Impact of Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Emissions in a Custom-Built High-Pressure Combustor

Qiming Yu () and Bhupendra Khandelwal
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Qiming Yu: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
Bhupendra Khandelwal: Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-19

Abstract: This study addresses the ongoing demand for increased efficiency and reduced emissions in turbomachinery combustion systems. A custom-built high-pressure combustor was designed and manufactured at the Low Carbon Combustion Centre (LCCC) of the University of Sheffield to investigate the impact of different aromatic hydrocarbons on emission rates. The research involved the comprehensive testing of Jet−A1 fuel and six aromatic species blends under high-pressure conditions of 10 bar. Based on the numerical CFD simulations by ANSYS 19.2, tangential dual air injection and a strategically placed V-shaped baffle plate were utilised to enhance fuel-air mixing and combustion stability. Experimental results demonstrated a negative correlation between combustion temperature and particulate matter (PM) emissions, with higher temperatures yielding lower PM emissions. Unburned hydrocarbons (UHCs), nitrogen oxides ( N O x ), carbon monoxide ( C O ), and carbon dioxide ( C O 2 ) emissions were also analysed. Ethylbenzene produced the highest UHC and C O emissions, while Indane exhibited the lowest levels of these pollutants, suggesting more complete combustion. O−xylene generated the highest N O x emissions, correlating with its higher combustion temperatures. This research enhances our understanding of gas turbine combustor design and the combustion behaviour of aromatic species, providing valuable insights for developing low-emission, high-efficiency gas turbine combustion technologies.

Keywords: high-pressure combustion; aromatic hydrocarbons; emission reduction; particulate matter (PM); unburned hydrocarbons; nitrogen oxides; fuel blends (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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