Cross-Atlantic Combustion Modelling, Programming and Simulation

CAMPS aims at strengthening the collaborative ties between Norwegian and US-based combustion experts through the establishment of a US-Norwegian network for combustion research. The following US institutions are research partners in CAMPS: Sandia National Laboratories, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Carolina State University, Brigham Young University, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Scientifically, the project seeks to gain fundamental knowledge targeted to the development of high-fidelity numerical design tools that will ultimately enable energy-efficient and cost-competitive power generation with carbon capture and storage (CCS). The research work of the project focuses on technical challenges related to optimization of combustion processes in large, state-of-the-art gas turbines and coal furnaces for power generation. The main objectives of CAMPS are to: - Develop the next generation of high-fidelity numerical design tools for CCS-related combustion technologies through a cross-Atlantic collaboration - Establish a US-Norwegian network for combustion modelling and simulation - Propose improved models for describing fluid interaction with large clusters of reacting particles, relevant to CLC and oxy-combustion concepts - Provide detailed insight and validation databases for the development of full-scale models for hydrogen-fired gas turbines The highlights of activity for the period 01.06.2015 - 31.12.2015 are: - Collaborative work on oxy-combustion and gasification of pulverized coal and biomass involving SINTEF Energy Research and Stanford University has been conducted with focus on char gasification, oxidation and inter-particle radiation. - Collaborative work on DNS of turbulent hydrogen-air flames involving SINTEF Energy Research and Sandia NL has been conducted with focus on enabling hydrogen-fired gas turbine combustors design and optimization - Short-term stays as visiting researcher at Sandia NL, UC Berkeley and North Carolina State University by Dr. Sigurd Sannan - Work on incorporating a detailed chemical mechanism for hydrogen combustion into The Linear Eddy Model (LEM3D) has been initiated - Numerical study of flame stabilization mechanisms for lifted nitrogen-diluted hydrogen jet flames in a vitiated co-flow - Presentations at several conferences and meetings such as at the 8th Trondheim Conference on CO2 Capture, Transport and Storage (TCCS-8), Trondheim, Norway; Nordic Flame Days 2015, Copenhagen, Denmark; Nordita Seminar, Stockholm, Sweden; 5th Annual International workshop on Model Reduction in Reacting Flows, Spreewald, Germany; XXII International Symposium on Combustion Processes, Polish Jurassic Highland, Poland; and MekIT'15 8th National Conference on Computational Mechanics Major achievements: - Stepping stone towards the development of coal or biomass gasifiers and oxy-fuel burners that ensure efficient use of the fuel and minimum consumption of oxygen: o Development of improved models for fluid-particle interaction and inter-particle radiation for clusters of reacting particles -- Comment: The work will be used to build models of dense systems of reactive pulverized coal or biomass particles. The models can be incorporated into engineering-type simulation tools that will be important in the design of efficient oxy-fuel burners. This is relevant both to the development of Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) and oxy-combustion concepts. - Stepping stones towards the development of hydrogen-fired gas turbine combustors relevant for pre-combustion CO2 capture: o A DNS study of flashback in turbulent channel flows has given detailed insight into fuel stratification effects on flame shape during flashback in closed ducts o A RANS simulation of a lifted hydrogen jet flame in a vitiated co-flow has given improved understanding of flame stabilization mechanisms under gas-turbine like conditions -- Comment: The understanding of issues related to flashback and flame stabilization is critical to the development of hydrogen-fired gas turbines.

The CAMPS project gathers a number of world-leading experts from US research institutions and universities in a R&D network led by SINTEF Energy Research. The project spans the time period 2012-2015 and aims at the achievement of fundamental knowledge for the development of high-fidelity numerical design tools that will ultimately enable energy-efficient, environmental-friendly and cost-competitive power generation with carbon capture and storage (CCS). The proposed research work focuses on the technical challenges related to optimization of combustion processes in large, state-of-the-art gas turbines and coal furnaces for power generation. More specifically, the enabling target technologies to be investigated and improved are: 1) combustion of hydrogen-r ich fuels in advanced combustion equipment with minimal dilution and NOx emissions, 2) complete burnout in oxy-fuel combustion of pulverized coal with low-excess O2 and low pressure drop, and 3) optimized fluid-particle mixing in chemical looping combusti on of natural gas and the choice of a fluidization regime. The present initiative will bring together scientists from both sides of the Atlantic on a regular basis through the arrangement of technical meetings and scientific seminars. Moreover, within the CAMPS framework, concrete, specific plans are laid down in agreement with the US partners for extended research terms (up to one year) for SINTEF personnel at top research institutions in the US, thereby ensuring the establishment of close cross-Atlantic R&D collaborations on a long-term basis..