Predictions of NOx Formation Under Combined Droplet and Partially Premixed Reaction of Diffusion Flame Combustors

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nader K. Rizk ◽  
Ju S. Chin ◽  
Andre W. Marshall ◽  
Mohan K. Razdan
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Flame ◽  
Liquid Droplet ◽  
Mixture Distribution ◽  
Fuel Vapor ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Gas Temperature ◽  
Nox Formation ◽  
Primary Zone ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Partially Premixed

A methodology is presented in this paper on the modeling of NOx formation in diffusion flame combustors where both droplet burning and partially premixed reaction proceed simultaneously. The model simulates various combustion zones with an arrangement of reactors that are coupled with a detailed chemical reaction scheme. In this model, the primary zone of the combustor comprises a reactor representing contribution from droplet burning under stoichiometric conditions and a mixing reactor that provides additional air or fuel to the primary zone. The additional flow allows forming a fuel vapor/air mixture distribution that reflects the unmixedness nature of the fuel injection process. Expressions to estimate the extent of deviation in fuel/air ratios from the mean value, and the duration of droplet burning under stoichiometric conditions were derived. The derivation of the expressions utilized a data base obtained in a parametric study performed using a conventional gas turbine combustor where the primary zone equivalence ratio varied over a wide range of operation. The application of the developed model to a production combustor indicated that most of the NOx produced under the engine takeoff mode occurred in the primary as well as the intermediate regions. The delay in NOx formation is attributed to the operation of the primary zone under fuel rich conditions resulting in a less favorable condition for NOx formation. The residence time for droplet burning increased with a decrease in engine power. The lower primary zone gas temperature that limits the spray evaporation process coupled with the leaner primary zone mixtures under idle and low power modes increases the NOx contribution from liquid droplet combustion in diffusion flames. Good agreement was achieved between the measured and calculated NOx emissions for the production combustor. This indicates that the simulation of the diffusion flame by a combined droplet burning and fuel vapor/air mixture distribution offers a promising approach for estimating NOx emissions in combustors, in particular for those with significant deviation from traditional stoichiometry in the primary combustion zone.

Predictions of NOx Formation Under Combined Droplet and Partially Premixed Reaction of Diffusion Flame Combustors

1999 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. K. Rizk ◽  
J. S. Chin ◽  
A. W. Marshall ◽  
M. K. Razdan
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Flame ◽  
Liquid Droplet ◽  
Mixture Distribution ◽  
Fuel Vapor ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Gas Temperature ◽  
Nox Formation ◽  
Primary Zone ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Partially Premixed

A methodology is presented in this paper on the modeling of NOx formation in diffusion flame combustors where both droplet burning and partially premixed reaction proceed simultaneously. The model simulates various combustion zones with an arrangement of reactors that are coupled with a detailed chemical reaction scheme. In this model, the primary zone of the combustor comprises a reactor representing contribution from droplet burning under stoichiometric conditions and a mixing reactor that provides additional air or fuel to the primary zone. The additional flow allows forming a fuel vapor/air mixture distribution that reflects the unmixedness nature of the fuel injection process. Expressions to estimate the extent of deviation in fuel/air ratios from the mean value, and the duration of droplet burning under stoichiometric conditions were derived. The derivation of the expressions utilized a data base obtained in a parametric study performed using a conventional gas turbine combustor where the primary zone equivalence ratio varied over a wide range of operation. The application of the developed model to a production combustor indicated that most of the NOx produced under the engine takeoff mode occurred in the primary as well as the intermediate regions. The delay in NOx formation is attributed to the operation of the primary zone under fuel rich conditions resulting in a less favorable condition for NOx formation. The residence time for droplet burning increased with a decrease in engine power. The lower primary zone gas temperature that limits the spray evaporation process coupled with the leaner primary zone mixtures under idle and low power modes increases the NOx contribution from liquid droplet combustion in diffusion flames. Good agreement was achieved between the measured and calculated NOx emissions for the production combustor. This indicates that the simulation of the diffusion flame by a combined droplet burning and fuel vapor/air mixture distribution offers a promising approach for estimating NOx emissions in combustors, in particular for those with significant deviation from traditional stoichiometry in the primary combustion zone.

scholarly journals Effects of Incomplete Premixing on NOx Formation at Temperature and Pressure Conditions of LP Combustion Turbines

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teodora Rutar ◽  
Scott M. Martin ◽  
David G. Nicol ◽  
Philip C. Malte ◽  
David T. Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Air Temperature ◽  
Chemical Reactor ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Reactor Model ◽  
Nox Formation ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Primary Zone ◽  
Lean Premixed ◽  
Temperature And Pressure

A probability density function/chemical reactor model (PDF/CRM) is applied to study how NOx emissions vary with mean combustion temperature, inlet air temperature, and pressure for different degrees of premixing quality under lean-premixed (LP) gas turbine combustor conditions. Inlet air temperatures of 550, 650 and 750 K, and combustor pressures of 10, 14 and 30 atm are examined in different chemical reactor configurations. Primary results from this study are: incomplete premixing can either increase or decrease NOx emissions, depending on the primary zone stoichiometry; an Arrhenius-type plot of NOx emissions may have promise for assessing the premixer quality of lean-premixed combustors; and decreasing premixing quality enhances the influence of inlet air temperature and pressure on NOx emissions.

The Effects of LBG Composition and Combustor Characteristics on Fuel NOx Formation

1980 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 459-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Folsom ◽  
C. W. Courtney ◽  
M. P. Heap
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Flame ◽  
Hydrocarbon Fuel ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Catalytic Reactor ◽  
Nox Formation ◽  
Fuel Gas ◽  
Flame Reactor ◽  
Reactor Operating ◽  
Low Sulfur

The low Btu gas (LBG) combined gas and steam turbine power cycle is a potentially attractive alternative to the direct coal fired steam cycle because of the potential for low sulfur emissions and high overall cycle efficiency. However, LBG may contain ammonia (NH3) which could be converted to nitrogen oxides (NOx) under typical combustion conditions. This paper examines the effects of LBG composition and combustor design on NOx emissions. Low Btu gases of varying compositions were synthesized from bottled gases and fired in three atmospheric pressure flame reactors: diffusion flame reactor, flat flame reactor and catalytic reactor. Nitrogen oxide emissions were found to be most sensitive to the concentrations of NH3 and hydrocarbon fuel gas in the synthetic LBG. Lowest NOx emissions were produced by the diffusion flame reactor operating at near stoichiometric conditions and the catalytic reactor operating fuel rich.

Numerical Analysis of NOx Formation in a Diffusion Flame Combustor Based on a Flamelet Model

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitry V. Volkov ◽  
Alexandr A. Belokon ◽  
Dmitry A. Lyubimov ◽  
Vladimir M. Zakharov ◽  
George Opdyke
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Flame ◽  
Turbulent Mixing ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Nox Emission ◽  
Scalar Dissipation ◽  
3D Flow ◽  
Nox Formation ◽  
Flamelet Model ◽  
Primary Zone ◽  
Consumption Rates

Laminar flamelet models have demonstrated good quality predictions of NOx emission from diffusion flame type combustors. In this paper, the NOx formation process is analyzed by using a flamelet model and 3D flow calculations to take a virtual look inside a combustor. The main phenomena affecting NOx emission are turbulent mixing and the turbulence-chemistry interaction. Local scalar dissipation is the main parameter responsible for the turbulence-chemistry interaction within the flamelet model. At the same time, scalar dissipation is also related to the mixing process. On one hand, higher values of scalar dissipation correspond to higher fuel consumption rates, which decrease the volume of the high temperature zones. On the other hand, higher values of scalar dissipation lead to higher NOx formation rates. Unfortunately, scalar dissipation is not commonly used by combustion engineers because of the difficulty of the clear physical interpretation of this variable and its relationship with the usual parameters. In this paper, the influence of several design features, such as primary zone equivalence ratio and air flow distribution along the liner, is studied relative to scalar dissipation distributions in the combustion zones and to NOx formation. A real industrial diffusion flame combustor is used as an example, and the results can provide a better understanding of real combustor processes. The NOx prediction results are in reasonable agreement with test data.

Using Multi-Dimensional Combustion Simulations of a Natural Gas/Diesel Dual Fuel Engine to Investigate NOx Trends With Air-Fuel Ratio

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Hockett ◽  
Michael Flory ◽  
Joel Hiltner ◽  
Scott Fiveland
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Dual Fuel ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Nox Formation ◽  
Jet Flame ◽  
Gas Drilling ◽  
Fuel Ratio ◽  
Wide Range

Natural gas/diesel dual fuel engines used in oil and gas drilling operations must be able to meet NOx emissions limits across a wide range of substitution percentage, which affects the air to natural gas ratio or gas lambda. In a dual fuel engine operating at high substitution, premixed, propagating natural gas flames occur and the NOx formed in such premixed flames is known to be a strong function of gas lambda. Consequently there is interest in understanding how NOx formation in a dual fuel engine is affected by gas lambda. However, NOx formation in a dual fuel engine is complicated by the interaction with the non-premixed diesel jet flame. As a result, previous studies have shown that enriching the air-fuel ratio can either increase or decrease NOx emissions depending on the operating conditions investigated. This study presents multi-dimensional combustion simulations of an air-fuel ratio sweep from gas lambda 2.0 to 1.5 at 80% substitution, which exhibited a minimum in NOx emissions at a natural gas lambda of 1.75. Images from the simulations are used to provide detailed explanations of the physical processes responsible for the minimum NOx trend with natural gas lambda.

scholarly journals A Variable-Geometry Combustor Used to Study Primary and Secondary Zone Stoichiometry

1983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Briehl ◽  
Donald F. Schultz ◽  
Robert C. Ehlers
Keyword(s):  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Fuel Quality ◽  
Variable Geometry ◽  
Gas Temperature ◽  
Reference Velocity ◽  
Primary Zone ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Secondary Zone ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Exhaust Gas Temperature

A combustion program is underway to evaluate fuel quality effects on gas turbine combustors. A rich-lean variable geometry combustor design was chosen to evaluate fuel quality effects over a wide range of primary and secondary zone equivalence ratios at simulated engine operating conditions. The first task of this effort, was to evaluate the performance of the variable geometry combustor. The combustor incorporates three stations of variable geometry to control primary and secondary zone equivalence ratio and overall pressure loss. Geometry changes could be made while a test was in progress through the use of remote control actuators. The primary zone liner was water cooled to eliminate the concern of liner durability. Emissions and performance data were obtained at simulated engine conditions of 80 percent and full power. Inlet air temperature varied from 611 to 665 K, inlet total pressure varied from 1.02 to 1.24 MPa, reference velocity was 18.0 m/sec and exhaust gas temperature was a constant 1400 K.

Experimental Characterization of the Combustion in Fuel Flexible Humid Power Cycles

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simeon Dybe ◽  
Felix Güthe ◽  
Michael Bartlett ◽  
Panagiotis Stathopoulos ◽  
Christian Oliver Paschereit
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Equivalence Ratio ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Nox Formation ◽  
Fuel Blend ◽  
Power Cycles ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Renewable Electricity Generation

Abstract Modified humid power cycles provide the necessary boundary condition for combustion to operate on a wide fuel spectrum in a steam-rich atmosphere comprising hydrogen and syngas from gasification besides natural gas as fuels. Thus, these cycles with their high efficiency and flexibility fit in a carbon-free energy market dominated by renewable electricity generation, providing dispatchable heat and electric power. To realize their full potential, the combustor utilized in such power cycles must fulfill the emission limits as well as demands of stable combustion over a wide range of fuel and steam ratios. The operation is limited by the risk of lean blowout for highly diluted syngas with low reactivity, and flashback for highly reactive hydrogen. Further, the gasification product gas can contain unwanted pollutants such as tars and nitrogen containing species like ammonia (NH3). Tars carry a considerable portion of the feedstock’s energy but are associated with detrimental operational behavior. The presence of ammonia in the combustion increases the risk of high NOx-emission at already small ammonia concentrations in the fuel. In this work, humid hydrogen flames are analyzed for their stability and emissions. Stable hydrogen flames were produced over a wide equivalence ratio and steam ratio range at negligible NOx-emissions. Further, natural gas, and a fuel blend substituting bio-syngas, was doped with ammonia. The combustion is analyzed with a focus on emissions and flame position and stability. The addition of ammonia causes high NOx-formation from fuel bound nitrogen (FBN), which highly increases NOx-emissions. The latter decrease with increasing NH3 content and increasing equivalence ratio.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Emission Model for Diffusion Flame, Rich/Lean, and Premixed Lean Combustors

1993 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. K. Rizk ◽  
H. C. Mongia
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Flame ◽  
Variable Structure ◽  
Kinetic Mechanism ◽  
Chemical Kinetic ◽  
Reaction Scheme ◽  
Emission Model ◽  
Nox Formation ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Lean Combustion ◽  
Wide Range

A recently developed emission model was used to predict the emission characteristics of a gas turbine combustor. The model involves a multiple-step reaction scheme that addresses the breakup of the fuel into an intermediate hydrocarbon compound of variable structure. The reaction rate expressions developed in the present approach simulated the results obtained using a detailed chemical kinetic mechanism over a wide range of operation that is typically encountered in a conventional diffusion flame combustor, as well as low NOx rich/quench/lean, and premixed/prevaporized lean combustion concepts. The modeling of the combustor involves dividing the combustor into a number of reactors representing various combustion and near wall regions of the combustor. The calculations showed that the fuel reaction could proceed at a completely different rate depending on the conditions prevailing in each region of the combustor. The model results also indicated that at idle power mode the initial rate of NOx formation was high. However, due to the subsequent admission of air, no further addition to the NOx concentration was predicted at downstream locations. At high power levels, the fuel rich region near the combustor dome inhibits the formation of NOx. The admission of air in this case brings the fuel/air mixture close to the stoichiometric value causing a significant amount of NOx to form. The model calculations agreed quite well with the measured data of the combustor.

Effects of Air Temperature on Combustion Characteristics of LPG Diffusion Flame

2020 ◽  
Vol 1008 ◽  
pp. 128-138
Author(s):  
Ahmed M. Salman ◽  
Ibrahim A. Ibrahim ◽  
Hamada M. Gad ◽  
Tharwat M. Farag
Keyword(s):  
Air Temperature ◽  
Diffusion Flame ◽  
Nitrogen Addition ◽  
Flame Length ◽  
Combustion Characteristics ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Air Stream ◽  
Wide Range

In the present study, the combustion characteristics of LPG gaseous fuel diffusion flame at elevated air temperatures were experimentally investigated. An experimental test rig was manufactured to examine a wide range of operating conditions. The investigated parameters are the air temperatures of 300, 350, 400, 450, and 500 K with constant percentage of nitrogen addition in combustion air stream of 5 % to give low oxygen concentration of 18.3 % by mass at constant air swirl number, air to fuel mass ratio, and thermal load of 1.5, 30, and 23 kW, respectively. The gaseous combustion characteristics were represented as axial and radial temperatures distributions, temperatures gradient, visible flame length and species concentrations. The results indicated that as the air temperature increased, the chemical reaction rate increased and flame volume decreased, the combustion time reduced leading to a reduction in flame length. The NO concentration reaches its maximum values near the location of the maximum centerline axial temperature. Increasing the combustion air temperature by 200 K, the NO consequently O2 concentrations are increased by about % 355 and 20 % respectively, while CO2 and CO concentrations are decreased by about % 21 and 99 % respectively, at the combustor end.

Fuel Droplet Evaporation in a Supercritical Environment

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 762-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. S. Zhu ◽  
S. K. Aggarwal
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Phase Equilibrium ◽  
Ambient Pressure ◽  
Droplet Surface ◽  
Fuel Vapor ◽  
Phase Solubility ◽  
Liquid Density ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Droplet Vaporization ◽  
Wide Range

This paper reports a numerical investigation of the transcritical droplet vaporization phenomena. The simulation is based on the time-dependent conservation equations for liquid and gas phases, pressure-dependent variable thermophysical properties, and a detailed treatment of liquid-vapor phase equilibrium at the droplet surface. The numerical solution of the two-phase equations employs an arbitrary Eulerian-Lagrangian, explicit-implicit method with a dynamically adaptive mesh. Three different equations of state (EOS), namely the Redlich-Kwong (RK), the Peng-Robinson (PR), and Soave-Redlich-Kwong (SRK) EOS, are employed to represent phase equilibrium at the droplet surface. In addition, two different methods are used to determine the liquid density. Results indicate that the predictions of RK-EOS are significantly different from those obtained by using the RK-EOS and SRK-EOS. For the phase-equilibrium of n-heptane-nitrogen system, the RK-EOS predicts higher liquid-phase solubility of nitrogen, higher fuel vapor concentration, lower critical-mixing-state temperature, and lower enthalpy of vaporization. As a consequence, it significantly overpredicts droplet vaporization rates, and underpredicts droplet lifetimes compared to those predicted by PR and SRK-EOS. In contrast, predictions using the PR-EOS and SRK-EOS show excellent agreement with each other and with experimental data over a wide range of conditions. A detailed investigation of the transcritical droplet vaporization phenomena indicates that at low to moderate ambient temperatures, the droplet lifetime first increases and then decreases as the ambient pressure is increased. At high ambient temperatures, however, the droplet lifetime decreases monotonically with pressure. This behavior is in accord with the reported experimental data.

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