Advanced Design Optimization of Combustion Equipment Using Sculptor with CFD Tools

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Title Advanced Design Optimization of Combustion Equipment Using Sculptor with CFD Tools
Creator Smith, J.D.
Contributor Smith, Z.P.; Landon, M.
Date 2014-09-10
Spatial Coverage Houston, Texas
Subject 2014 AFRC Industrial Combustion Symposium
Description Paper from the AFRC 2014 conference titled Advanced Design Optimization of Combustion Equipment Using Sculptor with CFD Tools by J.D. Smith.
Abstract In the past, design changes for engineered combustion systems have been determined using the laborious Edison approach of "build and try" method which requires the engineer to examine 2N different design combinations to consider all possible configurations. The number of design iterations is often reduced based on the engineer's experience of what will and will not work and what is feasible and what is not feasible. However, this tried and true approach is often too expensive and takes too much time in a competitive market. For example, examining as few as three different design options to identify the "optimal" duct configuration to reduce pressure loss and minimizes fan size in a refinery combustion air feed system can take as long as four weeks using CFD in the "cut and try" approach. However, coupling efficient optimization algorithms with current CFD tools can reduce this time by 50% while examining many more design options than is possible using the "cut-and-try" approach. This option of examining hundreds of designs to find the "optimal" solution is the main focus of this paper. Work will be shown that links the shape optimization code Sculptor® with a freeware CFD tool called Openfoam. Results will be shown that illustrate the application of this "linked" approach to design optimization for a complex duct flow problem. In addition, work reported here will illustrate the general methodology applied to optimization of a simple air flare tip and a process gas burner. These examples illustrate how this methodology can be used to optimize combustion equipment to improve performance and reduce cost.
Type Event
Format application/pdf
Rights No copyright issues exist.
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ARK ark:/87278/s6h73czt
Setname uu_afrc
ID 14394
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6h73czt
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