Session: 04-49 Emissions V

Paper Number: 102457

102457 - Influence of Variable Swirl on Emissions in a Non-Premixed Fuel-Flexible Burner at Elevated Ambient Conditions 

As alternative fuels are designated for future energy applications, flexible combustor designs require considerable development to ensure stable operation with reduced NO_x emissions. A non-premixed variable swirl burner was used to appraise changes in NO_x production pathways, both experimentally and numerically with CH₄ NH₃, and H₂ flames, alongside intermediate fuel blends. Maintaining a constant thermal power and flame temperature between fuels, preheated reactants (500 K) were supplied, with parametric changes made to pressure (to 1 - 6 bara) and swirl number (0.8 - 2.0).  NOx production was characterised, alongside variations in flame structure and topology, with a correlation demonstrated between exhaust emission measurements and simulations performed using a chemical model.  Emission formation was shown to be sensitive to combustor pressure, with profiles from both NH₃ and H₂ flames shown to be significantly augmented by a change in swirl number. As NH₃ fractions were increased in an H₂ blend, a decaying trend in NOx emissions was observed with an increase in pressure as a function of mixture ratio, with the opposite tendency observed for H₂. Emissions data were normalised using the traditional dry/O₂ correction, alongside mass produced/thermal power, with a comparison provided.  The corresponding differences in emission formation pathways were investigated for each applied fuel, alongside high-speed chemiluminescence.

Presenting Author: Daniel Pugh Cardiff University

Presenting Author Biography: Daniel Pugh is a lecturer at Cardiff University specialising in fluid dynamics, undertaking research into the development and characterisation of alternative fuels for transport and power generation.

Within Cardiff’s Centre for Research into Energy, Waste and the Environment, his work encompasses fundamental aspects of combustion within energy systems and minimising the production of harmful emissions. He has experience across a broad range of topics including; Carbon-free fuels such as H2 and NH3, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), waste by-product fuels and Aerospace applications. His work resulted in the award of the 2020 Hinshelwood prize for meritorious work in the field of combustion from the Combustion Institute.

Authors:

Daniel Pugh Cardiff University
Philip Bowen Cardiff University
Rukshan Navaratne Cardiff University
Burak Goktepe Cardiff University
Anthony Giles Cardiff University
Agustin Valera Medina Cardiff University
Steven Morris Cardiff University
Robin Vivoli Cardiff University