INTRODUCTION TO

GAS TURBINE
COMBUSTION
 COMBUSTION

A Process where fuel is

combined with oxygen at high
temperature releasing heat
Reciprocating Engine Vs Jet Engine
 Fire is An Accident…
How to make it More
reliable Resource….
 Laws of Combustion
• A Special Device is required to hold the flame, called
Burner.
• The maximum quantity of fuel that can be handled by a
single burner is limited.
• The maximum allowable air to establish efficient
combustion of a given amount of fuel is limited.
• The maximum temperature due to efficient combustion
is always higher than the maximum safe temperature:
limited by turbine blades.
• Infra structure should be provided to facilitate these
conditions.
Requirements of A Reliable Combustion

MATt Theory
• Mixing: Fuel preparation systems.
• Air: Draught systems.
• T : Preheating of fuel.
• t : Dimensions of combustion
chamber.
 : Turbulence generation systems.
 Combustion Section
• The combustion section contains the combustion
chambers, igniter plugs, and fuel nozzle or fuel injectors.

• Designed to burn a fuel-air mixture and to deliver

combusted gases to the turbine at a temperature not
exceeding the allowable limit at the turbine inlet.

• Theoretically, the compressor delivers 100 percent of its

air by volume to the combustion chamber.

• The fuel-air mixture suitable for efficient combustion has

a ratio of l5 parts air to 1 part fuel by weight.
 Combustion Section
Contd…….
• Approximately 25 – 30 percent of total compressor air is used to
attain the desired fuel-air ratio.

• The remaining 70 -- 75 percent is used to form an air blanket around

the burning gases and to dilute the temperature.
• The diluted temperature may reach as high as 1500º C, by
approximately one-half of the flame temperature.

• This ensures that the turbine section will not be destroyed by

excessive heat.
 Air Distribution in A Combustor

Compressor end Turbine end

 Functions
• The air used for burning is known as primary air;
• Remaining for cording is secondary air.
• Secondary air is controlled and directed by holes and
louvers in the combustion chamber liner.
• Igniter plugs function during starting only; they are shut
off manually or automatically.
• Combustion is continuous and self-supporting.
• After engine shutdown or failure to start, a pressure -
actuated valve automatically drains any remaining
unburned fuel from the combustion chamber.
• The primary function of the combustion section is, of
course, to bum the fuel-air mixture, thereby adding heat
energy to the air.
• To do this efficiently, the combustion chamber must

• Provide the means for mixing the fuel and air to ensure good
combustion.

• Burn this mixture efficiently.

• Cool the hot combustion products to a temperature which

the turbine blades can withstand under operating conditions.

• Deliver the hot gases to the turbine section.

• The location of the combustion section is directly between

the compressor and turbine sections.
.
• The combustion chambers are always arranged coaxially with the
compressor and turbine, regardless of type, since the chambers
must be in a through-flow position to function efficiently.

• All combustion chambers contain the same basic elements:

• A casing
• A perforated inner liner.
• A fuel injection system.
• Some means for initial ignition.
• A fuel drainage system to drain off unburned fuel after engine
shutdown.
 Basic Anatomy of A Combustor
Casing

Swirler Liner

Liner holes
 Classification of Combustors

• Basis for this classification:

• A burner handles finite amount of fuel.
• Arrangement of multiple burners.
• There are currently three basic types of Burner
Arrangements
• The multiple-chamber or can type.
• The annular or basket type.
• The can-annular type.