SAMULET_Project_2_Combustion Systems for Low Environmental Impact
Lead Research Organisation:
Loughborough University
Department Name: Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering
Abstract
Future sales of aero gas turbine products are dependent on the ability to deliver propulsion systems that are competitive and meet current and anticipated environmental legislation. Customers are increasingly prioritising emissions performance in their selection process. This means new combustor designs must deliver high fuel efficiency and low emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), unburnt combustion products, and particulates. The most powerful route to improving fuel efficiency is via higher pressure ratios, higher bypass ratios, and higher core temperature ratios, all resulting in higher combustion temperatures. This directly impacts on NOX, so the combustion system has to reduce emissions performance for a given thermodynamic cycle just to maintain current emissions levels. Step changes in NOX emissions technology are thus required. This can be delivered if appropriate lean burn combustion technology for large engines and improved rich burn technology for smaller products can be developed. To achieve this target requires improved knowledge and innovative ideas to be created via fundamental research into: 'quiet' low emissions fuel injectors, new techniques for predicting/managing combustion instability, advanced measurement techniques for kerosene/alternative fuels, improved fuel control systems, better design of combustor cooling systems, and methods for accurate lifing of combustors using novel approaches to manufacturing incorporating the effects of residual stresses.
Organisations
Publications
Ford C
(2012)
The Impact of Compressor Exit Conditions on Fuel Injector Flows
in Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power
Ford C
(2013)
The application of porous media to simulate the upstream effects of gas turbine injector swirl vanes
in Computers & Fluids
Ford C. L.
(2012)
The impact of compresor exit conditions on fuel injector flows
Xiao F
(2014)
LES of turbulent liquid jet primary breakup in turbulent coaxial air flow
in International Journal of Multiphase Flow
Xiao F
(2013)
Large Eddy Simulation of Liquid-Jet Primary Breakup in Air Crossflow
in AIAA Journal
Xiao F
(2014)
LARGE EDDY SIMULATION OF SINGLE DROPLET AND LIQUID JET PRIMARY BREAKUP USING A COUPLED LEVEL SET/VOLUME OF FLUID METHOD
in Atomization and Sprays
Description | New CFD models developed for two-phase flow modelling relevant to fuel injector atomisation. New experimental information produced on aerodynamics and aero-acoustics of gas-turbine combustion systems |
Exploitation Route | some of the CFD modelling and experimental data produced should be helpful to Rolls-Royce in their development of lean burn (low emissions) combustors |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine |
Description | Parts of the research have been used by Rolls-Royce in their development work on lean burn fuel injectors and combustors |
First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
Impact Types | Economic |