Characterizing Combustion of Synthetic and Conventional Fuels in a Toroidal Well Stirred Reactor

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shazib Z. Vijlee ◽  
John C. Kramlich ◽  
Ann M. Mescher ◽  
Scott D. Stouffer ◽  
Alanna R. O’Neil-Abels
Keyword(s):  
Aromatic Compounds ◽  
Chemical Reactor ◽  
Synthetic Jet ◽  
Premixed Combustion ◽  
Liquid Fuels ◽  
Jet Fuels ◽  
Synthetic Fuels ◽  
Lean Premixed Combustion ◽  
Stirred Reactor ◽  
Lean Premixed

The use of alternative/synthetic fuels in jet engines requires improved understanding and prediction of the performance envelopes and emissions characteristics relative to the behavior of conventional fuels. In this study, experiments in a toroidal well-stirred reactor (TWSR) are used to study lean premixed combustion temperature and extinction behavior for several fuels including simple alkanes, synthetic jet fuels, and conventional JP8. A perfectly stirred reactor (PSR) model is used to interpret the observed behavior. The first portion of the study deals with jet fuels and synthetic jet fuels with varying concentrations of added aromatic compounds. Synthetic fuels contain little or no natural aromatic species, so aromatic compounds are added to the fuel because fuel system seals require these species to function properly. The liquid fuels are prevaporized and premixed before being burned in the TWSR. Air flow is held constant to keep the reactor loading roughly constant. Temperature is monitored inside the reactor as the fuel flow rate is slowly lowered until extinction occurs. The extinction point is defined by both its equivalence ratio and temperature. The measured blowout point is very similar for all four synthetic fuels and the baseline JP8 at aromatic concentrations of up to 20% by volume. Since blowout is essentially the same for all the base fuels at low aromatic concentrations, a single fuel was used to test the effect of aromatic concentrations from 0 to 100%. PSR models of these complex fuels show the expected result that behavior diverges from an ideal, perfectly premixed model as the combustion approaches extinction. The second portion of this study deals with lean premixed combustion of simple gaseous alkanes (methane, ethane, and propane) in the same TWSR. These simpler fuels were tested for extinction in a similar manner to the complex fuels, and behavior was characterized similarly. Once again, PSR models show that the TWSR behaves similar to a PSR during stable combustion far from blowout, but as it approaches blowout and becomes less stable a single PSR no longer accurately describes the TWSR. This work is a step towards developing chemical reactor networks (CRNs) based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) of the simple gaseous fuels in the TWSR. Ultimately, CRNs are the only realistic way to accurately perform detailed chemical modeling of the combustion of complex liquid fuels.

Simplified Models for NOx Production Rates in Lean-Premixed Combustion

1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Nicol ◽  
Philip C. Malte ◽  
Robert C. Steele
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Chemical Reactor ◽  
Premixed Combustion ◽  
Empirical Correlations ◽  
Simplified Models ◽  
Reactor Modeling ◽  
Lean Premixed Combustion ◽  
Co Concentration ◽  
Lean Premixed ◽  
Recent Laboratory

Simplified models for predicting the rate of production of NOx in lean-premixed combustion are presented. These models are based on chemical reactor modeling, and are influenced strongly by the nitrous oxide mechanism, which is an important source of NOx in lean-premixed combustion. They include 1) the minimum set of reactions required for predicting the NOx production, and 2) empirical correlations of the NOx production rate as a function of the CO concentration. The later have been developed for use in an NOx post-processor for CFD codes. Also presented are recent laboratory data, which support the chemical rates used in this study.

Direct Numerical Simulation of Partial Fuel Stratification Assisted Lean Premixed Combustion for Assessment of Hybrid G-Equation/Well-Stirred Reactor Model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Xu ◽  
Muhsin Ameen ◽  
Pinaki Pal ◽  
Sibendu Som
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Direct Numerical Simulation ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Premixed Combustion ◽  
Lean Premixed Combustion ◽  
Fuel Stratification ◽  
Stirred Reactor ◽  
Lean Premixed ◽  
Flame Structures

Abstract Partial fuel stratification (PFS) is a promising fuel injection strategy to stabilize lean premixed combustion in spark-ignition (SI) engines. PFS creates a locally stratified mixture by injecting a fraction of the fuel, just before spark timing, into the engine cylinder containing homogeneous lean fuel/air mixture. This locally stratified mixture, when ignited, results in complex flame structure and propagation modes similar to partially premixed flames, and allows for faster and more stable flame propagation than a homogeneous lean mixture. This study focuses on understanding the detailed flame structures associated with PFS-assisted lean premixed combustion. First, a two-dimensional direct numerical simulation (DNS) is performed using detailed fuel chemistry, experimental pressure trace, and realistic initial conditions mapped from a prior engine large-eddy simulation (LES), replicating practical lean SI operating conditions. DNS results suggest that conventional triple flame structures are prevalent during the initial stage of flame kernel growth. Both premixed and non-premixed combustion modes are present with the premixed mode contributing dominantly to the total heat release. Detailed analysis reveals the effects of flame stretch and fuel pyrolysis on the flame displacement speed. Based on the DNS findings, the accuracy of a hybrid G-equation/well-stirred reactor (WSR) combustion model is assessed for PFS-assisted lean operation in the LES context. The G-equation model qualitatively captures the premixed branches of the triple flame, while the WSR model predicts the non-premixed branch of the triple flame. Finally, potential needs for improvements to the hybrid G-equation/WSR modeling approach are discussed.

scholarly journals The Importance of the Nitrous Oxide Pathway to NOx in Lean-Premixed Combustion

1993 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Nicol ◽  
Robert C. Steele ◽  
Nick M. Marinov ◽  
Philip C. Malte
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Pressure Dependence ◽  
Porous Plate ◽  
Premixed Combustion ◽  
Nox Formation ◽  
Lean Premixed Combustion ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Stirred Reactor ◽  
Primary Zone ◽  
Lean Premixed

This study addresses the importance of the different chemical pathways responsible for NOx formation in lean-premixed combustion, and especially the role of the nitrous oxide pathway relative to the traditional Zeldovich pathway. NOx formation is modeled and computed over a range of operating conditions for the lean-premixed primary zone of gas turbine engine combustors. The primary zone, of uniform fuel-air ratio, is modeled as a micro-mixed well-stirred reactor, representing the flame zone, followed by a series of plug flow reactors, representing the post-flame zone. The fuel is methane. The fuel-air equivalence ratio is varied from 0.5 to 0.7. The chemical reactor model permits study of the three pathways by which NOx forms, which are the Zeldovich, nitrous oxide, and prompt pathways. Modeling is also performed for the well-stirred reactor alone. Three recently published, complete chemical kinetic mechanisms for the C1-C2 hydrocarbon oxidation and the NOx formation are applied and compared. Verification of the model is based on the comparison of its NOx output to experimental results published for atmospheric pressure jet-stirred reactors and for a ten atmosphere porous-plate burner. Good agreement between the modeled results and the measurements is obtained for most of the jet-stirred reactor operating range. For the porous-plate burner, the model shows agreement to the NOx measurements within a factor of two, with close agreement occurring at the leanest and coolest cases examined. For lean-premixed combustion at gas turbine engine conditions, the nitrous oxide pathway is found to be important, though the Zeldovich pathway cannot be neglected. The prompt pathway, however, contributes small-to-negligible NOx. Whenever the NOx emission is in the 15 to 30ppmv (15% O2, dry) range, the nitrous oxide pathway is predicted to contribute 40 to 45% of the NOx for high pressure engines (30atm), and 20 to 35% of the NOx for intermediate pressure engines (10atm). For conditions producing NOx of less than 10ppmv (15% O2, dry), the nitrous oxide contribution increases steeply and approaches 100%. For lean-premixed combustion in the atmospheric pressure jet-stirred reactors, different behavior is found. All three pathways contribute; none can be dismissed. No universal behavior is found for the pressure dependence of the NOx. It does appear, however, that lean-premixed combustors operated in the vicinity of 10atm have a relatively weak pressure dependence, whereas combustors operated in the vicinity of 30atm have an approximately square root pressure dependence of the NOx.

The Importance of the Nitrous Oxide Pathway to NOx in Lean-Premixed Combustion

1995 ◽  
Vol 117 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Nicol ◽  
R. C. Steele ◽  
N. M. Marinov ◽  
P. C. Malte
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Pressure Dependence ◽  
Porous Plate ◽  
Premixed Combustion ◽  
Nox Formation ◽  
Lean Premixed Combustion ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Stirred Reactor ◽  
Primary Zone ◽  
Lean Premixed

This study addresses the importance of the different chemical pathways responsible for NOx formation in lean-premixed combustion, and especially the role of the nitrous oxide pathway relative to the traditional Zeldovich pathway. NOx formation is modeled and computed over a range of operating conditions for the lean-premixed primary zone of gas turbine engine combustors. The primary zone, of uniform fuel-air ratio, is modeled as a micromixed well-stirred reactor, representing the flame zone, followed by a series of plug flow reactors, representing the postflame zone. The fuel is methane. The fuel–air equivalence ratio is varied from 0.5 to 0.7.The chemical reactor model permits study of the three pathways by which NOx forms, which are the Zeldovich, nitrous oxide, and prompt pathways. Modeling is also performed for the well-stirred reactor alone. Three recently published, complete chemical kinetic mechanisms for the C1–C2 hydrocarbon oxidation and the NOx formation are applied and compared. Verification of the model is based on the comparison of its NOx output to experimental results published for atmospheric pressure jet-stirred reactors and for a 10 atm. porous-plate burner. Good agreement between the modeled results and the measurements is obtained for most of the jet-stirred reactor operating range. For the porous-plate burner, the model shows agreement to the NOx measurements within a factor of two, with close agreement occurring at the leanest and coolest cases examined. For lean-premixed combustion at gas turbine engine conditions, the nitrous oxide pathway is found to be important, though the Zeldovich pathway cannot be neglected. The prompt pathway, however, contributes small-to-negligible NOx. Whenever the NOx emission is in the 15 to 30 ppmυ (15 percent O2, dry) range, the nitrous oxide pathway is predicted to contribute 40 to 45 percent of the NOx for high-pressure engines (30 atm), and 20 to 35 percent of the NOx for intermediate pressure engines (10 atm). For conditions producing NOx of less than 10 ppmυ (15 percent O2, dry), the nitrous oxide contribution increases steeply and approaches 100 percent. For lean-premixed combustion in the atmospheric pressure jet-stirred reactors, different behavior is found. All three pathways contribute; none can be dismissed. No universal behavior is found for the pressure dependence of the NOx. It does appear, however, that lean-premixed combustors operated in the vicinity of 10 atm have a relatively weak pressure dependence, whereas combustors operated in the vicinity of 30 atm have an approximately square root pressure dependence of the NOx.

scholarly journals Conversion of Liquid to Gaseous Fuels for Lean Premixed Combustion

1995 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Stoffel ◽  
L. Reh
Keyword(s):  
Diesel Oil ◽  
Premixed Combustion ◽  
Liquid Fuels ◽  
Fuel Vapor ◽  
Main Process ◽  
Lean Premixed Combustion ◽  
Gaseous Fuels ◽  
Lean Combustion ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Lean Premixed

The lean premixed combustion of gaseous fuels is an attractive technology to attain very low NOx emission levels in gas turbine engines. If liquid fuels are converted to gaseous fuels by vaporization, they also can be used in premix gas burners and similar low NOx emissions are achievable. Experiments were carried out in a test rig in which the three main process steps of liquid fuel combustion (vaporization of fuel, mixing of air and fuel vapor and combustion reaction) can be performed successively in three separate devices and examined independently. A wide range of liquid fuels (methanol, ethanol, heptane, gasoline, rape oil methyl ester and two diesel oil qualities) was vaporized in an externally heated tube in the presence of superheated steam. These fuel vapors were led to a Pyrocore® radiant burner operating in fully premixed mode at atmosperic pressure. For all fuels without bound nitrogen, NOx levels below 15 mg/m3 at 3% O2 in the dry exhaust gas (2.5 ppm at 15% O2) were measured at lean combustion conditions. However, the nitrogen particularly bound in higher boiling fuels like diesel oil was converted completely to NOx under these conditions. The fuel bound nitrogen (FBN) proved to be the major source of NOx when burning vaporized diesel oil.

Laminar Flame Speed Experiments of Alternative Liquid Fuels

2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles L. Keesee ◽  
Bing Guo ◽  
Eric L. Petersen
Keyword(s):  
Equivalence Ratio ◽  
Laminar Flame ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Synthetic Jet ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Liquid Fuels ◽  
Jet Fuels ◽  
Laminar Flame Speed ◽  
Synthetic Fuels ◽  
Best Parameter

Abstract New laminar flame speed experiments have been collected for two alternative liquid fuels. Understanding the combustion characteristics of these synthetic fuels is an important step in developing new chemical kinetics mechanisms that can be applied to real fuels. Included in this study are two synthetic Jet fuels: Syntroleum S-8 and Shell GTL. The precise composition of these fuels is known to change from sample to sample. Since these are low-vapor pressure fuels, there are additional uncertainties in their introduction into gas-phase mixtures, leading to uncertainty in the mixture equivalence ratio. An in-situ laser absorption technique was implemented to verify the procedure for filling the vessel and to minimize and quantify the uncertainty in the experimental equivalence ratio. The diagnostic utilized a 3.39-μm HeNe laser in conjunction with Beer's law. The resulting spherically expanding, laminar flame experiments were conducted over a range of equivalence ratios from φ = 0.7 to φ = 1.5 at initial conditions of 1 atm and 403 K in the high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP) constant-volume vessel at Texas A&M University. The experimental results show that both fuels have similar flame speeds with a peak value just under 60 cm/s. However, it is shown that when comparing the results from different datasets for these real fuels, equivalence ratio may not be the best parameter to use. Fuel mole fraction may be a better parameter to use as it is independent of the average fuel molecule or fuel surrogate used to calculate equivalence ratio in these real fuel/air mixtures.

Experimental Study of NOx Formation in Lean, Premixed, Prevaporized Combustion of Fuel Oils at Elevated Pressures

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Gokulakrishnan ◽  
M. J. Ramotowski ◽  
G. Gaines ◽  
C. Fuller ◽  
R. Joklik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Ignition Delay ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Combustion Characteristics ◽  
Premixed Combustion ◽  
Fuel Oil ◽  
Liquid Fuels ◽  
Nox Formation ◽  
Lean Premixed Combustion ◽  
Lean Premixed

Dry low Emissions (DLE) systems employing lean, premixed combustion have been successfully used with natural gas in combustion turbines to meet stringent emissions standards. However, the burning of liquid fuels in DLE systems is still a challenging task due to the complexities of fuel vaporization and air premixing. Lean, Premixed, Prevaporized (LPP) combustion has always provided the promise of obtaining low pollutant emissions while burning liquid fuels such as kerosene and fuel oil. Because of the short ignition delay times of these fuels at elevated temperatures, the autoignition of vaporized higher hydrocarbons typical of most practical liquid fuels has proven difficult to overcome when burning in lean, premixed mode. To avoid this autoignition problem, developers of LPP combustion systems have focused mainly on designing premixers and combustors that permit rapid mixing and combustion of fuels before spontaneous ignition of the fuel can occur. However, none of the reported works in the literature has looked at altering fuel combustion characteristics in order to delay the onset of ignition in lean, premixed combustion systems. The work presented in this paper describes the development of a patented low-NOx LPP system for combustion of liquid fuels which modifies the fuel rather than the combustion hardware in order to achieve LPP combustion. In the initial phase of the development, laboratory-scale experiments were performed to study the combustion characteristics, such as ignition delay time and NOx formation, of the liquids fuels that were vaporized into gaseous form in the presence of nitrogen diluent. In phase two, an LPP combustion system was commissioned to perform pilot-scale tests on commercial turbine combustor hardware. These pilot-scale tests were conducted at typical compressor discharge temperatures and at both atmospheric and high pressures. In this study, vaporization of the liquid fuel in an inert environment has been shown to be a viable method for delaying autoignition and for generating a gaseous fuel stream with characteristics similar to natural gas. Tests conducted in both atmospheric and high pressure combustor rigs utilizing swirl-stabilized burners designed for natural gas demonstrated operation similar to that obtained when burning natural gas. Emissions levels were similar for both the LPP fuels (fuel oil #1 and #2) and natural gas, with any differences ascribed to the fuel-bound nitrogen present in the liquid fuels. Extended lean operation was observed for the liquid fuels as a result of the wider lean flammability range for these fuels compared with natural gas. Premature ignition of the LPP fuel was controlled by the level of inert gas in the vaporization process.

scholarly journals Characterization of NOx, N2O, and CO for Lean-Premixed Combustion in a High-Pressure Jet-Stirred Reactor

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. Steele ◽  
Jon H. Tonouchi ◽  
David G. Nicol ◽  
David C. Horning ◽  
Philip C. Malte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Chemical Reactor ◽  
Reactor Model ◽  
N2o Formation ◽  
Nox Formation ◽  
Lean Premixed Combustion ◽  
Stirred Reactor ◽  
Lean Premixed ◽  
In Series

A high-pressure jet-stirred reactor (HP-JSR) has been built and applied to the study of NOx and N2O formation and CO oxidation in lean-premixed (LPM) combustion. The measurements obtained with the HP-JSR provide information on how NOx forms in lean-premixed, high-intensity combustion, and provide comparison to NOx data published recently for practical LPM combustors. The HP-JSR results indicate that the NOx yield is significantly influenced by the rate of relaxation of super-equilibrium concentrations of the O-atom. Also indicated by the HP-JSR results are characteristic NOx formation rates. Two computational models are used to simulate the HP-JSR, and to provide comparison to the measurements. The first is a chemical reactor model (CRM) consisting of two perfectly-stirred reactors (PSRs) placed in series. The second is a stirred reactor model with finite rate macromixing (i.e., recirculation) and micromixing. The micromixing is treated by either coalescence-dispersion (CD) or interaction-by-exchange-with-the-mean (IEM) theory. Additionally, a model based on one-dimensional gas dynamics with chemical reaction is used to assess chemical conversions within the gas sample probe.

NyOx formation in lean premixed combustion of methane in a high-pressure jet-stirred reactor

1998 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 1393-1399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin U.M. Bengtsson ◽  
Peter Benz ◽  
Rolf Schären ◽  
Christos E. Frouzakis
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Premixed Combustion ◽  
Lean Premixed Combustion ◽  
Stirred Reactor ◽  
Lean Premixed
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