The Effect of Liquid-Fuel Preparation on Gas Turbine Emissions

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sosuke Nakamura ◽  
Vince McDonell ◽  
Scott Samuelsen
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Cylindrical Tube ◽  
Spray Angle ◽  
Preparation Process ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Secondary Importance ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Performance And Emissions ◽  
Air Mixing

The emissions of liquid-fuel fired gas turbine engines are strongly affected by the fuel preparation process that includes atomization, evaporation and mixing. In the present paper, the effects of fuel atomization and evaporation on emissions from an industrial gas turbine engine were investigated. In the engine studied, the fuel injector consists of a co-axial plain jet airblast atomizer and a premixer, which consists of a cylindrical tube with four mixing holes and swirler slits. The goal of this device is to establish a fully vaporized, homogeneous fuel/air mixture for introduction into the combustion chamber and the reaction zone. In the present study, experiments were conducted at atmospheric pressure and room temperature as well as at actual engine conditions (0.34MPa, 740K) both with and without the premixer. Measurements included visualization, droplet size and velocity. By conducting tests with and without the premixing section, the effect of the mixing holes and swirler slit design on atomization and evaporation was isolated. The results were also compared with engine data and the relationship between premixer performance and emissions was evaluated. By comparing the results of tests over a range of pressures, the viability of two scaling methods was evaluated with the conclusion that spray angle correlates with fuel to atomizing air momentum ratio. For the injector studied, however, the conditions resulting in superior atomization and vaporization did not translate into superior emissions performance. This suggests that, while atomization and the evaporation of the fuel are important in the fuel preparation process, they are of secondary importance to the fuel/air mixing prior to, and in the early stages of the reaction, in governing emissions.

The Effect of Liquid-Fuel Preparation on Gas Turbine Emissions

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sosuke Nakamura ◽  
Vince McDonell ◽  
Scott Samuelsen
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Cylindrical Tube ◽  
Spray Angle ◽  
Preparation Process ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Secondary Importance ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Performance And Emissions ◽  
Air Mixing

The emissions of liquid-fuel fired gas turbine engines are strongly affected by the fuel preparation process that includes atomization, evaporation, and mixing. In the present paper, the effects of fuel atomization and evaporation on emissions from an industrial gas turbine engine were investigated. In the engine studied, the fuel injector consists of a coaxial plain jet airblast atomizer and a premixer which consists of a cylindrical tube with four mixing holes and swirler slits. The goal of this device is to establish a fully vaporized, homogeneous fuel/air mixture for introduction into the combustion chamber and the reaction zone. In the present study, experiments were conducted at atmospheric pressure and room temperature as well as at actual engine conditions (0.34MPa, 740K) both with and without the premixer. Measurements included visualization, droplet size, and velocity. By conducting tests with and without the premixing section, the effect of the mixing holes and swirler slit design on atomization and evaporation was isolated. The results were also compared with engine data and the relationship between premixer performance and emissions was evaluated. By comparing the results of tests over a range of pressures, the viability of two scaling methods was evaluated with the conclusion that spray angle correlates with fuel to atomizing air momentum ratio. For the injector studied, however, the conditions resulting in superior atomization and vaporization did not translate into superior emissions performance. This suggests that, while atomization and the evaporation of the fuel are important in the fuel preparation process, they are of secondary importance to the fuel/air mixing prior to, and in the early stages of the reaction in, governing emissions.

scholarly journals Rapid Liquid Fuel Mixing for Lean-Burning Combustors: Low-Power Performance

2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 574-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Y. Leong ◽  
C. S. Smugeresky ◽  
V. G. McDonell ◽  
G. S. Samuelsen
Keyword(s):  
Low Power ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Direct Injection ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Power Performance ◽  
Lean Burn ◽  
Engine Operation ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Lean Direct Injection

Designers of advanced gas turbine combustors are considering lean direct injection strategies to achieve low NOx emission levels. In the present study, the performance of a multipoint radial airblast fuel injector Lean Burn injector (LBI) is explored for various conditions that target low-power gas turbine engine operation. Reacting tests were conducted in a model can combustor at 4 and 6.6 atm, and at a dome air preheat temperature of 533 K, using Jet-A as the liquid fuel. Emissions measurements were made at equivalence ratios between 0.37 and 0.65. The pressure drop across the airblast injector holes was maintained at 3 and 7–8 percent. The results indicate that the LBI performance for the conditions considered is not sufficiently predicted by existing emissions correlations. In addition, NOx performance is impacted by atomizing air flows, suggesting that droplet size is critical even at the expense of penetration to the wall opposite the injector. The results provide a baseline from which to optimize the performance of the LBI for low-power operation.

scholarly journals Rapid Liquid Fuel Mixing for Lean-Burning Combustors: Low-Power Performance

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
May Y. Leong ◽  
Craig S. Smugeresky ◽  
Vincent G. McDonell ◽  
G. Scott Samuelsen
Keyword(s):  
Low Power ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Direct Injection ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Power Performance ◽  
Lean Burn ◽  
Engine Operation ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Lean Direct Injection

Designers of advanced gas turbine combustors are considering lean direct injection strategies to achieve low NOx emission levels. In the present study, the performance of a multipoint radial airblast fuel injector (“Lean Burn Injector—LBI”) is explored for various conditions that target low-power gas turbine engine operation. Reacting tests were conducted in a model can combustor at 4 atm and 6.6 atm, and at a dome air preheat temperature of 533 K, using Jet-A as the liquid fuel. Emissions measurements were made at equivalence ratios between 0.37 and 0.65. The pressure drop across the airblast injector holes was maintained at 3% and 7–8%. The results indicate that the LBI performance for the conditions considered is not sufficiently predicted by existing emissions correlations. In addition, NOx performance is impacted by atomizing air flows, suggesting that droplet size is critical even at the expense of penetration to the wall opposite the injector. The results provide a baseline from which to optimize the performance of the LBI for low-power operation.

Experimental and Theoretical Studies of a Novel Venturi LPP Combustor

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils A. Røkke ◽  
Andrew J. W. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Gas Generator ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Throat Region ◽  
Low Emission ◽  
Lean Premixed ◽  
Fuel Staging ◽  
Performance And Emissions

A new gas turbine engine using a unique layout patented in Norway has a low emission combustion system under development. The gas generator uses entirely radial rotating components and employs a dual entry LP radial compressor, a radial HP compressor and a radial HP turbine. The power turbine is of a two stage axial design, coupled to an epicyclical gear embedded in the exhaust duct. Several combustor concepts have been tested and evaluated during the development of the engine. The engine is targeted for marine, power generation and train propulsion. For the marine and train application liquid fuel operation is needed, thus the primary focus in the development has been for a lean premixed prevapourised system. An interesting concept utilising two venturi premixers has been studied intensively. By utilising venturi premixers the following advantages can be achieved: • Low overall pressure drop but high injector pressure drop and velocities in the mixing region (throat region) • High shear forces and drag imposed on the droplets enhancing droplet shedding and evaporation • Excellent emission behaviour at designated load conditions Although these advantages can benefit gas turbine low emission combustion the challenges in using venturi premixers are: • Venturis are susceptible to separation and thus flame stabilisation within the venturi which is detrimental • Inlet flow disturbances enhance the tendency for separation in the venturis and must be minimised Studies were launched to investigate a proposed combustor configuration. These studies included analytical studies, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations of isothermal and combusting flow inside the combustor together with rig tests at atmospheric, medium and full pressure. Finally engine tests within the full operating range were conducted with very favourable emission figures for Lean Premixed Prevapourised (LPP) operation. The system was capable of running at below 20 ppm Nox and CO, at elevated power for liquid fuel. Control of part load performance and emissions is by variable fuel staging of the two venturi stages. The paper highlights the features of the venturi combustor development and discusses the characteristics in terms of flow conditions and droplet motion, heat transfer, ignition delay time and emissions.

Determination of Thermoacoustic Response in a Demonstrator Gas Turbine Engine

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Arana ◽  
B. Sekar ◽  
M. A. Mawid
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Analytical Model ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Gas Turbine Engine ◽  
Area Ratio ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Acoustic Response ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Discharge Area

This paper describes an analytical and experimental investigation to obtain the thermoacoustic response of a demonstrator gas turbine engine combustor. The combustor acoustic response for two different fuel injector design configurations was measured. It was found that the combustor maximum peak to peak pressure fluctuations were 0.6 psi to 2 psi for configuration A and B respectively. Based on the measured acoustic response, another experimental investigation was conducted to identify the design features in configuration B that caused the increase in the acoustic response. The data showed that by changing the fuel injector swirler’s vane to inner passage discharge area ratio, the engine acoustic response could be lowered to an acceptable level. A simplified analytical model based on the lumped-parameter approach was then developed to investigate the effect of geometrical changes upon the engine response. The analytical model predicted the fuel injector/swirlers acoustic response as a function of the swirlers inner passage discharge area ratio and frequency. The predictions were consistent with the experimental observations, in particular, it was predicted that as the area ratio was increased, the system reactance was decreased and as a result the system changed from a damping to an amplifying system.

Analytical efficiency comparison between gas turbine and gas turbine hybrid engines for passenger cars

1997 ◽  
Vol 211 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Cheng ◽  
D. G. Wilson ◽  
A. C. Pfahnl
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbine Engine ◽  
Passenger Cars ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Vehicle Performance ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Compression Ignition Engines ◽  
Power Turbine ◽  
Performance And Emissions ◽  
Efficiency Comparison

The performance and emissions of two alternative types of gas turbine engine for a chosen family vehicle are compared. One engine is a regenerative 71 kW gas turbine; the other is a hybrid power plant composed of a 15 kW gas turbine and a 7 MJ flywheel. These engines would give generally similar vehicle performance to that produced by 71 kW spark ignition and compression ignition engines. (The turbine engines would be lighter and, with a free power turbine, would have a more favourable torque-speed curve (1), giving them some advantages.) Results predict that for long-distance trips the hybrid engine would have a considerably better fuel economy and would produce lower emissions than the piston engines, and that the ‘straight’ gas turbine would be even better. For shorter commuting trips the hybrid would be able to run entirely from energy acquired and stored from house electricity, and it could therefore be the preferred choice for automobiles used primarily for urban driving when environmental factors are taken into account. However, the degradation of remaining energy in flywheel batteries and thermal energy in the regenerator and other engine hot parts between use periods will result in more energy being used than for the straight gas turbine engine using normal liquid fuel. The higher initial cost and greater complexity of the hybrid engine will be additional disadvantages.

Mixing Field Analysis of a Gas Turbine Burner

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Flohr ◽  
Patrick Schmitt ◽  
Christian Oliver Paschereit
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Recirculation Zone ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Turbulence Models ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Field Analysis ◽  
Mixing Process ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Air Mixing ◽  
Gas Turbine Burner

An analytical and numerical study has been carried out with the view on the understanding of the physical mechanisms of the mixing process in a gas turbine burner. To this end, three methods at various levels of approximation have been used: At the simplest level an analytical model of the burner flow and the mixing process has been developed. It is demonstrated how this approach can be used to understand basic issues of the fuel-air mixing and how it can be applied as a design tool which guides the optimisation of a fuel injector device. At an intermediate level of approximation, steady-state CFD simulations, based on the k–ε- and RSM-turbulence models are used to describe the mixing process. All steady simulations fail to either predict the recirculation zone or the turbulence level correctly, and can therefore not be expected to capture the mixing correctly. At the most involved level of modelling time-accurate CFD based on unsteady RSM and LES-turbulence models are performed. The simulations show good agreement with experiments (and in the case of LES excellent agreement) for both, velocity and turbulence fields. Mixing predictions close to the fuel injectors suffer from a simplification used in the numerical setup, but the mixing field is predicted very well towards the exit of the burner. The contribution of the asymmetric coherent flow structure (which is associated with the internal recirculation zone) to the mixing process is quantified through a triple decomposition technique.

scholarly journals Optical Characterization of a Multipoint Lean Direct Injector for Gas Turbine Combustors: Velocity and Fuel Drop Size Measurements

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Heath ◽  
Yolanda R. Hicks ◽  
Robert C. Anderson ◽  
Randy J. Locke
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Drop Size ◽  
Fuel Injection ◽  
Direct Injection ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Spray Angle ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Flame Tube ◽  
Component Velocity

Performance of a multipoint, lean direct injection (MP-LDI) strategy for low emission aero-propulsion systems has been tested in a Jet-A fueled, lean flame tube combustion rig. Operating conditions for the series of tests included inlet air temperatures between 672 K and 828 K, pressures between 1034 kPa and 1379 kPa and total equivalence ratios between 0.41 and 0.45, resulting in equilibrium flame temperatures approaching 1800 K. Ranges of operation were selected to represent the spectrum of subsonic and supersonic flight conditions projected for the next-generation of commercial aircraft. This document reports laser-based measurements of in situ fuel velocities and fuel drop sizes for the NASA 9-point LDI hardware arranged in a 3 × 3 square grid configuration. Data obtained represent a region of the flame tube combustor with optical access that extends 38.1-mm downstream of the fuel injection site. All data were obtained within reacting flows, without particle seeding. Two diagnostic methods were employed to evaluate the resulting flow path. Three-component velocity fields have been captured using phase Doppler interferometry (PDI), and two-component velocity distributions using planar particle image velocimetry (PIV). Data from these techniques have also offered insight into fuel drop size and distribution, fuel injector spray angle and pattern, turbulence intensity, degree of vaporization and extent of reaction. This research serves to characterize operation of the baseline NASA 9-point LDI strategy for potential use in future gas-turbine combustor applications. An additional motive is the compilation of a comprehensive database to facilitate understanding of combustor fuel injector aerodynamics and fuel vaporization processes, which in turn may be used to validate computational fluid dynamics codes, such as the National Combustor Code (NCC), among others.

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