Session: 04-21 Combustion Emissions I

Submission Number: 179220

Joint Experimental and Numerical Study of Multipoint Injectors: Technology Influence on Lean Combustion and NOx Emissions 

Lean combustion remains a cornerstone technology for reducing pollutant emissions and achieving compliance with increasingly stringent environmental regulations governing next-generation aeronautical engines. Operating under lean conditions poses significant challenges related to flame stabilization, combustion regime transitions, fuel–air mixing, and reduction of pollutant formation. In this context, high-fidelity numerical simulations play a key role in the design and optimization of combustors, providing valuable insight into the complex physical and chemical processes that govern performance and emissions.

In the present study, two Multi-Staged Fuel Injectors (MSFIs), developed through a collaborative effort between Safran and CORIA laboratory, are investigated using the compressible Large Eddy Simulation (LES) solver AVBP. The proposed numerical strategy combines the thickened flame model with a globally reduced chemistry, while nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are evaluated using the NOMAGT formalism.

Different fuel injection modeling approaches are tested to assess their influence on flame topology, and overall combustion dynamics. Detailed analyses of the NOx formation pathways are performed for both injector configurations, enabling a quantification of the impact of key technological design differences on pollutant emissions. LES results are systematically compared against available experimental measurements to validate the predictive capacity of the approach.

The outcomes of this work contribute to advancing the use of high-fidelity simulations as a predictive tool in the design of low-emission aeronautical combustors, highlighting their potential to support future development of cleaner and more efficient propulsion systems.

Presenting Author: Stefano Puggelli Safran Aircraft Engines

Presenting Author Biography: Stefano Puggelli holds a joint Ph.D. from the University of Florence and the University of Rouen. He joined SafranTech in 2019, focusing on the design, numerical simulation, and testing of low-emission injection systems. As of 2024, he is Technical Leader at the Combustion Design Office of Safran Aircraft Engines.

Authors:

Nicola Detomaso Safran Aircraft Engines
Amandine Tomba Safran Aircraft Engines
Clement Brunet Safran Helicopter Engines
Marcos Caceres Safran Helicopter Engines
Benjamin Quevreux CORIA
Gilles Cabot CORIA
Renaud Mercier Safran Tech
Frederic Grisch CORIA
Stefano Puggelli Safran Aircraft Engines