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At least 73 records · Page 4

Estimates of the Lightning NOx Profile in the Vicinity of the North Alabama Lightning Mapping Array

The NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Lightning Nitrogen Oxides Model (LNOM) is applied to August 2006 North Alabama Lightning Mapping Array (NALMA) data to estimate the (unmixed and otherwise environmentally unmodified) vertical source profile of lightning nitrogen oxides, NOx = NO + NO2. Data from the National Lightning Detection Network (Trademark) (NLDN) is also employed. This is part of a larger effort aimed at building a more realistic lightning NOx emissions inventory for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system. Overall, special attention is given to several important lightning variables including: the frequency and geographical distribution of lightning in the vicinity of the NALMA network, lightning type (ground or cloud flash), lightning channel length, channel altitude, channel peak current, and the number of strokes per flash. Laboratory spark chamber results from the literature are used to convert 1-meter channel segments (that are located at a particular known altitude; i.e., air density) to NOx concentration. The resulting lightning NOx source profiles are discussed.

Koshak, William J.↗

Lightning NOx Production in the Tropics as Determined Using OMI NO2 Retrievals and WWLLN Stroke Data

Nitrogen oxide (NOx) production by lightning in the tropics is estimated using tropospheric NOx amounts (LNOx*) over deep convective grid boxes derived from OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) nitrogen dioxide (NO2) slant columns and detection efficiency adjusted WWLLN (World Wide Lightning Location Network) flashes. The lightning NOx production efficiency (LNOx PE) in the tropics is determined for the austral and boreal summers of 2007 to 2011 by regressing regional mean daily values of LNOx* for individual seasons against daily flash totals during flash windows prior to the OMI overpass. LNOx PE is determined to be approximately two times larger over marine locations than over continental locations possibly because marine flashes are more energetic. Overall, the mean LNOx PE for the tropics is calculated to be 170 ± 100 mol per flash with values over the tropical Pacific (low flash rate region) being largest. The main contributors to uncertainties in PE are uncertainties in WWLLN flash detection efficiency, upper tropospheric NOx lifetime in the near field of convection, and air mass factor biases.

Dale J. Allen↗

Low NOx Fuel-Flex Combustor Summary

Combustion and emissions testing of United Technologies Research Center’s (UTRC’s) small core combustor in NASA GRC’s CE-5 flametube test facility comprising of LTO and cruise conditions has been completed. Sufficient NOx emissions data was collected to formulate correlation equations for assessing reductions in NOx for LTO against CAEP/6 and cruise against 2005 best-in-class. Back-to-back testing of Jet-A fuel and a 50/50 blend of Jet-A with an alternative fuel demonstrated a measurable effect of fuel composition on non-volatile particulate matter emissions. Post-test analysis indicates LTO NOx emissions >80% below CAEP6 in UTRC single-sector tests of small-core N+3 combustor. Documentation describing N+3 combustor concept selected, design approach, initial flametube test & analysis results; and preferred concept recommended for higher fidelity research has also been completed. This Lean Burn combustor concept shows potential to meet/exceed NASA’s Far Term LTO NOX reduction goals, but further investigation of dynamic characteristics of the combustor concept are required to ensure good operability over the entire flight regime conditions.

Angela D Surgenor↗

Predictive Modeling of NOx Emissions from Lean Direct Injection of Hydrogen and Hydrogen/Natural Gas Blends Using Flame Imaging and Machine Learning

This research paper explores the use of machine learning to relate images of flame structure and luminosity to measured NOx emissions. Images of reactions produced by 16 aero-engine derived injectors for a ground-based turbine operated on a range of fuel compositions, air pressure drops, preheat temperatures and adiabatic flame temperatures were captured and postprocessed. The experimental investigations were conducted under atmospheric conditions, capturing CO, NO and NOx emissions data and OH* chemiluminescence images from 27 test conditions. The injector geometry and test conditions were based on a statistically designed test plan. These results were first analyzed using the traditional analysis approach of analysis of variance (ANOVA). The statistically based test plan yielded 432 data points, leading to a correlation for NOx emissions as a function of injector geometry, test conditions and imaging responses, with 70.2% accuracy. As an alternative approach to predicting emissions using imaging diagnostics as well as injector geometry and test conditions, a random forest machine learning algorithm was also applied to the data and was able to achieve an accuracy of 82.6%. This study offers insights into the factors influencing emissions in ground-based turbines while emphasizing the potential of machine learning algorithms in constructing predictive models for complex systems.

08 HYDROGEN↗

N+2 Advanced Low NOx Combustor Technology Final Report

In accordance with NASAs technology goals for future subsonic vehicles, this contract identified and developed new combustor concepts toward meeting N+2 generation (2020) LTO (landing and take-off) NOx emissions reduction goal of 75 from the standard adopted at Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection 6 (CAEP6). Based on flame tube emissions, operability, and autoignition testing, one concept was down selected for sector testing at NASA. The N+2 combustor sector successfully demonstrated 75 reduction for LTO NOx (vs. CAEP6) and cruise NOx (vs. 2005 B777-200 reference) while maintaining 99.9 cruise efficiency and no increase in CO and HC emissions.The program also developed enabling technologies for the combustion system including ceramic matrix composites (CMC) liner materials, active combustion control concepts, and laser ignition for improved altitude relight.

era↗

Extending the Operating Envelope for an Extremely Low NOx Axial Stage Combustion System

The overall goal of this program is to develop a low NOx combustion system which enables a gas turbine combined cycle efficiency of > 65%. The proposed combustion system is a combination of three advanced technologies under development by the Recipient: advanced transition design, the Distributed Combustion System (DCS), and advanced head end. Of note is that the DCS and advanced transition were initially developed with DOE funding under previous Cooperative Agreements. The continued development of these designs has resulted in a proof of concept design which was successfully tested in the Recipient’s state-of-the-art high-pressure rig. The initial rig testing indicated a substantial benefit with respect to high firing temperature operation as well as low NOx operation for the advanced transition and the DCS. Even lower NOx and higher firing temperatures are possible with the addition of the advanced head end to the design. Potential hurdles to the combustion design have been identified, such as high pressure drop and acoustics. The goal of this program is to develop variations of this design which address these hurdles and create an optimized design for implementation into the Recipient’s new high efficiency gas turbine engine.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Effect of water vapor on the destruction of ozone in the stratosphere perturbed by ClX or NOx pollutants

Results are presented for a self-consistent one-dimensional coupled flow calculation for Ox, NOx, HOx, ClX, H2O, H2, CH4, H2O2, and N2O densities between 10 and 120 km. The results agree well with observations for the normal midlatitude atmosphere over this altitude range. ClX, NOx, and H2O are varied independently in the model considered. It is shown that the effect of depletion of ozone by ClX is to remove ozone preferentially above 30 km and to lower the altitude of maximum ozone density. This leads to enhanced solar heating of the lower stratosphere and tropopause and suggests the possibility of an increased flux of water into the stratosphere. Increasing water vapor in the stratosphere greatly enhances the rate of destruction of O3 by ClX and also causes an increase in the rate of destruction of O3 in the NOx-perturbed atmosphere.

Liu, S. C.↗

Wide range operation of advanced low NOx combustors for supersonic high-altitude aircraft gas turbines

An initial rig program tested the Jet Induced Circulation (JIC) and Vortex Air Blast (VAB) systems in small can combustor configurations for NOx emissions at a simulated high altitude, supersonic cruise condition. The VAB combustor demonstrated the capability of meeting the NOx goal of 1.0 g NO2/kg fuel at the cruise condition. In addition, the program served to demonstrate the limited low-emissions range available from the lean, premixed combustor. A follow-on effort was concerned with the problem of operating these lean, premixed combustors with acceptable emissions at simulated engine idle conditions. Various techniques have been demonstrated that allow satisfactory operation on both the JIC and VAB combustors at idle with CO emissions below 20 g/kg fuel. The VAB combustor was limited by flashback/autoignition phenomena at the cruise conditions to a pressure of 8 atmospheres. The JIC combustor was operated up to the full design cruise pressure of 14 atmospheres without encountering an autoignition limitation although the NOx levels, in the 2-3 g NO2/kg fuel range, exceeded the program goal.

Roberts, P. B.↗

Low NOx heavy fuel combustor concept program. Phase 1: Combustion technology generation

The viability of low emission nitrogen oxide (NOx) gas turbine combustors for industrial and utility application. Thirteen different concepts were evolved and most were tested. Acceptable performance was demonstrated for four of the combustors using ERBS fuel and ultralow NOx emissions were obtained for lean catalytic combustion. Residual oil and coal derived liquids containing fuel bound nitrogen (FBN) were also used at test fuels, and it was shown that staged rich/lean combustion was effective in minimizing the conversion of FBN to NOx. The rich/lean concept was tested with both modular and integral combustors. While the ceramic lined modular configuration produced the best results, the advantages of the all metal integral burners make them candidates for future development. An example of scaling the laboratory sized combustor to a 100 MW size engine is included in the report as are recommendations for future work.

Lew, H. G.↗

Low NOx heavy fuel combustor concept program addendum: Low/mid heating value gaseous fuel evaluation

The combustion performance of a rich/quench/lean (RQL) combustor was evaluated when operated on low and mid heating value gaseous fuels. Two synthesized fuels were prepared having lower heating values of 10.2 MJ/cu m. (274 Btu/scf) and 6.6 MJ/cu m (176 Btu/scf). These fuels were configured to be representative of actual fuels, being composed primarily of nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. A liquid fuel air assist fuel nozzle was modified to inject both of the gaseous fuels. The RQL combustor liner was not changed from the configuration used when the liquid fuels were tested. Both gaseous fuels were tested over a range of power levels from 50 percent load to maximum rated power of the DDN Model 570-K industrial gas turbine engine. Exhaust emissions were recorded for four power level at several rich zone equivalence ratios to determine NOx sensitivity to the rich zone operating point. For the mid Btu heating value gas, ammonia was added to the fuel to simulate a fuel bound nitrogen type gaseous fuel. Results at the testing showed that for the low heating value fuel NOx emissions were all below 20 ppmc and smoke was below a 10 smoke number. For the mid heating value fuel, NOx emissions were in the 50 to 70 ppmc range with the smoke below a 10 smoke number.

Novick, A. S.↗

Low NOx heavy fuel combustor concept program

Three simulated coal gas fuels based on hydrogen and carbon monoxide were tested during an experimental evaluation with a rich lean can combustor: these were a simulated Winkler gas, Lurgi gas and Blue Water gas. All three were simulated by mixing together the necessary pure component species, to levels typical of fuel gases produced from coal. The Lurgi gas was also evaluated with ammonia addition. Fuel burning in a rich lean mode was emphasized. Only the Blue Water gas, however, could be operated in such fashion. This showed that the expected NOx signature form could be obtained, although the absolute values of NOx were above the 75 ppm goals for most operating conditions. Lean combustion produced very low NOx well below 75 ppm with the Winkler and Lurgi gases. In addition, these low levels were not significantly impacted by changes in operating conditions.

White, D. J.↗

Recent spectroscopic measurements of NOx in the lower stratosphere

High resolution (0.02 and 0.06 per cm) Fourier transform airborne systems were used for measurements of long path atmospheric absorption spectra, covering many of the NOx infrared bands. Atmospheric emission measurements with liquid helium cooled grating spectrometer systems at 0.5 per cm resolution were also carried out from different altitudes in the NOx bands region. Analysis of the absorption and emission spectra provides quantification of NOx in the lower stratosphere at different latitudes and seasons, as well as diurnal variability.

Goldman, A.↗

PAN and the NOx budget of the troposphere

The present investigation has the objective to examine the interaction of NOx with the nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) photochemistry. Attention is given to the influence of temperature, transport, and hydrocarbon radical reactions on the profiles of peroxyacylnitrates (PANs) and NO2. A lumped NMHC chemical reaction scheme was used in a one-dimensional photochemical model of the global troposphere. Model calculations were performed with various temperature profiles and the corresponding solar zenith angles to examine seasonal variations in the profiles of PAN and NOx. A study of the effects of changing temperature and solar zenith angle on the profiles of PAN and NOx showed that the amount of NO2 tied up in PAN increased as temperature decreased.

Brewer, D. A.↗

NOx formation from the combustion of monodisperse n-heptane sprays doped with fuel-nitrogen additives

A series of experiments with simulated synthetic fuels were conducted in order to investigate the effect of droplet size on the conversion of fuel-nitrogen to NOx. Pyridine and pyrrole were added to n-heptane as nitrogen-containing additives and burned as monodisperse fuel droplets under various operating conditions in a spray combustion facility. The experimental results indicate that under stoichiometric and fuel-rich conditions, reducing the droplet size increases the efficiency of fuel-N conversion to NOx. This observation is associated with improved oxidation of the pyrolysis fragments of the additive by better oxygen penetration through the droplet flame zone. The dominant reactions by which fuel-N is transformed to NOx were also considered analytically by a premixed laminar flame code. The calculations are compared to the small droplet size results.

Sarv, Hamid↗

The Impact of Buoyancy and Flame Structure on Soot, Radiation and NOx Emissions from a Turbulent Diffusion Flame

It is hypothesized that the spatial structure of a turbulent diffusion flame plays an important role in determining the emissions of radiative energy, soot and NO, from a combustor. This structure, manifested in the two point statistics, is influenced by buoyancy. Radiation, soot and NOx emissions are the cumulative result of processes that occur throughout a flame. For example, radiation fluxes along a line of sight can be found from summing up the contributions from sources in individual pockets of hot soot that emit, and from sinks in cold soot that absorb. Soot and NOx are both the results of slow chemistry and are not equilibrium products. The time that is available for production and burnout is crucial in determining the eventual emissions of these pollutants. Turbulence models generally rely on a single point closure of the appropriate time averaged equations. Hence, spatial information is lost and needs to be modeled using solution variables such as turbulence kinetic energy and dissipation rate, often with the assumption of isotropy. However, buoyancy can affect the physical structure of turbulent flames and can change the spatial extent of soot bearing regions. Theoretical comparisons with models are best done in the limit of infinite Froude number because the inclusion of buoyancy in flow models introduces significant uncertainties. Hence, LII measurements of soot, measurements of radiation fluxes from soot, Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) of the flow field and measurements of post flame NOX will be carried out on the NASA Lewis 2.2 sec drop tower and eventually on the parabolic flight aircraft. The drop rig will be a modified version of a unit that has been successfully used at Lewis in the past.

Kennedy, I. M.↗

Water Misting and Injection of Commercial Aircraft Engines to Reduce Airport NOx

This report provides the first high level look at system design, airplane performance, maintenance, and cost implications of using water misting and water injection technology in aircraft engines for takeoff and climb-out NOx emissions reduction. With an engine compressor inlet water misting rate of 2.2 percent water-to-air ratio, a 47 percent NOx reduction was calculated. Combustor water injection could achieve greater reductions of about 85 percent, but with some performance penalties. For the water misting system on days above 59 F, a fuel efficiency benefit of about 3.5 percent would be experienced. Reductions of up to 436 F in turbine inlet temperature were also estimated, which could lead to increased hot section life. A 0.61 db noise reduction will occur. A nominal airplane weight penalty of less than 360 lb (no water) was estimated for a 305 passenger airplane. The airplane system cost is initially estimated at $40.92 per takeoff giving an attractive NOx emissions reduction cost/benefit ratio of about $1,663/ton.

Daggett, David L.↗

The plasma membrane-associated NADH oxidase (ECTO-NOX) of mouse skin responds to blue light

NADH oxidases of the external plasma membrane surface (ECTO-NOX proteins) are characterized by oscillations in activity with a regular period length of 24 min. Explants of mouse skin exhibit the oscillatory activity as estimated from the decrease in A(340) suggesting that individual ECTO-NOX molecules must somehow be induced to function synchronously. Transfer of explants of mouse skin from darkness to blue light (495 nm, 2 min, 50 micromol m(-1) s(-1)) resulted in initiation of a new activity maximum (entrainment) with a midpoint 36 min after light exposure followed by maxima every 24 min thereafter. Addition of melatonin resulted in a new maximum 24 min after melatonin addition. The findings suggest that the ECTO-NOX proteins play a central role in the entrainment of the biological clock both by light and by melatonin.

NASA Discipline Cell Biology↗

Preferential inhibition of the plasma membrane NADH oxidase (NOX) activity by diphenyleneiodonium chloride with NADPH as donor

The cell-surface NADH oxidase (NOX) protein of plant and animal cells will utilize both NADH and NADPH as reduced electron donors for activity. The two activities are distinguished by a differential inhibition by the redox inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI). Using both plasma membranes and cells, activity with NADPH as donor was markedly inhibited by DPI at submicromolar concentrations, whereas with NADH as donor, DPI was much less effective or had no effect on the activity. The possibility of the inhibition being the result of two different enzymes was eliminated by the use of a recombinant NOX protein. The findings support the concept that NOX proteins serve as terminal oxidases for plasma membrane electron transport involving cytosolic reduced pyridine nucleotides as the natural electron donors and with molecular oxygen as the electron acceptor.

Non-NASA Center↗