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At least 19 records

Alternate-Fueled Combustor-Sector Performance: (A) Combustor Performance; (B) Combustor Emissions - Parts A and B

Alternate aviation fuels for military or commercial use are required to satisfy MIL-DTL-83133F(2008) or ASTM D 7566 (2010) standards, respectively, and are classified as "drop-in" fuel replacements. To satisfy legacy issues, blends to 50% alternate fuel with petroleum fuels are certified individually on the basis of processing and assumed to be feedstock agnostic. Adherence to alternate fuels and fuel blends requires "smart fueling systems" or advanced fuel-flexible systems, including combustors and engines, without significant sacrifice in performance or emissions requirements. This paper provides preliminary performance (Part A) and emissions and particulates (Part B) combustor sector data. The data are for nominal inlet conditions at 225 psia and 800 F (1.551 MPa and 700 K), for synthetic-paraffinic-kerosene- (SPK-) type (Fisher-Tropsch (FT)) fuel and blends with JP-8+100 relative to JP-8+100 as baseline fueling. Assessments are made of the change in combustor efficiency, wall temperatures, emissions, and luminosity with SPK of 0%, 50%, and 100% fueling composition at 3% combustor pressure drop. The performance results (Part A) indicate no quantifiable differences in combustor efficiency, a general trend to lower liner and higher core flow temperatures with increased FT fuel blends. In general, emissions data (Part B) show little differences, but with percent increase in FT-SPK-type fueling, particulate emissions and wall temperatures are less than with baseline JP-8. High-speed photography illustrates both luminosity and combustor dynamic flame characteristics.

Shouse, D. T.

Alternate-Fueled Combustor-Sector Performance: Part A: Combustor Performance Part B: Combustor Emissions

Alternate aviation fuels for military or commercial use are required to satisfy MIL-DTL-83133F(2008) or ASTM D 7566 (2010) standards, respectively, and are classified as drop-in fuel replacements. To satisfy legacy issues, blends to 50% alternate fuel with petroleum fuels are certified individually on the basis of feedstock. Adherence to alternate fuels and fuel blends requires smart fueling systems or advanced fuel-flexible systems, including combustors and engines without significant sacrifice in performance or emissions requirements. This paper provides preliminary performance (Part A) and emissions and particulates (Part B) combustor sector data for synthetic-parafinic-kerosene- (SPK-) type fuel and blends with JP-8+100 relative to JP-8+100 as baseline fueling.

Shouse, D. T.

Simulated Altitude Performance of Combustors for the Westinghouse 24C Jet Engine I-24C-2 Combustor

A Westinghouse 24C-2 combustor was investigated at conditions simulating operation of the 24C Jet engine at zero ram over ranges of altitude and engine speed. The investigation was conducted to determine the altitude operational limits, that is, the maximum altitude for various engine speeds at which an average combustor-outlet gas temperature sufficient for operation of the jet engine could be obtained. Information was also obtained regarding the character of the flames, the combustion efficiency, the combustor-outlet gas temperature and velocity distributions, the extent of afterburning, the flow characteristics of the fuel manifolds, the combustor inlet-to-outlet total-pressure drop, and the durability of the combustor basket. The results of the investigation indicated that the altitude operational limits for zero ram decreased from 12,000 feet at an engine speed of 4000 rpm to a minimum of 9000 feet at 6000 rpm, and thence increased to 49,000 feet at 12,000 rpm.. At altitudes below the operational limits, flames were essentially steady, but, at altitudes above the operational limits, flames were often cycling and either blew out or caused violent explosions and vibrations. At conditions on the altitude operational limits the type of combustion varied from steady to cycling with increasing fuel-air ratio and the reverse occurred with decreasing fuel-air ratio. In the region of operation investigated, the combustion efficiency ranged from 75 to 95 percent at altitudes below the operational limits and dropped to 55 percent or less at some altitudes above the operational limits. The deviations in the local combustor-outlet gas temperatures were within +20 to -30 percent of the mean combustor temperature rise for inlet-air temperatures at the low end of the range investigated, but became more uneven (up to +/-100 percent) with increasing inlet-air temperatures. The distribution of the combustor-outlet gas velocity followed a similar trend. Practically no afterburning downstream of the combustor outlet occurred. At conditions of high inlet-air temperature several factors indicated that fuel vapor or air formed in the fuel manifolds and adversely affected combustion. The combustor inlet-to-outlet total-pressure drop can be correlated as a function of the ratio of the combustion-air inlet density to outlet density and of the inlet dynamic pressure. The walls of the combustor basket were warped and burned during 29 hours of operation.

Manganiello, Eugene J.

Analysis of the effect on combustor noise measurements of acoustic waves reflected by the turbine and combustor inlet

Spectral analyses of static pressure fluctuations measured in turbine engine combustors at low engine speed show good agreement with theory. At idle speed the high pressure turbine is unchoked. Above idle speed the turbine chokes and a significant change in the shape of the measured combustor pressure spectrum is observed. A simplified theoretical model of the acoustic pressure generated in the combustor due to the turbulence-flame front interaction did not account for acoustic waves reflected from the turbine. By retaining this simplified combustion noise source model and adding a partial reflecting plane at the turbine and combustor inlet, a simple theoretical model was developed that reproduces the undulations in the combustor fluctuating pressure spectra. Plots of the theoretical combustor fluctuating pressure spectra are compared to the measured pressure spectra obtained from the CF6-50 turbofan engine over a range of engine operating speeds. The simplified combustion noise theory when modified by a simple turbine reflecting plane adequately accounts for the changes in measured combustor pressure spectra. It is further concluded that the shape of the pressure spectra downstream of the turbine, neglecting noise generated by the turbine itself, will be the combustion noise spectra unchanged except for the level reduction due to the energy blocked by the turbine.

Huff, R. G.

Analysis of the effect on combustor noise measurements of acoustic waves reflected by the turbine and combustor inlet

Spectral analyses of static pressure fluctuations measured in turbine engine combustors at low engine speed show good agreement with theory. At idle speed the high pressure turbine is unchoked. Above idle speed the turbine chokes and a significant change in the shape of the measured combustor pressure spectrum is observed. A simplified theoretical model of the acoustic pressure generated in the combustor due to the turbulence-flame front interaction did not account for acoustic waves reflected from the turbine. By retaining this simplified combustion noise source model and adding a partial reflecting plane at the turbine and combustor inlet, a simple theoretical model was developed that reproduces the undulations in the combustor fluctuating pressure spectra. Plots of the theoretical combustor fluctuating pressure spectra are compared to the measured pressure spectra obtained from the CF6-50 turbofan engine over a range of engine operating speeds. The simplified combustion noise theory when modified by a simple turbine reflecting plane adequately accounts for the changes in measured combustor pressure spectra. It is further concluded that the shape of the pressure spectra downstream of the turbine, neglecting noise generated by the turbine itself, will be the combustion noise spectra unchanged except for the level reduction due to the energy blocked by the turbine.

Huff, R. G.

Small gas turbine combustor study - Combustor liner evaluation

A reverse flow combustor liner constructed of Lamilloy (a multilaminate transpiration type material) is compared both analytically and experimentally with a conventional splash film-cooled design with the same combustor configuration. Comparison of selected critical combustor panels indicated that it was possible to maintain the liner temperature similar between the two configurations using 50 percent less coolant for the Lamilloy as compared with the reference film-cooled combustor. Additional benefits indicated improvement in outlet temperature distribution and NOx emission level.

Norgren, C. T.

Combustor design and analysis using the Rocket Combustor Interactive Design (ROCCID) methodology

The ROCket Combustor Interactive Design (ROCCID) Methodology is a newly developed, interactive computer code for the design and analysis of a liquid propellant rocket combustion chamber. The application of ROCCID to design a liquid rocket combustion chamber is illustrated. Designs for a 50,000 lbf thrust and 1250 psi chamber pressure combustor using liquid oxygen (LOX)RP-1 propellants are developed and evaluated. Tradeoffs between key design parameters affecting combustor performance and stability are examined. Predicted performance and combustion stability margin for these designs are provided as a function of the combustor operating mixture ratio and chamber pressure.

Klem, Mark D.

Combustor design and analysis using the ROCket Combustor Interactive Design (ROCCID) Methodology

The ROCket Combustor Interactive Design (ROCCID) Methodology is a newly developed, interactive computer code for the design and analysis of a liquid propellant rocket combustion chamber. The application of ROCCID to design a liquid rocket combustion chamber is illustrated. Designs for a 50,000 lbf thrust and 1250 psi chamber pressure combustor using liquid oxygen (LOX)RP-1 propellants are developed and evaluated. Tradeoffs between key design parameters affecting combustor performance and stability are examined. Predicted performance and combustion stability margin for these designs are provided as a function of the combustor operating mixture ratio and chamber pressure.

Klem, Mark D.

Effect of combustor-inlet conditions on performance of an annular turbojet combustor

The combustion performance, and particularly the phenomenon of altitude operational limits, was studied by operating the annular combustor of a turbojet engine over a range of conditions of air flow, inlet pressure, inlet temperature, and fuel flow. Information was obtained on the combustion efficiencies, the effect on combustion of inlet variables, the altitude operational limits with two different fuels, the pressure losses in the combustor, the temperature and velocity profiles at the combustor outlet, the extent of afterburning, the fuel-injection characteristics, and the condition of the combustor basket.

Childs, J Howard

Simulated Altitude Performance of Combustors for the 24C Jet Engine: 24C-4 Combustor - 2

The performance of a 24C-4 combustor was investigated with three different combustor baskets and five modifications of these baskets at conditions simulating static (zero-ram) operation of the 24C jet engine over ranges of altitude and engine speed to determine and improve the altitude operational limits of the 24C combustor. Information was also obtained regarding combustion characteristics, the fuel-flow characteristics of the fuel manifolds, and the combustor total-pressure drop. NACA modifications, which consisted of blocking rows of holes on the baskets, increased the minimum point on the altitude-operational-limit curve, which occurs at low engine speeds, for a narrow-upstream-end basket by 8000 feet (from 23, 000 to 31,000 ft_ and for a wide-upstream-end basket by 21,000 feet (from 12, 000 to 34,000 ft). These improvements were approximately maintained over the entire range of engine speeds investigated.

Bernardo, Everett

Variable combustor geometry for improving the altitude relight capability of a double annular combustor

A test program was conducted to evaluate several ways of improving the altitude relight capability of a double annular ram-induction combustor designed for Mach 3.0 cruise operation. Using various techniques including two modes of simulated combustor variable geometry, altitude relights were obtained down to a pressure of 3.6 newtons per square centimeter against 7.05 newtons per square centimeter for the unmodified combustor. This was at a test condition of 0.05 reference Mach number using ambient temperature inlet air and fuel.

Schultz, D. F.

Ground idle performance improvement of a double-annular combustor by using simulated variable combustor geometry

A test program was undertaken to determine if variable combustor geometry could be used to reduce exhaust emissions of a low-pressure-ratio jet engine operating at ground idle conditions. Three techniques for varying combustor geometry were simulated. Other techniques evaluated were radial fuel staging and the use of preheated fuel. When simulated variable combustor geometry was employed with radial fuel staging, combustion efficiency at a fuel-air ratio of 0.01 was increased from 77 to 95 percent, and exhaust emissions of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide were significantly reduced.

Schultz, D. F.

Low pollution combustor designs for CTOL engines - Results of the Experimental Clean Combustor Program

The NASA/Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Experimental Clean Combustor Program is a multi-year, major contract effort. Primary program objectives are the generation of combustor technology for development of advanced commercial CTOL engines with lower exhaust emissions than current aircraft and demonstration of this technology in a full-scale JT9D engine in 1976. This paper describes the pollution and performance goals, Phase I and II test results, and the Phase III combustor hardware, pollution sampling techniques, and test plans. Best results were obtained with the Vorbix concept which employs multiple burning zones and improved fuel preparation and distribution. Substantial reductions were achieved in all pollutant categories, meeting the 1979 EPA standards for NOx, THC, and smoke when extrapolated to JT9D cycle conditions. The Vorbix concept additionally demonstrated the capability for acceptable altitude relight and did not appear to have unsolvable durability or exit temperature distribution problems.

Roberts, R.

Fuel and Combustor Concerns for Future Commercial Combustors

Civil aircraft combustor designs will move from rich-burn to lean-burn due to the latter's advantage in low NOx and nvPM emissions. However, the operating range of lean-burn is narrower, requiring premium mixing performance from the fuel injectors. As the OPR increases, the corresponding combustor inlet temperature increase can benefit greatly with fuel composition improvements. Hydro-treatment can improve coking resistance, allowing finer fuel injection orifices to speed up mixing. Selective cetane number control across the fuel carbon-number distribution may allow delayed ignition at high power while maintaining low-power ignition characteristics.

Combustor

HSCT Sector Combustor Hardware Modifications for Improved Combustor Design

An alternative to the stepped-dome design for the lean premixed prevaporized (LPP) combustor has been developed. The new design uses the same premixer types as the stepped-dome design: integrated mixer flameholder (IMFH) tubes and a cyclone swirler pilot. The IMFH fuel system has been taken to a new level of development. Although the IMFH fuel system design developed in this Task is not intended to be engine-like hardware, it does have certain characteristics of engine hardware, including separate fuel circuits for each of the fuel stages. The four main stage fuel circuits are integrated into a single system which can be withdrawn from the combustor as a unit. Additionally, two new types of liner cooling have been designed. The resulting lean blowout data was found to correlate well with the Lefebvre parameter. As expected, CO and unburned hydrocarbons emissions were shown to have an approximately linear relationship, even though some scatter was present in the data, and the CO versus flame temperature data showed the typical cupped shape. Finally, the NOx emissions data was shown to agree well with a previously developed correlation based on emissions data from Configuration 3 tests performed at GEAE. The design variations of the cyclone swirler pilot that were investigated in this study did not significantly change the NOx emissions from the baseline design (GEAE Configuration 3) at supersonic cruise conditions.

Greenfield, Stuart C.