Semi-empirical correlations for gas turbine emissions, ignition, and flame stabilization

Abstract

For operating conditions where the fuel evaporation rate is fast compared to the fuel vapor/air mixing rate, a characteristic time model has been formulated to predict gaseous emissions and efficiency in terms of combustor inlet conditions and geometry. The model, which involves kinetic and fluid mechanic times, has been used to design low NOx burners, and study of several different conventional engine combustors suggests that the correlation may be universal. A related model, which includes a fuel droplet evaporation time, is being validated with data from laboratory combustors for spark ignition and lean flame stabilization. The preliminary application of this latter model to engine situations is described. © 1980.