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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 487 records · Page 27

Comparison of combustion characteristics of ASTM A-1, propane, and natural-gas fuels in an annular turbojet combustor

The performance of an annular turbojet combustor using natural-gas fuel is compared with that obtained using ASTM A-1 and propane fuels. Propane gas was used to simulate operation with vaporized kerosene fuels. The results obtained at severe operating conditions and altitude relight conditions show that natural gas is inferior to both ASTM A-1 and propane fuels. Combustion efficiencies were significantly lower and combustor pressures for relight were higher with natural-gas fuel than with the other fuels. The inferior performance of natural gas is shown to be caused by the chemical stability of the methane molecule.

Wear, J. D.↗

Simultaneous film and convection cooling of a plate inserted in the exhaust stream of a gas turbine combustor

Data were obtained on a parallel-flow film- and convection-cooled test section placed in the exhaust stream of a rectangular-sector combustor. The combustor was operated at atmospheric pressure and at exhaust temperatures of 589 and 1033 K (600 and 1400 F). The cooling air was at ambient pressure and temperature. Test results indicate that it is better to use combined film and convection cooling rather than either film or convection cooling alone for a fixed total coolant flow. An optimum ratio of film to convection cooling flow rates was determined for the particular geometry tested. The experimental results compared well with calculated results.

Marek, C. J.↗

Design and evaluation of combustors for reducing aircraft engine pollution

Efforts in reducing exhaust emissions from turbine engines are reported. Various techniques employed and the results of testing are briefly described and referenced for detail. The experimental approaches taken to reduce oxides of nitrogen emissions include the use of: (1) multizone combustors incorporating reduced dwell times, (2) fuel-air premixing, (3) air atomization, (4) fuel prevaporization, and (5) gaseous fuel. Since emissions of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are caused by poor combustion efficiency at engine idle, the studies of fuel staging in multizone combustors and air assist fuel nozzles have indicated that large reductions in these emissions can be achieved. Also, the effect of inlet-air humidity on oxides of nitrogen was studied as well as the very effective technique of direct water injection. The emission characteristics of natural gas and propane fuels were measured and compared with those of ASTM-Al kerosene fuel.

Jones, R. E.↗

Effects of prevaporized fuel on exhaust emissions of an experimental gas turbine combustor

Effects of fuel vaporization on the exhaust emission levels of oxides of nitrogen (NOX), carbon monoxide, total hydrocarbons, and smoke number were obtained in an experimental turbojet combustor segment. Two fuel injector types were used in which liquid ASTM A-1 jet fuel and vapor propane fuel were independently controlled to simulate varying degrees of vaporization. Tests were conducted over a range of inlet-air temperatures from 478 to 700 K (860 to 1260 R), pressures from 4 to 20 atmospheres, and combustor reference velocities from 15.3 to 27.4 m/sec (50 to 90 ft/sec). Converting from liquid to complete vapor fuel resulted in NOX reductions as much as 22 percent and smoke number reductions up to 51 percent.

Norgren, C. T.↗

Effect of inlet-air humidity on the formation of oxides of nitrogen in a gas-turbine combustor

Tests were conducted to determine the effect of inlet-air humidity on the formation of oxides of nitrogen from a gas-turbine combustor. Combustor inlet-air temperature ranged from 450 F to 1050 F. The tests were run at a constant pressure of 6 atmospheres and reference Mach number of 0.065. The NO sub x emission index was found to decrease with increasing inlet-air humidity at a constant exponential rate of 19 percent per mass percent water vapor in the air. This decrease of NO sub x emission index with increasing humidity was found to be independent of inlet-air temperature.

Marchionna, N. R.↗

Design of thermal protection system for 8 foot HTST combustor

The combustor in the 8-foot high temperature structures tunnel at the NASA-Langley Research Center has encountered cracking over a period of 50-250 tunnel tests within a limited range of the required operating envelope. A program was conducted which analyzed the failed combustor liner hardware and determined that the mechanism of failure was vibratory fatigue. A vibration damper system using wave springs located axially between the liner T-bar and the liner support was designed as an intermediate solution to extend the life of the current two-pass regenerative air-cooled liner. The effects of liner wall thickness, cooling air passage height, stiffener ring geometry, reflective coatings, and liner material selection were investigated for these designs. Preliminary layout design arrangements including the external water-cooling system requirements, weight estimates, installation requirements and preliminary estimates of manufacturing costs were prepared for the most promissing configurations. A state-of-the-art review of thermal barrier coatings and an evaluation of reflective coatings for the gasside surface of air-cooled liners are included.

Moskowitz, S.↗

Effect of fuel vapor concentrations on combustor emissions and performance

Effects of fuel vaporization on the exhaust emission levels of oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, total hydrocarbons, and smoke number were obtained in an experimental turbojet combustor segment. Two different fuel injectors were used in which liquid ASTM A-1 jet fuel and vapor propane fuel were independently controlled to simulate varying degrees of vaporization. Tests were conducted over a range of inlet-air temperatures from 478 to 700 K, pressures from 4 to 20 atm, and combustor reference velocities from 15.3 to 27.4 m/sec. Converting from liquid to complete vapor fuel resulted in oxides of nitrogen reductions of as much as 22 percent and smoke number reductions up to 51 percent. Supplement data are also presented on flame emissivity, flame temperature, and primary-zone liner wall temperatures.

Norgren, C. T.↗

Swirl can primary combustor

A swirl can full annulus combustor, operable over a wide range of exit average temperatures is used in a high performance gas turbine engine for advanced aircraft. A large number of swirl can modules are mounted in an array in each combustor.

Jones, R. E.↗

A mathematical model for jet engine combustor pollutant emissions

Mathematical modeling for the description of the origin and disposition of combustion-generated pollutants in gas turbines is presented. A unified model in modular form is proposed which includes kinetics, recirculation, turbulent mixing, multiphase flow effects, swirl and secondary air injection. Subelements of the overall model were applied to data relevant to laboratory reactors and practical combustor configurations. Comparisons between the theory and available data show excellent agreement for basic CO/H2/Air chemical systems. For hydrocarbons the trends are predicted well including higher-than-equilibrium NO levels within the fuel rich regime. Although the need for improved accuracy in fuel rich combustion is indicated, comparisons with actual jet engine data in terms of the effect of combustor-inlet temperature is excellent. In addition, excellent agreement with data is obtained regarding reduced NO emissions with water droplet and steam injection.

Boccio, J. L.↗

Odor intensity and characterization studies of exhaust from a turbojet engine combustor

Sensory odor tests of the exhaust from a turbojet combustor operating at simulated idle conditions were made by a human panel sniffing diluted exhaust gas. Simultaneously, samples of undiluted exhaust gas were collected on adsorbent substrates, subsequently removed by solvent flushing, and analyzed chemically by liquid chromatographic methods. The concentrations of the principal malodorous species, the aromatic (unburned fuel-related) and the oxygenated (partially burned fuel) fractions, as determined chromatographically, correlated well with the intensity of the odor as determined by sniffing. Odor intensity increased as combustion efficiency decreased. Combustor modifications which increased combustion efficiency decreased odor intensity.

Butze, H. F.↗

Effect of inlet-air humidity, temperature, pressure, and reference Mach number on the formation of oxides of nitrogen in a gas turbine combustor

Tests were conducted to determine the effect of inlet air humidity on the formation of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from a gas turbine combustor. Combustor inlet air temperature ranged from 506 K (450 F) to 838 K (1050 F). The tests were primarily run at a constant pressure of 6 atmospheres and reference Mach number of 0.065. The NOx emission index was found to decrease with increasing inlet air humidity at a constant exponential rate: NOx = NOx0e-19H (where H is the humidity and the subscript 0 denotes the value at zero humidity). the emission index increased exponentially with increasing normalized inlet air temperature to the 1.14 power. Additional tests made to determine the effect of pressure and reference Mach number on NOx showed that the NOx emission index varies directly with pressure to the 0.5 power and inversely with reference Mach number.

Marchionna, N. R.↗

Stability of combustors with partial length acoustic liners.

An analytical technique for the evaluation of combustion stability in rocket motors with partial length acoustic liners is presented. The combustors considered in this work have concentrated combustion zones at the injector, finite mean flows, cylindrical cross sections, and acoustic liners of arbitrary length and impedance. Linear three dimensional oscillations in such combustion chambers are analyzed using an integral equation-iteration technique. Stability limits in terms of the sensitive time lag model are calculated for several values of Mach number, length to radius ratio, liner impedance, liner length, liner location, and nozzle admittance. Results indicate that increasing liner length increases combustor stability substantially at low Mach numbers but has a considerably smaller effect for larger Mach numbers. Increasing Mach number or length to radius ratio has a destabilizing effect while liner location has only a minor effect on stability.

Mitchell, C. E.↗

Effects of prevaporized fuel on exhaust emissions of an experimental gas turbine combustor.

Effect of fuel vaporization on the exhaust emission levels of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide, total hydrocarbons and smoke number were obtained in an experimental turbojet combustor segment. Two fuel injector types were used in which liquid ASTM A-1 jet fuel and vapor propane fuel were independently controlled to simulate varying degrees of vaporization. Tests were conducted over a range of inlet-air temperatures from 478 to 700 K, pressures from 4 to 20 atmospheres, and combustor reference velocities from 15.3 to 27.4 m/sec. Converting from liquid to complete vapor fuel resulted in NOx reductions as much as 22% and smoke number reductions up to 51%.

Norgren, C. T.↗

Design and evaluation of combustors for reducing aircraft engine pollution.

This report summarizes some of the NASA Lewis Research Center's recent efforts in reducing exhaust emissions from turbine engines. Various techniques employed and the results of testing are briefly described and referenced for detail. The experimental approaches taken to reduce oxides of nitrogen emissions include the use of: multizone combustors incorporating reduced dwell time, fuel-air premixing, air atomization, fuel prevaporization and gaseous fuel. Since emissions of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are caused by poor combustion efficiency at engine idle, the studies of fuel staging in multizone combustors and air assist fuel nozzles have indicated that large reductions in these emissions can be achieved. Also, the effect of inlet-air humidity on oxides of nitrogen was studied as well as the very effective technique of direct water injection. The emission characteristics of natural gas and propane fuels were measured and compared with those of ASTM-Al kerosene fuel.

Jones, R. E.↗

Use of an air-assisted fuel nozzle to reduce idle emissions of a jt8d engine combustor

Tests were performed at typical engine idle conditions on a single-can JT8D combustor installed in a 24 centimeter (9.45 in.) housing to evaluate the effect of an air-assist nozzle on reducing exhaust emissions. By injecting high-pressure air through the secondary-flow passage of a standard duplex fuel nozzle, it was possible to reduce hydrocarbon emissions from 840 parts per million to 95 parts per million and carbon monoxide emissions from 873 parts per million to 258 parts per million. NOX emissions increased slightly from 18 parts per million to 22 parts per million. An air-assist differential pressure of only 20.1 newtons per square centimeter (29.1 psi) and an airflow rate of only 0.22 percent of the total combustor airflow was required.

Papathakos, L. C.↗

Effect of increased fuel temperature on emissions of oxides of nitrogen from a gas turbine combustor burning natural gas

An annular gas turbine combustor was tested with heated natural gas fuel to determine the effect of increasing fuel temperature on the formation of oxides of nitrogen. Fuel temperatures ranged from ambient to 800 K (980 F). Combustor pressure was 6 atmospheres and the inlet air temperature ranged from 589 to 894 K (600 to 1150 F). The NOx emission index increased with fuel temperature at a rate of 4 to 9 percent per 100 K (180 F), depending on the inlet air temperature. The rate of increase in NOx was lowest at the highest inlet air temperature tested.

Marchionna, N. R.↗

Final analysis and design of a thermal protection system for 8-foot HTST combustor

The cylindrical shell combustor with T-bar supports in the 8-foot HTST at the NASA-Langley Research Center encountered vibratory fatigue cracking over a period of 50-250 tunnel tests within a limited range of the required operating envelope. A preliminary design study provided several suitable thermal protection system designs for the combustor, one of which was a two-pass regenerative type air-cooled omega-shaped segment liner. A final design layout of the omega segment liner was prepared and analyzed for steady-state and transient conditions. The design of a support system for the fuel spray bar assembly was also included. Detail drawings suitable for fabrication purposes were also prepared. Liner design problems defined during the preliminary study included (1) the ingress of gas into the attachment bulb section of the omega segment, (2) the large thermal gradient along the leg of the omega bulb attachment section and, (3) the local peak metal temperature at the radius between the liner ID and the leg of the bulb attachment. These were resolved during the final design task. Analyses of the final design of the omega segment liner indicated that all design goals were met and the design provided the capability of operating over the required test envelope with a life expectancy substantially above the goal of 1500 cycles.

Moskowitz, S.↗

Odor intensity and characterization studies of exhaust from a turbojet engine combustor

Sensory odor tests of the exhaust from a turbojet combustor operating at simulated idle conditions were made by a human panel sniffing diluted exhaust gas. Simultaneously, samples of undiluted exhaust gas were collected on adsorbent substrates, subsequently removed by solvent flushing, and analyzed chemically by liquid chromatographic methods. The concentrations of the principal malodorous species, the aromatic (unburned fuel-related) and the oxygenated (partially burned fuel) fractions, as determined chromatographically, correlated well with the intensity of the odor as determined by sniffing. Odor intensity increased as combustion efficiency decreased. Combustor modifications which increased combustion efficiency decreased odor intensity.

Butze, H. F.↗