Session: 04-31: Emissions II

Paper Number: 152037

Numerical Demonstration of NO Emissions Reduction by Steam Injection in the Aero Engine Combustor IAE V2500 

The development of future aero engine combustors has identified NO_x-mitigation as a key area of focus. The climate effect of net NO_x is not negligible at high altitudes, despite the regulation of NO_x within the LTO (Landing and Takeoff) cycle. Different approaches to reduce NO_x emissions in the combustion chamber are studied. In this work, the MTU Aero Engines AG's Water-Enhanced Turbofan (WET) concept is examined in detail, where steam is injected into the combustion chamber. Steam injection offers great potential for reducing local temperature peaks and thus NO pollutant formation. To investigate these effects under real aero engine conditions, the IAE V2500 combustor is numerically analyzed using Large Eddy Simulations and the Flamelet-Generated Manifold combustion model. An additional NO transport equation is solved, in which the source terms of NO production and consumption are considered separately to enhance prediction. A variety of steam contents is injected into the diffuser prior to the combustor. The aim is to maintain the maximum temperature at the combustor outlet, which is known as the material temperature limiter for maximum thermodynamic efficiency.  Therefore, the global equivalence ratio is increased in accordance with the water mass fraction. The potential of NO reduction is demonstrated under cruise operating conditions. The higher amount of steam in the oxidizer reduces the temperature peaks and gradients, especially in the rich zone , leading to a significant reduction of NO emissions. Accordingly, the potential to decrease the climate impact is demonstrated.

Presenting Author: Marian Hiestermann MTU Aero Engines AG

Presenting Author Biography: Since 03/2021
PhD student at MTU Aero Engines AG in the field of "Development and Technology Aero-/ Thermodynamics" ultra WET combustion.
Title: Development of a turbulent combustion model for aviation gas turbine combustors with high steam injection
Co-development of flow-relevant components of a gas turbine combustion chamber

Since 03/2021
PhD student at the Technical University Munich School of Engineering and Design Professorship of Thermo-Fluid Dynamics
Academic advisor: Prof. Wolfgang Polifke, PhD

10/2018 - 03/2021
Master of Science at the Technical University Berlin in Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering
Aircraft Engines and Aerodynamics
Master thesis: “Numerical investigation of steam injection on the combustion process of a DLR test combustion chamber” in cooperation with MTU Aero Engines AG (Grade: 1.0)

Authors:

Marian Hiestermann MTU Aero Engines AG
Matthias Haeringer MTU Aero Engines AG
Marcel Désor Technical University Munich
Korbinian Niebler Technical University Munich
Lukas Berger MTU Aero Engines AG