Turbulent diffusion flames of a low-calorific value syngas under varying turbulator angles

This study investigates how changes in turbulator angles affect on combustion characteristics of a low calorific value syngas in a generated syngas burner integrated with a combustor. Turbulator angles were changed from 15° to 45° at intervals of 15°. Simulations have been performed by using a CFD code. PDF/Mixture Fraction combustion and k-ε standard turbulence models were used during the modellings. Temperature predictions of the syngas flame are compared with the existing temperature measurements. It is determined that these predictions are satisfactorily in good agreement with the measurements. Then, modellings were made under turbulator angles of 30° and 45° combustion conditions and compared with each other. It is revealed that change in turbulator angles affects highly the temperature, emission and velocity gradients of the syngas flame throughout the combustor whereas pressure drop is slightly influenced near the burner inlet zone. It is also concluded that the high temperature zone of the syngas flame moves to the upstream of the burner due to effect of the tangential velocity as the turbulator angle is increased. Predicted axial velocity values of the syngas flame decrease at the center of the combustor slightly because of the change in the turbulator angle.