Performance of pure fuels in a single J33 combustor III : five hydrocarbon gaseous fuels and one oxygenated hydrocarbon gaseous fuel
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Smith, Arthur L↗
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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.↗
Gaseous fuel reactors for power systems
Gaseous-fuel nuclear reactors have significant advantages as energy sources for closed-cycle power systems. The advantages arise from the removal of temperature limits associated with conventional reactor fuel elements, the wide variety of methods of extracting energy from fissioning gases, and inherent low fissile and fission product in-core inventory due to continuous fuel reprocessing. Example power cycles and their general performance characteristics are discussed. Efficiencies of gaseous fuel reactor systems are shown to be high with resulting minimal environmental effects. A technical overview of the NASA-funded research program in gaseous fuel reactors is described and results of recent tests of uranium hexafluoride (UF6)-fueled critical assemblies are presented.
Kendall, J. S.↗
Gaseous fuel nuclear reactor research
Gaseous-fuel nuclear reactors are described; their distinguishing feature is the use of fissile fuels in a gaseous or plasma state, thereby breaking the barrier of temperature imposed by solid-fuel elements. This property creates a reactor heat source that may be able to heat the propellant of a rocket engine to 10,000 or 20,000 K. At this temperature level, gas-core reactors would provide the breakthrough in propulsion needed to open the entire solar system to manned and unmanned spacecraft. The possibility of fuel recycling makes possible efficiencies of up to 65% and nuclear safety at reduced cost, as well as high-thrust propulsion capabilities with specific impulse up to 5000 sec.
Schwenk, F. C.↗
Intake runner for gaseous fuel engine, system, and method
A gaseous fuel engine system includes a hydrogen fuel supply, an engine housing having an intake port extending to a cylinder, and an intake runner. The intake runner includes a valve mount attached to a conduit and having a valve mounting face, and a gaseous fuel admission valve is mounted upon the valve mounting face. A hydrogen fuel passage extends from the valve mount through the conduit and is oriented angularly to at least one of a clamping face of the intake runner or the valve mounting face. Related apparatus and methodology is also disclosed.
Singh, Jaswinder↗
Gaseous-fuel nuclear reactor research for multimegawatt power in space
In the gaseous-fuel reactor concept, the fissile material is contained in a moderator-reflector cavity and exists in the form of a flowing gas or plasma separated from the cavity walls by means of fluid mechanical forces. Temperatures in excess of structural limitations are possible for low-specific-mass power and high-specific-impulse propulsion in space. Experiments have been conducted with a canister filled with enriched UF6 inserted into a beryllium-reflected cavity. A theoretically predicted critical mass of 6 kg was measured. The UF6 was also circulated through this cavity, demonstrating stable reactor operation with the fuel in motion. Because the flowing gaseous fuel can be continuously processed, the radioactive waste in this type of reactor can be kept small. Another potential of fissioning gases is the possibility of converting the kinetic energy of fission fragments directly into coherent electromagnetic radiation, the nuclear pumping of lasers. Numerous nuclear laser experiments indicate the possibility of transmitting power in space directly from fission energy. The estimated specific mass of a multimegawatt gaseous-fuel reactor power system is from 1 to 5 kg/kW while the companion laser-power receiver station would be much lower in specific mass.
Thom, K.↗
Gaseous fuel reactor systems for aerospace applications
Research on the gaseous fuel nuclear rocket concept continues under the programs of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office for Aeronautics and Space Technology and now includes work related to power applications in space and on earth. In a cavity reactor test series, initial experiments confirmed the low critical mass determined from reactor physics calculations. Recent work with flowing UF6 fuel indicates stable operation at increased power levels. Preliminary design and experimental verification of test hardware for high-temperature experiments have been accomplished. Research on energy extraction from fissioning gases has resulted in lasers energized by fission fragments. Combined experimental results and studies indicate that gaseous-fuel reactor systems have significant potential for providing nuclear fission power in space and on earth.
Thom, K.↗
Recent Research on Flames of Gaseous Fuel Aboard the International Space Station
Research for a set of six independent experiments with flames of gaseous fuels has been carried out on the International Space Station (ISS) since 2017 using the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) and a set of modular hardware. While ISS testing has been completed for most of the studies in the Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME) project, it is expected to continue into 2022. The objectives and selected findings for each investigation are briefly discussed after a short review of the advantages of studying combustion in microgravity, previous research conducted in space, and the experimental hardware and its operation.
Flame↗
Recent Research on Flames of Gaseous Fuel Aboard the International Space Station
Research for a set of six independent experiments with flames of gaseous fuels has been carried out on the International Space Station (ISS) since 2017 using the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) and a set of modular hardware. While ISS testing has been completed for most of the studies in the Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME) project, it is expected to continue into 2022. The objectives and selected findings for each investigation are briefly discussed after a short review of the advantages of studying combustion in microgravity, previous research conducted in space, and the experimental hardware and its operation.
Flame↗
Laminar Non-Premixed Flames of Gaseous Fuel Aboard the International Space Station
From late 2017 to early 2022, six independent studies with flames of gaseous fuels were conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) in the U.S. combustion research facility. An exploration of flames at the extremes of high sooting and high dilution was conducted with a coaxial coflow burner, where the fuel and oxidizer velocities were typically matched. An investigation of electric-field effects also used the same coflow burner as well as a simple gas-jet burner, with a circular electrode mesh, downstream of the burner, at voltages of either polarity up to 10 kV. A study focused on material flammability in a quiescent atmosphere emulated the burning of condensed-phased fuels using cylindrical burners with a flat perforated outlet instrumented to measure the heat flux to the burner, i.e., emulated fuel. Three studies of soot processes, flame dynamics, and low-temperature combustion used porous spherical burners, yielding a nominally one-dimensional flame structure. The objectives and selected findings of each investigation will be briefly discussed after a short review of the advantages of studying combustion in microgravity, earlier ISS research, and the experimental hardware and its operation.
flames↗
Laminar Non-Premixed Flames of Gaseous Fuel Aboard the International Space Station
From late 2017 to early 2022, six independent studies with flames of gaseous fuels were conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) in the U.S. combustion research facility. An exploration of flames at the extremes of high sooting and high dilution was conducted with a coaxial coflow burner, where the fuel and oxidizer velocities were typically matched. An investigation of electric-field effects also used the same coflow burner as well as a simple gas-jet burner, with a circular electrode mesh, downstream of the burner, at voltages of either polarity up to 10 kV. A study focused on material flammability in a quiescent atmosphere emulated the burning of condensed-phased fuels using cylindrical burners with a flat perforated outlet instrumented to measure the heat flux to the burner, i.e., emulated fuel. Three studies of soot processes, flame dynamics, and low-temperature combustion used porous spherical burners, yielding a nominally one-dimensional flame structure. The objectives and selected findings of each investigation will be briefly discussed after a short review of the advantages of studying combustion in microgravity, earlier ISS research, and the experimental hardware and its operation.
flames↗
Gaseous fuel reactor research
The paper reviews studies dealing with the concept of a gaseous fuel reactor and describes the structure and plans of the current NASA research program of experiments on uranium hexafluoride systems and uranium plasma systems. Results of research into the basic properties of uranium plasmas and fissioning gases are reported. The nuclear pumped laser is described, and the main results of experiments with these devices are summarized.
Thom, K.↗
Combustion characteristics of hydrogen-carbon monoxide based gaseous fuels
The results of trials with a staged combustor designed to use coal-derived gaseous fuels and reduce the NO(x) emissions from nitrogen-bound fuels to 75 ppm and 37 ppm without bound nitrogen in 15% O2 are reported. The combustor was outfitted with primary zone regenerative cooling, wherein the air cooling the primary zone was passed into the combustor at 900 F and mixed with the fuel. The increase in the primary air inlet temperature eliminated flashback and autoignition, lowered the levels of CO, unburned hydrocarbons, and smoke, and kept combustion efficiencies to the 99% level. The combustor was also equipped with dual fuel injection to test various combinations of liquid/gas fuel mixtures. Low NO(x) emissions were produced burning both Lurgi and Winkler gases, regardless of the inlet pressure and temperature conditions. Evaluation of methanation of medium energy gases is recommended for providing a fuel with low NO(x) characteristics.
White, D. J.↗
Combustion characteristics of hydrogen. Carbon monoxide based gaseous fuels
An experimental rig program was conducted with the objective of evaluating the combuston performance of a family of fuel gases based on a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. These gases, in addition to being members of a family, were also representative of those secondary fuels that could be produced from coal by various gasification schemes. In particular, simulated Winkler, Lurgi, and Blue-water low and medium energy content gases were used as fuels in the experimental combustor rig. The combustor used was originally designed as a low NOx rich-lean system for burning liquid fuels with high bound nitrogen levels. When used with the above gaseous fuels this combustor was operated in a lean-lean mode with ultra long residence times. The Blue-water gas was also operated in a rich-lean mode. The results of these tests indicate the possibility of the existence of an 'optimum' gas turbine hydrogen - carbon monoxide based secondary fuel. Such a fuel would exhibit NOx and high efficiency over the entire engine operating range. It would also have sufficient stability range to allow normal light-off and engine acceleration. Solar Turbines Incorporated would like to emphasize that the results presented here have been obtained with experimental rig combustors. The technologies generated could, however, be utilized in future commercial gas turbines.
Notardonato, J. J.↗
Design handbook for gaseous fuel engine injectors and combustion chambers
Results of investigation of injection, mixing, and combustion processes using gaseous fuels and oxidizers have been summarized in handbook presenting succinct design procedures for injectors and methods for estimating combustion efficiency, chamber heat flux and stability characteristics. Handbook presents two approaches to injector and combustion chamber design: empirical and analytical.
Calhoon, D. F.↗
Gaseous-fueled cavity reactors - Criticality calculations and analysis
Computer calculation of material, temperature, and dimensional variables on criticality and size of gaseous fueled cavity reactor for nuclear rocket propulsion
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY↗
Combustion of Gaseous Fuels Under Reduced-Gravity Conditions
The need for an improved understanding of fires is becoming critically important with increased space travel and utilization. While the control of fires in low-gravity environments is not well understood, it is known that buoyancy significantly affects flame behavior and characteristics. The objective of this research is to gain a more fundamental understanding of fires, and to quantify flame behavior under reduced-gravity levels. Non-premixed flames of gaseous fuels are considered in this study because they are relatively simple and easy to control, yet embody mechanisms found in all types of combustion processes ranging from uncontrolled fires to practical combustion systems. This paper presents some recent results from microgravity studies of these flames. In addition, the potential usefulness of lunar- and Martian-based laboratories is discussed in order to understand the characteristics and behavior of fires in reduced-gravity environments.
Bahadori, M. Yousef↗
Turbulent mixing of multiple co-axial gaseous fuel jets in a supersonic airstream
An experimental and analytical investigation of a strut-mounted, four-nozzle, downstream-facing, gaseous fuel-injector assembly was conducted in a Mach 4 airstream at 154 psia and 520 R. Helium was used as the injectant in order to simulate a low molecular weight fuel, and the interjet spacing (S/D) was the main parameter varied. The principal data are in the form of helium concentration profiles at seven axial stations, Mach number distributions at three axial stations, and Schlieren photographs of the flow field at different interjet spacings. An approximate analysis was developed based upon a linearization in the Von Mises plane, Crocco integrals for the temperature and concentrations fields, and an eddy viscosity model. Good agreement with the data was achieved. It was found that, at these conditions, interjet spacing has a significant effect on mixing only up to S/D of approximately 2.5, with the concentration of the injectant at a given point becoming smaller as S/D is increased.
Lorber, A. K.↗