Keywords

hydrogen reactor network gas turbine engine

Abstract

Gas turbines are the backbone of power generation globally; however, they are also one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gases and harmful emissions. Advanced combustion strategies, when applied to energy generation, can offer increased optimization of the combustion process with more complete and efficient combustion. With global efforts to reduce NOx formation in energy generation, combustion staging strategies like Rich Quench Lean (RQL), Lean-Premixed (LPM), and Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) have gained more attention in research. The major challenge that exists in the research sector is the ability to evaluate and further develop these techniques at a fundamental level. Simplified combustors can be modeled as Well-Stirred Reactors (WSR), which offer insight into chemical combustion kinetics but lack the ability to extensively evaluate combustion strategies. The proposed setup can further complete WSR studies by introducing staging studies into fundamental combustion. An experimental Chemical Reactor Networks (CRN) can be an efficient and effective tool used in combustor modeling that utilizes simplified reactors to model combustion kinetics. They allow the ability to capture multiple regions within the combustion device and approximate them using various combinations of well-stirred and plug flow reactors (PFRs). Here, to the best of authors’ knowledge, we present the first CRN experimental facility design with a particular focus on studying the post-primary stage combustion. The network features an optically accessible Toroidal Jet Stirred Reactor (TJSR)-PFR cluster staged with a Cone Jet Stirred Reactor (CJSR) and final PFR capable of obtaining emissions measurements in the form of CO and NOx, and efficiency in the form of H2O. The early development of the second stage CJSR capable of evaluating post-primary injection will be discussed. The necessary facility and design selection with an investigated experimental CRN design will be introduced

Completion Date

2026

Semester

Spring

Committee Chair

Vasu Sumathi, Subith

Degree

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (M.S.M.E.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Identifier

DP0053303

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