A Study of Combustion Instability Mode in a Dual Swirl Combustor

The combustion instability in a dual swirl combustor was investigated experimentally. The effects of thermal power and combustor length on combustion instability were evaluated. Pressure and heat release fluctuation were measured simultaneously. In a conventional combustor, the frequency was decreased with increasing combustor length and decreasing thermal power. However, it showed different results with a dual swirl combustor. In regime 1 where thermal power was relatively high, the results showed same tendency with a conventional combustor. In regime 2 where thermal power was relatively low, the frequency was almost constant with increasing combustor length. It was found that a beating phenomenon occurred with increased combustor length in regime 2 by measuring sound pressure fluctuation. By confirming that beating phenomenon occurs only in regime 2, it is considered that beating phenomenon is the dominant factor of combustion instability in regime 2. This beating phenomenon inside combustion chamber greatly affected to combustion instability. The reason of the beating phenomenon seemed to be the difference oscillating period between main flame and pilot flame.