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Kauffman, C. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Kauffman, C. W..

13 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

Effect of ambient conditions on the emissions from a gas turbine combustor

The effect of variations in the ambient conditions of pressure, temperature, and relative humidity upon the emissions of a gas turbine combustion are investigated. A single combustor can from a Pratt and Whitney JT8D-17 engine was run at parametric inlet conditions bracketing the actual engine idle conditions. Data were correlated to determine the functional relationships between the emissions and ambient conditions. Mathematical modelling was used to determine the mechanism for the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions. Carbon monoxide emissions were modelled using finite rate chemical kinetics in a plug flow scheme. Hydrocarbon emissions were modelled by a vaporization scheme throughout the combustor.

Kauffman, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The effect of local parameters on gas turbine emissions

Gas turbine engine inlet parameters reflect changes in local atmospheric conditions. The pollutant emissions for the engine reflects these changes. In attempting to model the effect of the changing ambient conditions on the emissions it was found that these emissions exhibit an extreme sensitivity to some of the details of the combustion process such as the local fuel-air ratio and the size of the drops in the fuel spray. Fuel-air ratios have been mapped under nonburning conditions using a single JT8D-17 combustion can at simulated idle conditions, and significant variations in the local values have been found. Modelling of the combustor employs a combination of perfectly stirred and plug flow reactors including a finite rate vaporization treatment of the fuel spray. Results show that a small increase in the mean drop size can lead to a large increase in hydrocarbon emissions and decreasing the value of the CO-OH rate constant can lead to large increases in the carbon monoxide emissions. These emissions may also be affected by the spray characteristics with larger drops retarding the combustion process. Hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen emissions calculated using the model accurately reflect measured emission variations caused by changing engine inlet conditions.

Kauffman, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The effect of fuel sprays on emissions from a gas turbine combustor

A research gas turbine combustor which allows for independent control of drop size, fuel/air ratio, air inlet temperature, pressure, reference velocity, and residence time has been used to study the influence of fuel spray characteristics on primary zone emissions. Local concentrations of oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons at various locations in the flow, local gas temperature, gas velocity, and the turbulence intensity (measured with laser velocimetry) are obtained. A comprehensive data analysis program to compute the local fuel/air ratio and the sum of the mole fractions of the species present confirms the validity of the emissions data. Increasing drop size is correlated with an increase in unburned hydrocarbons, while increasing residence time is associated with sharp decreases in hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide and an increase in oxides of nitrogen.

Nicholls, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The effect of ambient conditions on the emissions of an idling gas turbine

Changes in ambient conditions - pressure, temperature, and humidity - affect the exhaust emissions of a gas turbine engine. Such variations must be compensated for during engine certification. The results of a test program employing a JT8D-17 combustor are presented which quantize the effect of carefully controlled changes on unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen at simulated idle operating conditions. Analytical results are given to explain the observed hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide behavior. It is shown that for a complete range of possible ambient variations, significant changes do occur in the amount of pollutants emitted by an idling gas turbine.

Kauffman, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Effect of ambient temperature and humidity on emissions of an idling gas turbine

The effects of inlet pressure, temperature, and humidity on the oxides of nitrogen produced by an engine operating at takeoff power setting were investigated and numerous correction factors were formulated. The effect of ambient relative humidity on gas turbine idle emissions was ascertained. Experimentally, a nonvitiating combustor rig was employed to simulate changing combustor inlet conditions as generated by changing ambient conditions. Emissions measurements were made at the combustor exit. For carbon monoxide, a reaction kinetic scheme was applied within each zone of the combustor where initial species concentrations reflected not only local combustor characteristics but also changing ambient conditions.

Kauffman, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The effect of ambient temperature and humidity on the carbon monoxide emissions of an idling gas turbine

Changes in ambient temperature and humidity affect the exhaust emissions of a gas turbine engine. The results of a test program employing a JT8D combustor are presented which quantize the effect of these changes on carbon monoxide emissions at simulated idle operating conditions. Analytical results generated by a kinetic model of the combustion process and reflecting changing ambient conditions are given. It is shown that for a complete range of possible ambient variations, significant changes do occur in the amount of carbon monoxide emitted by a gas turbine engine.

Kauffman, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Mechanism of ignition in shock wave interactions with reactive liquid droplets

A detailed qualitative analysis of the processes leading to the explosive ignition of a reactive liquid droplet that is suspended in a gas-phase oxidizer and subjected to the passage of a shock wave, is presented. The interval of time between shock wave passage and ignition is described by identifying a two-stage process which consists of a period of relative reactive dormancy that is followed by a chemical induction period leading to the thermal explosion of reactant that has been stripped from the liquid drop, vaporized, and mixed with the gas-phase oxidizer. The results of first-order calculations based on this model are presented and compared with experimental data for diethlcyclohexane drops in oxygen.

Pierce, T. H.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Fuel droplet combustion

An analytical model is developed that demonstrates the behavior of fuel drop ignition, and experimental results are presented that describe the effect of aerodynamic shattering on the process of fuel drop ignition. It is shown that the explosive ignition of a fuel drop which interacts with a shock wave in an oxidizing atmosphere depends upon the production of a fuel-oxidizer mixture in the wake of the original drop. The creation of this mixture is dependent on the formation of fine spray as a result of the aerodynamic shattering of the original fuel drop, the evaporation of the fine spray, and the mixing of the fuel vapor with the surrounding hot oxidizer. Only then does the explosive ignition occur as a result of the chemical reaction between the gaseous fuel and oxidizer.

Kauffman, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Ignition of partially shattered liquid fuel drops in a reflected shock wave environment

An experimental investigation of the ignition of individual fuel drops after their interaction with an incident and a reflected shock wave near the end wall of a shock tube has been carried out. The influence of the aerodynamic shattering of the fuel drop by the convective flow on the ignition characteristics has been examined by varying the drop-end wall separation distance. Data are presented which show the ignition delay times to be a function of the various experimental conditions encountered in this study. A comparison is made with previous investigations concerning the ignition of a liquid fuel drop due only to the interaction with an incident shock wave.

Wierzba, A. S.↗