ISTP-16, 2005, PRAGUE 16TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON TRANSPORT PHENOMENA

INFLUENCE OF DUMP GAP ON THE PERFORMANCE

CHARACTERISTICS OF DUMP-DIFFUSERS
V.R.Sanal Kumar1, A. Sameen2, H.D.Kim3, T. Setoguchi4, S. Mastuo5, and S.Raghunathan6
1-3
Andong National University, South Korea, 4,5Saga University, Japan,
6
Queens University of Belfast, UK
Corresponding author: rsanal@andong.ac.kr, +82-54-820-6210

Keywords: dump diffuser, dump gap, gas turbine

Abstract concept. The dump diffuser produces a stable

Numerical studies have been carried out using a
standard k- turbulence model to examine the
influence of dump gap ratio on the performance
characteristics of dump-diffusers. It was
observed that at sufficiently small values of
dump gap ratios the flame tube head induces
flow curvature at the pre-diffuser exit plane,
thus deflecting the flow towards the walls. This
results in a more uniform outlet velocity profile
and inhibits separation. We concluded that the
dump-gap ratio is a powerful parameter
controlling the pressure recovery and the losses
in a dump-diffuser.
1 Introduction
The flow field in the entry region of a gas
turbine combustion chamber is mainly
determined by the performance of the
combustor diffuser. The primary function of the
combustor diffuser is to decelerate the air
issuing from the compressor with minimum
pressure loss and maximum rise in static
pressure. For advanced aircraft engines the
faired diffuser concept is unattractive due the
performance deterioration under a wide range of
operating conditions. Therefore, the modern
aircraft engines incorporate a different
type of combustor inlet with dump diffuser
_____________________________________
1
Scientist/Engineer, Propulsion Group, VSSC/ISRO, India
2
Postdoctoral fellow, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain
3
Professor and Head, School of Mechanical Engineering
4
Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering
5
Associate Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering
6
Professor and Head, School of Aeronautical Engineering,
Bombardier Aerospace Royal Academy Chair, AF AIAA.
flow pattern under a wide range of operating
conditions [1].
Dump diffusers are insensitivity to
manufacturing tolerances and thermal
expansions. However, they have relatively high
losses, low pressure recovery and long axial
distances in comparison to the faired diffusers,
which are succinctly reported by Carrotte et al.
[2]. These two disadvantages can primarily be
minimized by optimizing the pre-diffuser.
However, reducing the pre-diffuser length and
simultaneously increasing the opening angle to
maintain the area ratio is critical because the
flow tends to separate. In the recent past many
experimental and theoretical studies have been
reported on diffuser flows with tremendous
insight on critical flow features [3-12]. Owing
to the complexity of the flow conditions and
large number of requirements, the design
optimization of combustor inlet is still an
elusive problem. Note that in addition to the
geometric and fluid dynamic features that
generally affect the annual diffuser
performance, the characteristics of dump-
diffuser combustor inlets depend on a variety of
parameters, notably the dump gap; that is the
distance between the flame tube head (or the
dome cowling) and the pre-diffuser exit plane,
referred to pre-diffuser exit height. Towards
meeting some of the design objectives, in this
paper, using a two-dimensional standard k-
turbulence model, an attempt has been made to
examine the flow features through a dump
diffuser with different dump gap ratios.

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 V. R. Sanal Kumar, A. Sameen, H. D. Kim, T. Setoguchi, S. Mastuo, S. Raghunathan

2 Overview of the Numerical Methodology

The numerical simulations have been carried
out with the help of a well-established standard
k- turbulence code. This model uses a control-
volume based technique to convert the
governing equations to algebraic equations,
which can be solved numerically. The viscosity
is determined from the Sutherland formula. In
order to validate the model, at first, fundamental
examinations of the flow behavior encountered
in dump diffusers have carried out with the aid
of the experimental data of Ben, K.A., et al. [4].
The measured flow fields inside the plane model
dump diffuser with straight-walled pre-diffuser
show qualitative agreement with the present
computational results. Fig.1 shows the
comparison of static pressure distributions at the
upper walls of the diffuser and its flame tube at
three different dump gap ratios. Figure 2 shows
typical pressure contours correspond to the
Case-3. These results are qualitatively in good
agreement with the experimental results of Ben,
K.A., et al [4].
Fig.1 Comparison of the static pressure distributions
at the upper walls of the diffuser and its flame tube at
three different dump gap ratios.
Fig. 3 Idealized physical model of a dump diffuser.
Fig. 4 A typical grid system in the computational
region (Case-1).
Further parametric studies are carried out
using a dump diffuser with taper-walled flame
tube. Figure 3 shows the idealized physical
model of such dump diffuser. Baseline values
(h2/h1 = 1.95, l/h1 = 3, Hf/h1 = 4.8, d/h1 = 2.5,
d/h2 = 1.3, 2Hsp/h2 = 3) are selected based on a
typical diffuser. Grid system (74080
quadrilateral cells) in the computational region
is shown in Fig. 4 with five identified axial
locations (A-D). The grids are clustered near the
solid walls using suitable stretching functions.
An algebraic grid-generation technique is
employed to discretize the computational
domain. Initial total pressure and temperature
are given as input to the code. The diffuser
geometric variables and material properties are
known a priori. Initial wall temperature, inlet
total pressure and temperature are specified. At
the solid walls no-slip boundary condition is
imposed. The Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy number
is initially chosen as 3.0 in all of the
computations. Ideal gas is selected as the
working fluid.

3 Results and Discussion

It is well known that the modern aircraft gas
turbine design requires that the compressor
Fig.2 Demonstrating the variation of the static
produces a high pressure ratio with a minimum
pressure contours at high dump gap ratio (Case-3).

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 INFLUENCE OF DUMP GAP ON THE PERFORMANCE
CHARACTERISTICS OF DUMP-DIFFUSERS

number of stages. As a consequence, the air focused on the influence of the dump-gap ratio
leaves the compressor with a high axial (d/h2) on the fluid dynamics features of the
velocity. Effective combustion with small diffuser flow. Note that fine data are not
pressure losses can only be achieved, however, available in any open literature. The parametric
with low air velocities. Therefore, in this paper studies are carried out with two different dump-
for the parametric analytical studies low inlet gap ratios, viz., 1.3 and 0.43. These are
velocity (vi = 93 m/s) has been selected. represented as Case 1 and Case 2 respectively.
In the pre-diffuser, the flow decelerates with
comparatively small losses, because its
boundaries are rigid walls. In the dump region,
losses are high due to the shear action between
the jets and the stagnant air and due to the large
flow turning imposed by the head of the flame
tube. As succinctly reported by Fishenden, and
Stevens [3], particularly high losses will occur
in the regions where the jets bend towards the
outer and inner annuli, because here the
turbulence structure changes, under the
influence of the centrifugal force, in a way
which strongly increases turbulence stresses. In
fact, most of the previous studies are conducted Fig. 6 Comparison of the wall shear stress
on configurations of the type shown in inset of distributions at the upper walls of the diffuser and its
Fig.1. For the detailed parametric studies a flame tube at two different dump gap ratios.
different flame-tube configuration is selected in
this paper to examine the flow features with two
different dump-gap ratios.

Fig. 7 Comparison of the total temperature

Fig. 5 Comparison of the pressure coefficients at the
upper walls of the diffuser and its flame tube at two
different dump gap ratios.
In this paper numerical flow simulations have
been carried out on a straight-walled dump
diffuser. It is often the practice in combustor
diffuser design to obtain the physical insight
into the fluid flow pattern through the detailed
parametric study. In this paper attention is
distributions at the upper walls of the diffuser and its
flame tube at two different dump gap ratios.
Figure 5 shows the comparison of the
pressure coefficients at the upper walls of the
diffuser and its flame tube at two different dump
gap ratios at an inlet velocity of 93m/s. In both
the cases initial and boundary conditions are
given as same. It is evident from this figure that
the dump-gap ratio got significant influence on
the pressure recovery. When the dump-gap ratio
is relatively small the static pressure increases
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 V. R. Sanal Kumar, A. Sameen, H. D. Kim, T. Setoguchi, S. Mastuo, S. Raghunathan
marginally at the pre-diffuser walls. But one
should not assume that small dump gaps
produce higher overall pressure recoveries and
lower overall losses of the entire dump diffuser
because it depends on the overall fluid dynamics
features of the diffuser flow. This can be
examined through the detailed parametric
studies. Figures 6 & 7 show the wall shear stress
and the total temperature variations along the
upper walls of the diffuser and the flame tube.
Figures 8-13 give corresponding contours of
static pressure, velocity magnitude and
turbulence intensity of Case-1 & 2 respectively.
Fig. 8 Demonstrating the variation of the static
pressure contours (Case-1).
Fig. 9 Demonstrating the variation of the velocity
contours (Case-1).
Fig. 10 Demonstrating the variation of the turbulence
intensity (Case-1).
These pictures give us reasonable physical
insight into the internal flow features of the
dump diffuser with different dump gap ratios. It
can be discerned from these two cases that, at
the axial location A the velocity profile at the
core for Case-1 (d/h2 = 1.3) is parabolic in
nature but in Case-2 it looks like an inverted
parabola with negative effects. This shows that
the pre-diffuser exit velocity profile is altered
due to the difference in dump-gap ratios. This
leads to say that at the given inflow conditions a
suitable dump-gap ratio need to be established
for getting an optimum performance of dump
Fig. 11 Demonstrating the variation of the static
pressure contours (Case-2).
Fig. 12 Demonstrating the variation of the velocity
contours (Case-2).
Fig. 13 Demonstrating the variation of the turbulence
intensity (Case-2).
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 INFLUENCE OF DUMP GAP ON THE PERFORMANCE
diffusers because we observed that the dump
gap ratio is a powerful parameter controlling the
pressure recovery and losses. Note that at
sufficiently small values of dump gap ratio the
flame tube head induces flow curvature at the
pre-diffuser exit plane, thus deflecting the flow
towards the walls. This results in a more
uniform outlet velocity profile and inhibits
separation. The flow separation is more
dominant when the dump gap ratio is large. The
flow separation is discerned at the pre-diffuser
exit. In both the cases the recirculation zone is
also noticed.
Owing to the favourable effect on flow
distortion, small dump gaps create higher pre-
diffuser recoveries, and these have indeed been
measured and reported by Fishenden and
Stevens [3]. One might assume, therefore, that
small dump gaps produce higher overall
pressure recoveries and lower overall losses of
the entire dump diffuser. This is not, however,
necessarily true. One may expect that dump
diffuser combustor inlets would perform best, if
the necessary deceleration would solely be
accomplished in the pre-diffuser. This would.
however, require a very long pre-diffuser and
result in too much weight. A better compromise
is to retard the flow in the pre-diffuser to an
extent which only achieves the static pressure
rise. It is important to note that the pre-diffuser
divergence angle and hence its area ratio may be
larger than for an optimum ordinary annular
diffuser of the same relative length. The head of
the flame tube affects the pre-diffuser flow
favourably if not positioned too far downstream,
because it displaces towards the diffuser walls
and thus inhibits separation. If located at too
small a distance from the pre-diffuser exit,
losses may, however, increase due to excessive
local acceleration and flow curvature.
The region of high turbulence intensity is
observed at the eye of the bubble between the
axial locations B & C (see Figs.10 & 13). Note
that near to a solid surface flow velocities are
low due to the no-slip condition at the wall.
Hence in a region where the piezometric
pressure is increasing, there are likely to exist
certain streamlines, on which there are points
whose total pressure is less than the
CHARACTERISTICS OF DUMP-DIFFUSERS
piezometric pressure a little further
downstream. When this happens, these
streamlines can only reach this further point if
their energy is increased by the action of the
shear force exerted by adjacent elements of the
flow. This condition is satisfied when /y>0,
where is the local shear stress and y is the
distance measured away from the diffuser wall.
This process of energy conversion by the action
of viscosity cannot be maintained indefinitely
and, if the flow does not manage to negotiate
the region of adverse pressure gradient, a point
is reached at which the value of and hence of
u/y becomes zero at the surface. Downstream
of such a point, which is known as a separation
point, the velocity u close to the surface
becomes negative and so a region of reverse
flow is established. Whether or not separation
actually takes place, the general effect of the
adverse pressure gradient is to give rise to a
localized region of slow moving fluid stretching
away from the wall. Because of the continuity
condition, which can be applied over the whole
cross-sectional area, the axial flow velocities
must necessarily increase elsewhere in order to
compensate for this effect. There is therefore a
tendency for flows to become increasingly non-
uniform whenever positive axial pressure
gradients are encountered. The process of
separation is associated with large rates of
dissipation of mechanical energy and so the
avoidance of separation is an important factor in
the design of internal flow systems.
It may be noted here that for entry flows of
the boundary layer type, an important fluid
dynamic parameter which affects diffuser
performance is the area fraction blocked by the
boundary-layer displacement thickness. Owing
to the viscous friction, boundary layer will be
formed on the walls (before the transition
region) and their thickness will increase in the
downstream direction to the divergence
location. Since the volume of flow must be the
same for every section, the decrease in rate of
flow near the walls which is due to friction must
be compensated by a corresponding increase
near the axis. Thus the boundary layer growth
occurs under the influence of an accelerated
external flow. As a result, at larger distances
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 V. R. Sanal Kumar, A. Sameen, H. D. Kim, T. Setoguchi, S. Mastuo, S. Raghunathan
from the inlet section velocity will be relatively
high and the flow will possibly become
turbulent; consequently the boundary layer
thickness will suddenly increase leading to the
sudden increase in the axial velocity due to the
area fraction blocked by the boundary layer
displacement thickness. This will cause flow
separation.
We inferred that due to the area fraction
blocked by the boundary layer displacement
thickness the axial velocity will be increasing up
to a critical distance from the inlet section and
further it will influence due to the coupled effect
of the diffuser geometry and the dump gap ratio.
4 Concluding Remarks
Although the scope of the published
experimental evidence is considerable, it is still
very difficult to specify the influences of the
various parameters in a general fashion, because
they are interrelated in a complex way and also
because the test models used differed to a large
extent. Note that more flexible options can be
given in numerical studies in an inexpensive
way for the design optimization of dump
diffusers using a validated turbulence model. It
was observed that at sufficiently small values of
dump gap ratios the flame tube head induces
flow curvature at the pre-diffuser exit plane,
thus deflecting the flow towards the walls. This
results in a more uniform outlet velocity profile
and inhibits separation. This will help for
reducing the pre-diffuser length. If the head of
the flame tube located at too small a distance
from the pre-diffuser exit, losses may, however,
increase due to excessive local acceleration and
flow curvature. We also inferred that due to the
area fraction blocked by the boundary layer
displacement thickness the axial velocity will be
increasing up to a critical distance from the inlet
section and further it will alter depends upon the
diffuser geometry and the dump gap ratio,
which in turn alter the separation. We concluded
that, in addition to the geometric and fluid
dynamic constraints, the dump-gap ratio is a
powerful parameter controlling the pressure
recovery and the losses in a dump-diffuser.
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by the KOSEF under
the overseas research program.
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