Rayleigh Index Fields in Helically Perturbed Swirl-Stabilized Flames Using Doubly Phase Conditioned OH Chemiluminescence Tomography

This paper demonstrates a method for calculating thermoacoustic energy transfer (viz. Rayleigh Index) fields in complex swirl-stabilized flames having asymmetric 3D flow structures using high-repetition-rate OH* chemiluminescence measurements. Measurements were acquired in a variety of perfectly premixed methane-air flames, each of which contained a helical velocity disturbance that was coupled with a precessing vortex core (PVC). The azimuthal position of the PVC and helical disturbance relative to the viewing angle was determined by tracking the position of the chemiluminescence centoid. Tomographic reconstruction of multiply-phase-conditioned mean chemiluminescence fields then was performed to determine the mean 3D shape of the helically-perturbed heat release field at different phases over the thermoacoustic cycle. These fields, in combination with measured pressured signals, allowed calculation of the thermoacoustic energy transfer distribution. Complex patterns were found, which generally involved considerable energy transfer in the periphery of the burner (i.e. towards the outer recirculation zone). The total energy transfer was found to scale with the limit-cycle oscillation amplitude. This method provides a relatively simple and robust diagnostic for determining combustor regions driving thermoacoustic oscillations.