Development of low emission oil burner

Abstract

Recently, most of the gas turbine combustion research and development involves in lowering the emissions emitted from the combustor. Emission causes adverse affect to the world and mankind especially. Main concern of the present work is to reduce the NOx emission since the CO emission could be reduced through homogeneous mixing of fuel and air. Homogeneous mixing of fuel and air is also needed in order to reduce NOx emission. A liquid fuel burner system with radial air swirler vane angle of 30o, 40o, 50o and 60o has been investigated using 163mm inside diameter combustor. Orifice plates with three different sizes of 20mm, 25mm and 30mm were inserted at the back plate of swirler outlet. All tests were conducted using diesel as fuel. Fuel was injected at two different positions, i.e. at upstream and downstream of the swirler outlet using central fuel injector with single fuel nozzle pointing axially outwards. Experiment has been carried out to compare between three emissions NOx, CO and SO2. NOx reduction of about 53 percent was achieved for orifice plate of 20mm with downstream injection compared to orifice plate of 20mm with upstream injection. CO2 and SO2 was reduced about 26 percent and 56 percent respectively for the same configuration. This comparison was taken using swirler vane angle of 60o. The overall study shows that bigger swirler vane angle produce lower emission results compared to the smaller ones. Smaller orifice plates generate better emission reduction. Meanwhile, downstream injection position significantly decreases the emission results compared to upstream injection position. Combination of smallest orifice plate and biggest swirler vane angle with downstream injection produce widest and shortest flame length. Lowest emission results were found in the smallest orifice plate using biggest swirler vane angle with downstream injection. The temperature of the flame increases along the combustion chamber and decreases back towards the combustor exit once it reaches the peak.