What is it about?
Thermoacoustic instability is a resonance caused by positive feedback between the flame and the sound it generates. This feedback can arise either from acoustic waves reflected back toward the flame or from perturbations in the air and fuel flow induced by flame-generated sound. The latter mechanism, known as intrinsic thermoacoustic instability, is the focus of this study on hydrogen flames.
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Why is it important?
This resonance between flame and sound generates large pressure fluctuations in combustion chambers used in aviation, power generation, and indoor heating. These fluctuations are destructive and must be mitigated to extend combustor life and reduce maintenance costs. This study provides guidelines for preventing a lesser-known phenomenon called intrinsic thermoacoustic instability, which can be further exacerbated by traditional control methods.
Perspectives
In the context of energy transition and decarbonisation, gas turbine combustion will increasingly utilise new fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, sustainable aviation fuels, and their blends. These fuels are expected to alter the boundaries of thermoacoustic instability and may give rise to lesser-known phenomena, such as intrinsic thermoacoustic instabilities, due to their broader flame response bandwidths. This article provides insights into the prediction and control of intrinsic thermoacoustic instabilities.
Ankit Dilip Kumar
University of Cambridge
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Intrinsic thermoacoustic instability in hydrogen enriched partially premixed flames, Physics of Fluids, March 2025, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0258444.
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