Experimental and Numerical Investigation of a Planar Combustor Sector at Realistic Operating Conditions

Abstract

Results of an ongoing collaboration between the engine manufacturer MTU and the German aerospace research center DLR on the NOx reduction potential of conventional combustors are reported. A program comprising optical sector combustor measurements at 1, 6, and 15 bars and CFD calculations is carried out. The aims are to gather information in the combustor at realistic operating conditions, to understand the differences between the sector flow field and data from tubular combustors, to verify the used CFD, and to discover the benefits and limitations of the applied optical diagnostics. Selected results of measurements and calculations of the isothermal flow and of measurements at 6 bars and 700 K at a rich-lean and overall lean AFR are reported. The used measurement techniques were LDA, PDA, Mie scattering on kerosene, quantitative light scattering, OH* chemiluminescence, and LIF on OH. The measurements were able to confirm the intended quick and homogeneous mixing of the three staggered rows of secondary air jets.