Global modes, receptivity, and sensitivity analysis of diffusion flames coupled with duct acoustics

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework to analyze the global modes, receptivity, and sensitivities of diffusion flames coupled with duct acoustics, providing insights into how various parameters influence thermo-acoustic stability.

Contribution

It derives adjoint equations for a coupled thermo-acoustic system and performs comprehensive sensitivity and receptivity analyses, which are novel in this context.

Findings

Flame is most receptive at its tip.

Perturbations to mixture fraction, fuel width, and heat-release significantly affect stability.

System is highly sensitive to base-state changes.

Abstract

In this theoretical and numerical paper, we derive the adjoint equations for a thermo-acoustic system consisting of an infinite-rate chemistry diffusion flame coupled with duct acoustics. We then calculate the thermo-acoustic system's linear global modes (i.e. the frequency/growth rate of oscillations, together with their mode shapes), and the global modes' receptivity to species injection, sensitivity to base-state perturbations, and structural sensitivity to advective-velocity perturbations. We then compare these with the Rayleigh index. The receptivity analysis shows the regions of the flame where open-loop injection of fuel or oxidizer will have most influence on the thermo-acoustic oscillation. We find that the flame is most receptive at its tip. The base-state sensitivity analysis shows the influence of each parameter on the frequency/growth rate. We find that perturbations to the stoichiometric mixture fraction, the fuel slot width, and the heat-release parameter have most influence, while perturbations to the P\'eclet number have least influence. These sensitivities oscillate: e.g. positive perturbations to the fuel slot width either stabilizes or destabilizes the system, depending on the operating point. This analysis reveals that, as expected from a simple model, the phase delay between velocity and heat-release fluctuations is the key parameter in determining the sensitivities. It also reveals that this thermo-acoustic system is exceedingly sensitive to changes in the base state. The structural-sensitivity analysis shows the influence of perturbations to the advective flame velocity. The regions of highest sensitivity are around the stoichiometric line close to the inlet, showing where velocity models need to be most accurate.