Novel Gas Turbine Combustor Designs for Flexible Power Generation using Additive Layer Manufacturing

Cardiff University's Gas Turbine Research Centre (GTRC) specialises in detailed characterisation of GT combustors through advanced laser diagnostics and optical combustors. GTRC recently manufactured, using Renishaw ALM, water-cooled nozzles which could not be built otherwise for an idealised burner.

The aim of this Renishaw co-funded PhD project is to take the next logical step to optimise ALM for novel GT combustor designs, where surface finish, air and fuel injection, and cooling are critical to avoid inefficient combustion and/or excessive emissions. Carbon-free fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia will be a specific focus, in particular 'rich-quench-lean' combustor technologies. The novel designs will then be fully characterised at the University's GTRC facility using a suite of optical, acoustic, and emissions measurement as well as modelling techniques to evaluate future market potential.

The project aligns with the EPSRC areas of Fossil Fuel Power Generation and Combustion Engineering