Flow field measurements in the cavity of a trapped vortex combustor using PIV

The experimental research on cavity flow field plays an important part in the structural design and optimization study of trapped vortex combustor (TVC). Many of the previous flow field experiments were conducted in the cold condition instead of during combustion. This paper adopting PIV system and Lambda-2 vortex criterion investigates the influence of various factors, such as equivalent ratio in the cavity, air intake parameter in the cavity, mainstream air intake parameter and mainstream holder structure, on cavity flow field for a TVC using methane as the fuel. The experimental research showed that cold-condition flow field differed from the combustion flow field, in terms of either vortex core position or vortex structure. Mainstream air intake velocity and cavity air intake velocity affected the flow field structure. U-type and V-type mainstream holders had significant influence on cavity flow field.