Deposition control using transpiration: Final report

An experimental and theoretical study of deposition of small particles is presented to evaluate the concept of transpiration as a deposition control strategy. The application of this work is the control of the deposition of small particles (0.5 to 3 ..mu..m) in turbines burning fuels derived from coal. The study is carried out in a wind tunnel facility containing a flat porous transpired section. Similar flows and particle motions are achieved by choosing the proper Reynolds and Stokes numbers representative of the conditions found in industrial gas turbines. Measurements of the velocity profiles were conducted for high injection rates (1.5% < F < 3%). A theory developed for the transpired turbulent boundary layer, which is described by an ''outer boundary layer'' entraining the transpired flow for large injection rates, agrees well with the experimental data. Concentration profiles of glass particles of both very narrow and wide size distributions were conducted for different injection rates under isothermal conditions. The measurements indicate clearly the conditions under which transpiration can prevent the deposition of particles and they show the effect of particle size. The interaction between transpiration and the inertial impaction of particulates is determined in an experimental set-up using an identical inclinedmore » transpired plate. Using the experimental data, the effect of the density of particles on concentration profiles is predicted. Present study also provides a clear insight into the turbulent diffusion of particles for a Stokes number of between 1 and 3.5 (and a turbulent Schmidt number range of 2 to 6). The turbulent Schmidt numbers obtained from the measurements are in agreement with the theoretical prediction of Tchen. 26 refs., 25 figs.« less