Development of a high intensity, low emissions burner

Citation

Ikemi, Douglas Kerry (1980) Development of a high intensity, low emissions burner. Engineer's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/p85m-cd96. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-12072006-084231

Abstract

In the past decade increasing environmental awareness has brought attention to the emissions levels of gas turbine combustors, especially in the case of potential automotive applications. In order to meet present and projected pollution requirements, researchers have been investigating the performance of premixed, lean primary zone fuel-air ratio combustors to replace the present diffusion flame, stoichiometric burners. However, the premixed lean combustor has a very narrow acceptable operating range as a function of fuel-air ratio. The burner development described here was undertaken to demonstrate that the emission index (g pollutant/kg fuel) levels of CO and NOx can be lowered by an order of magnitude from previously attained levels, while maintaining very low unburned hydrocarbons levels. Flameholder geometry was found to have a very strong effect on the emissions levels through its influence on the lean flammability limit, and hence was carefully studied. It was also noted that the lean operational limit imposed by the rise in CO levels there is primarily a residence time phenomenon.

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