Modeling of lean premixed combustion in stationary gas turbines

Lean premixed combustion (LPC) of natural gas is of considerable interest i n land-based gas turbines for power generation. However, modeling such comb ustors and adequately addressing the concerns of LPC, which include emissio ns of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons, remains a significant challenge. In this paper, characteristics of published simulat ions of gas turbine combustion are summarized and methods of modeling turbu lent combustion are reviewed. The velocity-composition PDF method is select ed for implementation in a new comprehensive model that uses an unstructure d-grid flow solver. Reduced mechanisms for methane combustion are evaluated in a partially stirred reactor model. Comprehensive model predictions of s wirl-stabilized LPC of natural gas are compared with detailed measurements obtained in a laboratory-scale combustor. The model is also applied to indu strial combustor geometries. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.