data exhibits a number of interesting features:

1. Clear evidence of coalescence and subsequent break-up, at different downstream positions in the spray.

2. Viscosity variations show different spray characteristics- size of the core, strength of the shear layer and quality of atomization.

Current computational fluid dynamic codes have difficulty with sub models, which predict both coalescence and break-up mechanisms. The project requires:

1. A review of the literature to establish the current state of the art with respect to sub models for coalescence and break-up.

2. Use of cfd to investigate the current capabilities with respect to the existing database, start the calculations with large quantities of experimental data, which has been measured at the orifice exit. The cfd predictions should be compared with downstream measurements.

Professor Nick Syred

1. Large Swirl Burner/Furnace System
2. Large Oil Fired Furnace 
3. High Emissivity Natural Gas Flames
4. Simultanious Generation of Electricity and Charcoal

Dr A J Griffiths

1. Modelling of a jet flow using FLUENT
2. Turbulent structures associated with jet flows
3. Modelling of novel heat transfer surfaces using Fluent
4. Experimental analysis of novel heat transfer surfaces

Dr. Philip Bowen

1. Large-scale Combustion Hazards
2. Transient Combustion Modelling
3. Liquid-Fuel Combustion
4. Biofuel
5. Combustion Particulates
6. Combustion and Laser Diagnostics

For further information on the EuroFlam programme, mail to: info@euroflam.net
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Tony Griffiths at UWCC and Mario Graziadio at ENEL.