High-Temperature Ignition Kinetics of Gas Turbine Lubricating Oils

Author(s):  
Sean P. Cooper ◽  
Eric Petersen

Abstract Lubricant ignition is a highly undesirable event in any mechanical system, and surprisingly minimal work has been conducted to investigate the auto-ignition properties of gas turbine lubricants. To this end, using a recently established spray injection scheme in a shock tube, two gas turbine lubricants (Mobil DTE 732 and Lubricant A from Cooper et al. 2020) were subjected to high-temperature, post-reflected-shock conditions, and OH* chemiluminescence was monitored at the sidewall location of the shock tube to measure ignition delay time (tign). An extended shock-tube driver and driver-gas tailoring were utilized to observe ignition between 1183 K and 1385 K at near-atmospheric pressures. A two-stage-ignition process was observed for all tests with Mobil DTE 732, and both first and second stage tign are compared. The secondary ignition was found to be more indicative of combustion and was used to compare tign values with lubricant A. Both lubricants exhibit three ignition regimes: a high-temperature, Arrhenius-like regime (>1275 K); an intermediate, negative-temperature-coefficient-like regime (1230-1275 K); and a low-temperature ignition regime (<1230 K). Lubricant A was found to be less reactive in the intermediate-temperature regime, but Mobil DTE 732 was less reactive in the low-temperature regime. As the low-temperature regime is more relevant to gas turbine conditions, Mobil DTE 732 is considered more desirable for system implementation.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean P. Cooper ◽  
Eric L. Petersen

Abstract Lubricant ignition is a highly undesirable event in any mechanical system, and surprisingly minimal work has been conducted to investigate the auto-ignition properties of gas turbine lubricants. To this end, using a recently established spray injection scheme in a shock tube, two gas turbine lubricants (Mobil DTE 732 and Lubricant A from Cooper et al. 2020) were subjected to high-temperature, post-reflected-shock conditions, and OH* chemiluminescence was monitored at the sidewall location of the shock tube to measure ignition delay time (τign). A combination of an extended shock-tube driver and driver-gas tailoring were utilized to observe ignition between 1183 K and 1385 K at near-atmospheric pressures. A clear, two-stage-ignition process was observed for all tests with Mobil DTE 732, and both first and second stage τign are compared. Second stage ignition was found to be more indicative of lubricant ignition and was used to compare τign values with lubricant A. Both lubricants exhibit three ignition regimes: a high-temperature, Arrhenius-like regime (> 1275 K); an intermediate, negative-temperature-coefficient-like regime (1230–1275 K); and a low-temperature ignition regime (< 1230 K). Similar τign behavior in the high-temperature regime was seen for both lubricants, and a regression analysis using τign data from both lubricants in this region produced the Arrhenius expression τign(μs) = 4.4 × 10−14exp(96.7(kcal/mol)/RT). While lubricant A was found to be less reactive in the intermediate-temperature regime, Mobil DTE 732 was less reactive in the low-temperature regime. As the low-temperature regime is more relevant to gas turbine conditions, Mobil DTE 732 is considered more desirable for system implementation. Chemical kinetic modeling was also performed using n-hexadecane models (a lubricant surrogate suggested in the literature). The current models are unable to reproduce the three regimes observed and predict activation energies much lower than those observed in the high-temperature regime, suggesting n-hexadecane is a poor surrogate for lubricant ignition. Additionally, experiments were conducted with Jet-A for temperatures between 1145 and 1419 K around 1 atm. Good agreement is seen with both literature data and model predictions, anchoring the experiment with previously established τign measurement methods and calculations. A linear regression analysis of the Jet-A data produced the Arrhenius expression: τign(μs) = 6.39 × 10−5exp(41.4(kcal/mol)/RT).


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingjia Zhang ◽  
Wuchuan Sun ◽  
Wenlin Huang ◽  
Xiaokang Qin ◽  
Jinshu Liu ◽  
...  

Gas-phase auto-ignition delay times (IDTs) of methane/“air” (21% O2/79% Ar) mixtures were measured behind reflected shock waves, using a kinetic shock tube. Experiments were performed at fixed pressure of 1.8 MPa and equivalence ratios of 0.5 and 1.0, over the temperature range of 800–1000 K. Overall, the effect of equivalence ratio on IDT is negligible at entire temperatures measured in this study. The difference from traditional ignition regime at high temperatures, the undiluted methane/air mixtures present a four-stage ignition process at lower temperatures, namely deflagration delay, deflagration, deflagration-detonation transition, and detonation. Four popular kinetic mechanisms, UBC Mech 2.1, GRI Mech 3.0, Aramco Mech 2.0, and USC Mech 2.0, were used to simulate the new measurements. Only UBC Mech 2.1 showed satisfactory predictions in the reactivity of the undiluted methane mixtures; it was, thus, adopted to perform sensitivity analysis for identifying dominant reactions in the ignition process. The difference in channels contributing ȮH radicals causes a reduced global activation energy with decreasing temperatures.Keywords: Methane; multistage ignition; shock tube; sensitivity analysis


1996 ◽  
Vol 322 ◽  
pp. 275-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. G. Im ◽  
B. T. Helenbrook ◽  
S. R. Lee ◽  
C. K. Law

Asymptotic analysis of ignition within the supersonic hydrogen/air mixing layer is performed using reduced mechanisms. Two distinct reduced mechanisms for the high-temperature and the low-temperature regimes are used depending on the characteristic temperature of the reaction zone relative to the crossover temperature at which the reaction rates of the H + 02 branching and termination steps are equal. Each regime further requires two distinct analyses for the hot-stream and the viscous-heating cases, depending on the relative dominance of external and internal ignition energy sources. These four cases are analysed separately, and it is shown that the present analysis successfully describes the ignition process by exhibiting turning point or thermal runaway behaviour in the low-temperature regime, and radical branching followed by thermal runaway in the high-temperature regime. Results for the predicted ignition distances are then mapped out over the entire range of the parameters, showing consistent behaviour with the previous one-step model analysis. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that ignition in the low-temperature regime is controlled by a larger activation energy process, so that the ignition distance is more sensitive to its characteristic temperature than that in the high-temperature regime. The ignition distance is also found to vary non-monotonically with the system pressure in the manner of the well-known hydrogen/oxygen explosion limits, thereby further substantiating the importance of chemical chain mechanisms in this class of chemically reacting boundary layer flows.


Author(s):  
Sean P. Cooper ◽  
Zachary K. Browne ◽  
Sulaiman A. Alturaifi ◽  
Olivier E. Mathieu ◽  
Eric Petersen

Abstract In choosing the lubricating oil for a gas turbine system, properties such as viscosity, viscosity index, corrosion prevention, and thermal stability are chosen to optimize turbine longevity and efficiency. Another property that needs to be considered is the lubricant's reactivity, as the lubricant's ability to resist combustion during turbine operation is highly desirable. In evaluating a method to define reactivity, the extremely low vapor pressure of these lubricants makes conventional vaporization by heating impractical. To this end, a new experiment was designed and tested to evaluate the reactivity of lubricating oils using an existing shock-tube facility at Texas A&M University equipped with an automotive fuel injector. This experiment disperses a pre-measured amount of lubricant into a region of high-temperature air to study auto-ignition. To ensure proper dispersal, a laser extinction diagnostic was used to detect the lubricant particles behind the reflected shock as they are dispersed and vaporized. An OH* chemiluminescence diagnostic was used to determine ignition delay time. Using this method, various 32-, 36-, and 46-weight lubricants identified as widely used in the gas turbine industry were tested. Experiments were conducted in post-reflected shock conditions around 1370 K (2006 ºF) and 1.2 atm, where ignition delay time, peak OH* emission, and time-to-peak values were recorded and compared. Ignition was observed for all but one of the lubricants at these conditions, and mild to strong ignition was observed for the other lubricants with varying ignition delay times.


Author(s):  
Sean P. Cooper ◽  
Zachary K. Browne ◽  
Sulaiman A. Alturaifi ◽  
Olivier Mathieu ◽  
Eric L. Petersen

Abstract In choosing the lubricating oil for a gas turbine system, properties such as viscosity, viscosity index, corrosion prevention, and thermal stability are chosen to optimize turbine longevity and efficiency. Another property that needs to be considered is the lubricant’s reactivity, as the lubricant’s ability to resist combustion during turbine operation is highly desirable. In evaluating a method to define reactivity, the extremely low vapor pressure of these lubricants makes conventional vaporization by heating impractical due to the high temperatures and fuel cracking as well as issues with preferential vaporization. To this end, a new experiment was designed and tested to evaluate the reactivity of lubricating oils using an existing shock-tube facility at Texas A&M University equipped with an automotive fuel injector. This experiment disperses a pre-measured amount of lubricant into a region of high-temperature air to study auto-ignition. To ensure proper dispersal, a laser extinction diagnostic was used to measure the lubricant particles behind the reflected shock as they are dispersed and vaporized. An OH* chemiluminescence diagnostic measuring light emitted during combustion at around 306 nm was used to determine ignition delay time. Pressure was also measured at the sidewall and endwall positions for test repeatability and exothermicity of the experiments. The methods were validated by conducting experiments with ethanol and comparing the results to previous heated shock-tube experiments conducted in the same facility. Using this method, various 32-, 36-, and 46-weight lubricants identified as widely used in the gas turbine industry were tested. Experiments were conducted in post-reflected shock conditions around 1370K (2006 °F) and 1.2 atm, where ignition delay time, peak OH* emission and time-to-peak values were recorded and compared. Ignition was observed for all but one of the lubricants at these conditions, and mild to strong ignition was observed for the other lubricants with varying ignition delay times.


Author(s):  
Roda Bounaceur ◽  
Pierre-Alexandre Glaude ◽  
Baptiste Sirjean ◽  
René Fournet ◽  
Pierre Montagne ◽  
...  

Gas turbines burn a large variety of gaseous fuels under elevated pressure and temperature conditions. During transient operations, variable gas/air mixtures are involved in the gas piping system. In order to predict the risk of auto-ignition events and ensure a safe operation of gas turbines, it is of the essence to know the lowest temperature at which spontaneous ignition of fuels may happen. Experimental auto-ignition data of hydrocarbon–air mixtures at elevated pressures are scarce and often not applicable in specific industrial conditions. Auto-ignition temperature (AIT) data correspond to temperature ranges in which fuels display an incipient reactivity, with timescales amounting in seconds or even in minutes instead of milliseconds in flames. In these conditions, the critical reactions are most often different from the ones governing the reactivity in a flame or in high temperature ignition. Some of the critical paths for AIT are similar to those encountered in slow oxidation. Therefore, the main available kinetic models that have been developed for fast combustion are unfortunately unable to represent properly these low temperature processes. A numerical approach addressing the influence of process conditions on the minimum AIT of different fuel/air mixtures has been developed. Several chemical models available in the literature have been tested, in order to identify the most robust ones. Based on previous works of our group, a model has been developed, which offers a fair reconciliation between experimental and calculated AIT data through a wide range of fuel compositions. This model has been validated against experimental auto-ignition delay times corresponding to high temperature in order to ensure its relevance not only for AIT aspects but also for the reactivity of gaseous fuels over the wide range of gas turbine operation conditions. In addition, the AITs of methane, of pure light alkanes, and of various blends representative of several natural gas and process-derived fuels were extensively covered. In particular, among alternative gas turbine fuels, hydrogen-rich gases are called to play an increasing part in the future so that their ignition characteristics have been addressed with particular care. Natural gas enriched with hydrogen, and different syngas fuels have been studied. AIT values have been evaluated in function of the equivalence ratio and pressure. All the results obtained have been fitted by means of a practical mathematical expression. The overall study leads to a simple correlation of AIT versus equivalence ratio/pressure.


1998 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. ROUSSOPOULOS ◽  
A. LIAKATAS ◽  
W. J. WHITTINGTON

A series of experiments investigating the interactive effects of light and temperature on vegetative growth, earliness, fruiting, yield and fibre properties in three cultivars of cotton, was undertaken in growth rooms. Two constant day/night temperature regimes with a difference of 4 °C (30/20 and 26/16·5 °C) were used throughout the growing season in combination with two light intensities (75 and 52·5 W m−2).The results showed that significant interactions occurred for most of the characters studied. Although the development of leaf area was mainly temperature-dependent, plants at harvest had a larger leaf area when high temperature was combined with low rather than with high light intensity. Leaf area was least in the low temperature–low light regime. However, the plants grown under the high temperature–low light combination weighed the least.Variations in the number of nodes and internode length were largely dependent on temperature rather than light. Light did, however, affect the numbers of branches, sympodia and monopodia. The first two of these were highest in the high light–high temperature regime and the third in the low light–low temperature regime.All other characters, except time to certain developmental stages and fibre length, were reduced at the lower light intensity. Variation in temperature modified the light effect and vice versa, in a character-dependent manner. More specifically, square and boll dry weights, as well as seed cotton yield per plant, were highest in high light combined with low temperature, where the most and heaviest bolls were produced. But flower production was favoured by high light and high temperature, suggesting increased boll retention at low temperature, especially when combined with low light. Low temperature and high light also maximized lint percentage.Fibres were shortest in the high temperature–high light regime, where fibre strength, micronaire index and maturity ratio were at a maximum. However, the finest and the most uniform fibres were produced when high light was combined with low temperature.Cultivar differences were significant mainly in leaf area and dry matter production at flowering.


Author(s):  
Vahid Hosseini ◽  
W. Stuart Neill ◽  
M. David Checkel

One potential method for controlling the combustion phasing of a Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engine is to vary the fuel chemistry using two fuels with different auto-ignition characteristics. Although a dual-fuel engine concept is technically feasible with current engine management and fuel delivery system technologies, this is not generally seen as a practical solution due to the necessity of supplying and storing two fuels. Onboard partial reforming of a hydrocarbon fuel is seen to be a more attractive way to realize a dual-fuel concept while relying on only one fuel supply infrastructure. Reformer Gas (RG) is a mixture of light gases dominated by hydrogen and carbon monoxide that can be produced from any hydrocarbon fuel using an onboard fuel processor. RG has a high resistance to auto-ignition and wide flammability limits. The ratio of H2 to CO produced depends on the reforming method and conditions, as well as the hydrocarbon fuel. In this study, a CFR engine was operated in HCCI mode at elevated intake air temperatures and pressures. n-heptane was used as the hydrocarbon blending component because of its high cetane number and well-known fuel chemistry. RG was used as the low cetane blending component to retard the combustion phasing. Other influential parameters such as air/fuel ratio, EGR, and intake temperature were maintained constant. The experimental results show that increasing the RG fraction retards the combustion phasing to a more optimized value causing indicated power and fuel conversion efficiency to increase. RG reduced the first stage of heat release, extended the negative temperature coefficient delay period, and retarded the main stage of combustion. Two extreme cases of RG composition with H2/CO ratios of 3/1 and 1/1 were investigated. The results show that both RG compositions retard the combustion phasing, but that the higher hydrogen fraction RG is more effective. A single-zone model with detailed chemical kinetics was used to interpret the experimental results. The effect of RG on combustion phasing retardation was confirmed. It was found that the low temperature heat release was inhibited by a reduction of intermediate radical mole fractions during low temperature reactions and the early stages of the negative temperature coefficient delay period.


2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. W. Mwendia ◽  
I. A. M. Yunusa ◽  
R. D. B. Whalley ◽  
B. M. Sindel ◽  
D. Kenney ◽  
...  

Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) is an important fodder and relatively drought-tolerant crop in tropical and subtropical regions, especially in developing countries. For this and other species, tools are needed for identifying drought-tolerant cultivars to aid selection for semi-arid environments. We determined tissue water status, carbon assimilation, biomass yield and forage quality for Napier grass cvv. Bana and Atherton grown in bins and subjected to three soil-water supply levels (100, 50 or 25% of field capacity) in glasshouses set at either low (15−25°C) or high (25−35°C) temperature regimes, over three growing cycles. Our aim was to explore whether differences in leaf water potential (LWP) and carbon assimilation rates could be reliable indicators of the relative yield potential and forage quality of the two cultivars in environments prone to water and heat stresses. At the low soil-water supply of 25% and low temperature, Bana had lower (more negative) LWP and relative water content (RWC) than Atherton, while at 50% and 100% soil-water supply, Bana had a higher tissue water status. Under the high temperature regime, Bana had consistently more positive LWP and RWC than Atherton, but the differences were not significant. The two cultivars had a similar CO2 assimilation rate (A) and there were no significant differences in the total dry matter yields over the three growing cycles. Water-use efficiency for above-ground biomass (kg ha–1 mm–1) was similar for both cultivars and was 28.5–35.1 under the low temperature regime and 16.9–22.9 under the high temperature regime. Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) was often higher for Bana at low water supply and low temperature than for Atherton, but the trend was reversed under the high temperature regime. Digestibility was generally improved under water-stressed conditions, and there was a positive correlation between NDF and both LWP and RWC measured at midday, but only under the low temperature regime. We conclude that LWP, RWC and A, alone or together, are inadequate for selecting cultivars for dry and hot environments, because cultivars may differ in other mechanistic responses to water stress and high temperatures.


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