One dimensional acoustic network modelling of a cyclone burner with taX software

This article discusses tools for early-stage thermoacoustic design of large furnaces and boilers. As the industry transitions from using natural gas to hydrogen, the combustion dynamics of these systems need to be predicted, especially when using CH₄/H₂ blends that might result in low-frequency oscillations that are hard to control. Self-sustained oscillations in combustion systems can have significant negative effects on performance, efficiency, and emissions, and can lead to increased mechanical stress and damage or failure of components. One-dimensional acoustic network modeling, based on linear wave equations, can provide an effective approach to predict instabilities in a combustion system, allowing for the use of simplified one-dimensional acoustic network modeling. The article discusses the use of the taX software to conduct one-dimensional acoustic network modeling for a 100 kW cyclone burner, reproducing three different benchmark cases and simulating three additional models. Finally, the combustion behavior of a 60 mol% hydrogen and 40 mol% methane blend in the UT test rig, DYNAF, is investigated through taX simulations using flame transfer functions obtained from CFD simulations for the cyclone burner as inputs. The results of these simulations are discussed in detail.