Improvement of Aerodynamic Performance of a Combustor Dump Diffuser Using Inclined Walls

The combustor diffuser with the deep flame dome in the recent engine results in the large total pressure loss. It is important to obtain both better aerodynamic performance by reduction of total pressure loss and reduced NOx in the exhaust from the combustor, regardless of the inlet flow conditions such as inlet distortion. Installation of an inclined wall within the combustor dump diffuser is suggested in order to improve the aerodynamic performance. A cold flow experiment using Pitot probe surveys in a model of a combustor diffuser shows that the inclined wall is effective in improvement of the total pressure loss, even if the velocity profile at the diffuser inlet is distorted. Furthermore, the flow rate distributions into the branched channels are also improved. The flow mechanism in the inclined wall configuration is clarified from the measurements of the mean velocity and turbulent Reynolds stress by a Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) system.