Parallelized, Automated, and Predictive Imprint Cooling Model for Combustion Systems

A novel parallelized, automated, and predictive imprint cooling model (PAPRICO) was developed for modeling of combustor liners using Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS). The methodology involves removing the film and effusion cooling jet geometry from the liner while retaining the cooling hole imprints on the liner. The PAPRICO can operate under two modalities, viz., two-sided and one-sided. For the two-sided PAPRICO model, the imprints are kept on the plenum and combustor sides of the liner. For the one-sided PAPRICO model, the imprints are retained only on the combustor side of the liner and there is no need for a plenum. The PAPRICO model neither needs a priori knowledge of the cooling flow rates through various combustor liner regions nor specific mesh partitioning. The imprint mass flow rate, momentum, enthalpy, turbulent kinetic energy, and eddy dissipation rate are included in the governing equations as volumetric source terms in cells adjacent to the liner on the combustor side. Additionally, the two-sided PAPRICO model includes corresponding volumetric sinks in cells adjacent to the liner on the plenum side. A referee combustor liner was simulated using PAPRICO under nonreacting flow conditions. The PAPRICO results were compared against predictions of nonreacting flow results of a resolved liner geometry, against a combustor liner with prescribed mass and enthalpy source terms (simplified liner) and against measurements. The results clearly conclude that PAPRICO can qualitatively and quantitatively emulate the local turbulent flow field with a reduced mesh size. The simplified liner fails to emulate the local turbulent flow field.