Development of an Engineering Model of Hydrogen-Fueled Ultra-micro Combustor for UMGT

To develop an engineering-model of hydrogen-fueled ultra-micro combustor for Ultra Micro Gas Turbine(UMGT), we reviewed and summarized the problems in downsizing combustors, and determined a suitable burning method. The key issue to actualize practical ultra-micro combustors is reducing heat loss from the combustor to compressor and turbine. The reduction of heat loss was discussed from 3 different viewpoints; heat-insulation material, high-space-heating-rate combustion, and combustor-insolated gas turbine structure. Use of heat-insulation material induced the heat loss reduction to the surroundings. The heat loss ratio decreased substantially in reverse proportion to space heating rate, leading the idea that it could be reduced by burning at a high space heating rate. By settling the combustor insolated from the compressor and turbine, the heat transfer from the combustor to the compressor and turbine becomes smaller. For a selection of the suitable burning method, comparison between 2 burning methods, flat-flame and swirling-flamer types, was conducted. Synthetically the flat-flame burning method was confirmed to be more suitable for ultra-micro combustors than latter one. Base on them, an engineering-model of hydrogen-fueled flat-flame ultra-micro combustor was developed. To obtain high overall heat-insulation, heat-resistant and strength, the engineering-model combustor had triple layer structure with an advanced ceramic, a heat insulation material and a stainless steel. To simplify heat transfer issue in the combustor, it was isolated from the other components. Furthermore it was designed by considering structure, size, material, velocity, pressure loss and prevention of flashback.