SR008 - Vanderbilt University
Principal Investigator: Arthur Mellor (Contact Professor Robert Pitz)
Project Title: NOx  and CO Emissions Models for Gas-Fired, Lean Premixed Combustion Turbines

Project Dates: September 1993 - December 1996
Area of Research: Combustion
Final Report: Executive Summary
Performing Member Directory Information:  
Additional UTSR Research Projects: SR008
Faculty-Student Inventory:  
Collaborations:

METC, Hughes Associates, Inc., Allison Engine Company, Solar Turbines, General Electric, Sandia National Laboratory, University of Washington, California Institute of Technology,

Publications:

 
  • Effects of Unmixedness in Piloted-Lean Premixed Gas Turbine Combustors - Abstract for Publication and Presentation at the 1997 International Gas Turbine Institute Meeting, Orlando, FL
  • Quantifying Unmixedness in Lean Premixed Combustors Operating at High Pressure, Fired Conditions - Abstract for Publication and Presentation at the 1997 International Gas Turbine Institute Meeting, Orlando, FL
  • Characteristic Time Modeling of NOx Emissions and Lean Blow Off for Piloted-Lean Combustors - Abstract for Publication and Presentation at the 1997 International Gas Turbine Institute Meeting, Orlando, FL
  • Design of Inlet Conditions for High Pressure NOx Measurements in Lean Premixed Combustors - Conference Presentation-1995 IGTI Turbo Expo, Houston, TX
  • Engineering Analysis for Lean Premixed Combustor Design - Technical Paper/Journal Publications-AIAA joint Propulsion and Power/Conference Paper-1995 AIAA Joint Propulsion Conference, San Diego, CA
  • NOx, CO, and Lean Blow off in a Piloted-Lean Premixed Combustor - Abstract
  • Preliminary Study of NOx, CO, and Lean Blow Off in a Polited-Lean Premixed Combustor Part I: Experimental - Technical Paper/Conference Presentation
  • Preliminary Study of NOx , CO, and Lean Blow Off in a Polited-Lean Premixed Combustor Part II: - Modeling Journal Publication, Combustion Science and Technology Journal
  • Behavior on NOx in Lean Premixed Pre-mixed Prevaporized Combustion: Effects of Fuel Composition and Inlet Jet Size - Journal Publications-Transaction of ASME, Conference Presentation-June 1997, ASME Gas Turbine and Aero Engine Congress, Orlando, FL
  • Chemical Reactor Modeling Applied to the Prediction of Pollutant Emissions an LP Combustor - Conference Presentation-33rd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE/Joint Propulsion Conference, July 1997, Seattle WA
  • Effects of Incomplete Premixing or NOx Formation at Gas Turbine Engine Conditions - Journal Publication, and Conference Presentation-42nd ASME Gas Turbine and Aero Engine Congress June 1997, Orlando, FL
  • Characterization of NOx, N20, and CO for Lean Premixed Combustion in High-Pressure Jet-Stirred Reactor - Journal Publication-ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbine and Power Conference Presentation-1996
  • NoxEI Sensitivity to Inlet Conditions for Lean Premixed Turbine Combustors - International Gas Turbine and Aero Engine Congress, Central States Combustion Institute Meeting, June 1994 (Abstract)
  • Simplified Models for NOx Production Rates in Lean-Premixed Combustion - Conference Presentation
  • NOx and N2O In Lean Premixed Jet Stirred Flames - Conference Presentation
  • Measurements of Turbulent Premixed Methane Flames by Raman Scattering And Fluorescence: Plans and Progress - Conference Presentation
  • NOx Kinetics and Mechanism for Lean Premixed Combustion: Part I- One Atmosphere Experimental Results - Conference Presentation
  • NOx Kinetics and Mechanism for Lean Premixed Combustion: Part II-Engineering Modeling Considerations - Conference Presentation
  • LP NOx Characteristic Time Model Validation Tests at METC - Conference Presentation
  • NOx Emissions for Lean-Premixed Combustion - Conference Presentation-Pacific Rim International Conference on Environmental Control of Combustion Processes
  • Raman Measurements of Mixing and Finite-Rate Chemistry in a Supersonic Hydrogen/Air Diffusion Flame - Journal Publication-Submitted to Combustion Flame, 1993


UTSR PERFORMING MEMBER DIRECTORY

Vanderbilt University

Research Projects Awarded : SR008

Performing Member Contact:

 

Robert W. Pitz, Professor and Chair

Vanderbilt University
Mechanical Engineering Department
104 Olin Hall, 2400 Highland Avenue
Nashville, TN 37212
615-322-0209/FAX 615-343-6687
robert.w.pitz@Vanderbilt.Edu


Experience
  • Combustion modeling, Design of experiments, Laser diagnostics
Interest
  • Combustion diagnostics, Turbine comb. research
Facilities
  

Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt Combustion Laser Diagnostics Laboratory has several laser measurement systems. A line Raman scattering and predissociative fluorescence imaging system is used for simultaneous and instantaneous measurement of major species concentrations, OH concentration, and temperature. A fluorescence system detects OH, CO, and NO by laser-induced fluorescence. A degenerate four-wave mixing system is being developed for measurement of NO, OH, and NO 2 and smoke in combustion.

These measurement systems use three major laser systems: a narrowband KrF excimer laser, an XeCl excimer-pumped dye laser, and a Nd-YAG laser with dye laser and frequency doubler/mixer. Two digital camera systems are available: a 1D intensified (1024 channel) diode array and a 2D intensified CCD (576 x 384 array) camera. The PMT or photodiode outputs are recorded by multi-channel gated integrators. All the detection systems are connected to PC computers. Three optical tables are available. Two optical tables have large access holes for burners with overhead hood exhaust systems.

The equipment is located in two separate laboratories above and below each other. Laser beams are passed through the (ceiling or floor) to provide access to the laser beams in each of the laboratories. Thus both laser systems can be used in each of the laboratories either separately or simultaneously. The total laboratory space is about 2000 ft 2 . Hazardous gas sensor systems are installed for detection of combustible gases and halogen gases (HCl and F 2 ). Additional channels can be added to these sensor systems. Ventilated gas storage cabinets and walk-in hoods are located in each laboratory for combustible and toxic gas storage.

Measurement Systems

  • Line Raman and fluorescence imaging system for measurement of major species concentration, OH concentration, and temperature.
  • Laser-induced fluorescence system for measurement of OH, NO, and CO.
  • Degenerate four-wave mixing system for measurement of NO 2­ , NO, and OH.
  • Aerometrics phase Doppler particle sizer and anemometer system.

Laser Systems

  • A narrowband, injection-locked, tunable KrF excimer laser (Lambda Physik Model 160T, operates at 248 nm, 250 mJ/pulse, 25000Hz).
  • A broadband XeCl excimer laser (Luminous Model HE-460, operates at 308 mm, 200 mJ/pulse, 80 Hz).
  • Luminous Model HD-300dye laser and Model HT-1000 harmonic generator with BBO crystal (turnable laser from 220 – 600 nm, 1-20 mJ/pulse).
  • Continuous Nd-YAG laser with dye laser and frequency mixer/doubler

Burners

  • A laminar flat-flame, multi-element diffusion flame (2” x 2”) Hencken burner facility with mass flow meters. Used for calibration of Raman and fluorescence detection systems.
  • Opposed flow laminar burner.
  • A premixed, cooled, sintered metal flat flame burner.
  • Cylindrical burner producing tubular partially-premixed flames
  • An H 2 /air turbulent straight jet flame and swirling jet flame facility with mass flow meters.
  • Turbulent premixed bluff-body stabilized flame burner with mass flow meters.

Electronics

  • CAMAC data acquisition system with two 8-channel gated integrators (LeCroy Model 2249W) coupled to a PC computer.
  • Stanford Research 2-channel gated integrator system coupled to a PC computer.
  • High-speed (500 MHz) Tektronik oscilloscope.
  • Several precision 4-channel Stanford Research digital delay (Model DG-535).

Spectrometers

  • ISA ¼ meter double monochromator
  • Spex ½-meter single spectrometer
  • Spex ¾-meter single spectrometer
  • Spex Triplemate spectrometer

Digital Cameras

  • Princeton Instruments intensified diode array camera (Model IPDA-1024S/B) coupled to a PC computer.
  • Princeton Instruments 2D intensified gated CCD 384 x 576 array camera coupled to a PC computer.
  • Princeton Instruments 2D unintensified, cryogenically cooled CCD camera

Computer Equipment

  • PC computers, laser printer, color printer, and multi-pen plotter.

The Combustion and Propulsion Group at Vanderbilt University is led by Professor A.M. Mellor. The main focus of the group is modeling the effects of combustor design, fuel type, and combustor inlet conditions on combustion performance in gas turbines (i.e., NO x and CO emissions, combustion efficiency, lean blow out, etc.

Although the team has no combustion facilities on the Vanderbilt campus, the group works closely with industrial and government combustion facilities in designing and conducting experiments and interpreting and analyzing the resulting data. For example, the group has previously assisted United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) in the development of testing procedures for, and modeling the combustion performance data of, an experimental combustor. Also, the group has worked with the industrial gas turbine divisions of both General Electric and Westinghouse in modeling the emissions from their respective large scale industrial combustors with water or steam injection. Current research is focused on diesel engines, and collaboative activities are under way with Ford, Caterpillar, Cummins, and Detroit Diesel.


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