One-dimensional model describing eigenmode frequency shift during transverse excitation

Abstract

A shift in transverse eigenmode frequency was observed in an experimental combustion chamber when exposed to large amplitude acoustic oscillations during oxygen–hydrogen combustion tests. A shift in eigenmode frequency under acoustic conditions representative of combustion conditions is of critical importance when tuning acoustic absorbers or investigating injection coupled combustion instabilities. The experimentally observed frequency shift was observed both in the frequency domain and as an asymmetric amplitude response to a linear frequency ramp of an external excitation system in the time domain. The frequency shift was found to be dependent on amplitude and operating condition. A hypothesis is presented for the frequency shift based on change in speed-of-sound distributions due to flame contraction when exposed to high amplitude pressure oscillations. A one-dimensional (1D) model was created to test the hypothesis. Model parameters were based on relationships observed in experimental data. The model was found to accurately recreate the frequency shifting asymmetric response observed in test data as well as its amplitude dependence. Further development is required to investigate the influence of operating conditions and chamber design on the quantitative modeling of the frequency shift.