A Study of Combustion Dynamic Characteristics in a H2/CH4 Gas Turbine Combustor with Nozzle Center Airflow

Hyung Chul Kim; Jaehong Choi; Youngbin Yoon

doi:10.15231/jksc.2026.31.3.055

All Issue

2026 Vol.31, Issue 3 Preview Page

Research Article

A Study of Combustion Dynamic Characteristics in a H2/CH4 Gas Turbine Combustor with Nozzle Center Airflow 수소 혼소 가스터빈 연소기의 노즐 중심 공기 유동에 따른 연소 동특성 연구

30 September 2026. pp. 55-64

PDF XML

Abstract

The unique combustion characteristics of hydrogen, which are distinct from those of conventional methane fuel, can cause non-periodic combustion dynamics issues and thermo-acoustic combustion instability in an H2/CH4 premixed gas turbine combustor. Experiments were conducted to comparatively analyze two different nozzle configurations: the Open and Closed nozzles, where the Open nozzle has a center air channel. The stability map was identified over the operational equivalence ratio range, including the flashback and lean blow-off (LBO) limits, to analyze the effect of the center air channel. The results showed that the dominant frequency of combustion instability was independent of the nozzle configuration. However, chemiluminescence imaging revealed that the center air channel modified the flame structure, resulting in a noticeable reduction in the amplitude of combustion instability for the open nozzle. These results indicate that differences in nozzle configuration affect the combustion dynamics and can be modified to be suitable for hydrogen combustion in a gas turbine.

Keywords

Gas turbine combustor

Flame structure

Thermo-acoustic instability

References

S. Öberg, M. Odenberger, F. Johnsson, Exploring the competitiveness of hydrogen-fueled gas turbines in future energy systems, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 47 (2022) 624-644.

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.10.035

N.K. Rizk, H.C. Mongia, Lean low NOx combustion concept evaluation, Symp. Combust., 23 (1991) 1063-1070.

10.1016/S0082-0784(06)80365-6

M. Ilbas, A.P. Crayford, I. Yilmaz, P.J. Bowen, N. Syred, Laminar-burning velocities of hydrogen-air and hydrogen-methane-air mixtures: An experimental study, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 31 (2006) 1768-1779.

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2005.12.007

T. Lieuwen, V. McDonell, D. Santavicca, T. Sattelmayer, Burner Development and Operability Issues Associated with Steady Flowing Syngas Fired Combustors, Combustion Science and Technology, 180 (2008) 1169-1192.

10.1080/00102200801963375

T. Lieuwen, V. McDonell, E. Petersen, D. Santavicca, Fuel Flexibility Influences on Premixed Combustor Blowout, Flashback, Autoignition, and Stability, ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 130 (2008) 011506.

10.1115/1.2771243

T.C. Lieuwen, V. Yang (Eds.), Combustion instabilities in Gas Turbine Engines: Operational Experience, Fundamental Mechanisms, and Modeling, AIAA, Reston, VA, 2005.

10.2514/4.866807

S. Kwak, J. Choi, M. Ahn, Y. Yoon, Effect of hydrogen addition on the forced response of H2/CH4 flames in a dual-nozzle swirl-stabilized combustor, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 40 (2015) 1229-1243.

B. Noble, L. Angello, B. Emerson, T. C. Lieuwen, Advanced gas turbine combustor health monitoring using combustion dynamics data, in: 59th ISA POWID/EPRI Symposium, Charlotte, NC, 2016, pp. 240-250.

R. Villalva Gomez, B. J. Dolan, D. E. Munday, E. J. Gutmark, OH-PLIF studies in a LDI swirl-stabilized combustor, in: 52nd AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA 2014-0656, National Harbor, MD, 2014.

10.2514/6.2014-0656

R. K. Cheng, Low swirl combustion, in: R. Dennis (Ed.), The Gas Turbine Handbook, U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, 2006, pp. 241-255.

H. Sato, M. Ikame, K. Harumi, T. Kishi, K. Hiraoka, H. Oka, A. K. Hayashi, S. Ogawa, Active instability control of thermoacoustic oscillation in premixed gas turbine combustors, JSME Int. J. Ser. B Fluids and Therm. Eng. 48 (2005) 328-333.

10.1299/jsmeb.48.328

X. Han, D. Laera, D. Yang, C. Zhang, J. Wang, X. Hui, Y. Lin, A. S. Morgans, C. J. Sung, Flame interactions in a stratified swirl burner: Flame stabilization, combustion instabilities and beating oscillations, Combust. Flame 212 (2020) 500-509.

10.1016/j.combustflame.2019.11.020

S. Joo, S. Kwak, J. Lee, Y. Yoon, Thermoacoustic instability and flame transfer function in a lean direct injection model gas turbine combustor, Aerosp. Sci. Technol. 116 (2021) 106872.

10.1016/j.ast.2021.106872

Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Combustion
Publisher(Ko) :한국연소학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Society of Combustion
Journal Title(Ko) :한국연소학회지
Volume : 31
No :3
Pages :55-64
Received Date : 2026-08-07
Revised Date : 2026-09-03
Accepted Date : 2026-09-03
DOI :https://doi.org/10.15231/jksc.2026.31.3.055

Journal of the Korean Society of Combustion ISSN:1226-0959(Print) 2466-2089(Online) 한국연소학회지

All Issue