A closed trapped vortex apparatus includes: a tubular structure having a structural wall, the structural wall forming a cavity within the tubular structure, the structural wall having a lower boundary wall forming a boundary between the cavity and a core flow passage; at least one driver hole passing through the structural wall; an ignition source communicating with the cavity; a fuel source communicating with the cavity; and a plurality of flame tubes extending through the lower boundary wall of the tubular structure at preselected locations so as to provide communication between the cavity and the core flow passage.