Soot-Free Low-NOx Aeronautical Combustor Concept: The Lean Azimuthal Flame for Kerosene Sprays

An ultralow emission combustor concept based on flameless oxidation is demonstrated in this paper for aviation kerosene. Measurements of gas emissions, as well as of the size and number of nanoparticles via scanning mobility particle sizing, are carried out at the combustor outlet, revealing simultaneously soot-free and single-digit NOx levels for operation at atmospheric conditions. Such performance, achieved with direct spray injection of the fuel without any external preheating or prevaporization, is attributed to the unique mixing configuration of the combustor. The combustor consists of azimuthally arranged fuel sprays at the upstream boundary and reverse-flow air jets injected from downstream. This creates locally sequential combustion, good mixing with hot products, and a strong whirling motion that increases residence time and homogenizes the mixture. Under ideal conditions, a clean, bright-blue kerosene flame is observed, free of soot luminescence. Although soot is intermittently formed during operation around optimal conditions, high-speed imaging of the soot luminescence shows that particles are subjected to long residence times at O-2-rich conditions and high temperatures, which likely promotes their oxidation. As a result, only nanoparticles in the 2-10 nm range are measured at the outlet under all tested conditions. The NOx emissions and completeness of the combustion are strongly affected by the splitting of the air flow. Numerical simulations confirm the trend observed in the experiment and provide more insight into the mixing and air dilution.

Automated summary

The ultralow emission combustor concept based on flameless oxidation demonstrates the potential for achieving clean and efficient combustion of aviation kerosene. It shows soot-free and single-digit NOx levels under atmospheric conditions, attributed to a unique combustor mixing configuration. The experimental results are supported by numerical simulations, providing further insights into mixing and air dilution effects on emissions and combustion completeness.