ABSTRACT
AN INNOVATIVE METHOD FOR REDUCING GASEOUS
EMISSIONS FROM POWER TURBINE COMBUSTORS
S. Singh and R. E. Peck
An experimental study of spray combustion with porous inserts was
performed using a laboratory combustor consisting of an on-axis fuel
nozzle/air swirler in a concentric pipe with high-bypass air ow. The
fuel used in all tests was Jet-A. Combustor performance was evaluated
by measuring exhaust emissions and ame temperatures for dierent
operating conditions with and without ceramic foam inserts of various
properties. Experimental results indicated that the enhanced heat trans-
fer in the ame zone could reduce nitrogen oxides (NO
x
) and unburned
hydrocarbon (UHC) emissions by up to 60%, while carbon monoxide
concentrations depended on sustaining rapid burnout downstream of
the porous layer. NO
x
concentrations were found to be a function of
the location, thickness, and pore size of the insert. Placing a second
porous layer downstream could yield further reductions in NO
x
/UHC
emissions. Test results for dierent ring rates and equivalence ratios
revealed the residence time in the porous layer is an important factor
regulating combustor performance.
