Low emissions trapped vortex combustor

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to study the combustion and emission characteristics of an improved trapped vortex combustor (TVC). Design/methodology/approach - An experiment is carried out to study the effect of the bluff bodies' layout on the flow of the improved TVC. Results confirm that an equation achieving the proper cavity size of a TVC can be used to design the reasonable configuration of the improved TVC. A numerical simulation is used to study the flow, combustion and emission characteristics of the improved TVC. Findings - The flow resistance, the vortex configuration, the combustion efficiency and the emissions of the improved TVC are influenced by the equivalence ratio of the main flow, the position and the flow injection angle in the cavity. Research limitations/implications - The investigation on the lean-premixed combustion of the improved TVC will provide a theory basis for the design of the improved TVC. Practical implications - The improved TVC will be used in the gas turbines burning synfuels. There are the implications which offer an opportunity to avoid use of diluent gas to reduce the flame temperatures of the combustion in the gas turbines burning synfuels. Originality/value - The improved TVC with the reasonable layout of the bluff bodies provides a method implementing lean-premixed combustion in the gas turbines burning synfuels.