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Reduction of nvPM Emissions via Aero-Engine Fuel Injector Design

Project Number: 070
Category: Combustion Products, Aircraft Technology Innovation

There is a recognition that fuel atomization and the fuel/air mixing near the fuel injector both have a significant effect on nvPM formation. These factors are especially important for Rich-Quench-Lean combustion technologies used in many smaller, modern combustors, where nitrogen oxides (NOx) and nvPM trade-offs must be managed through improved mixedness. The goal of this project is to investigate how jet fuel atomization affects the formation and oxidation of nvPM in engine-relevant conditions (pressure, temperature, flow) and develop a validated numerical model for the design of novel fuel injector to reduce nvPM formation in aero-engines.

To achieve this goal, the research team will measure the velocity field, and fuel droplet size and spatial distribution inside the combustor to understand the fuel/air mixing process, intermediate combustion product distributions, nvPM volume fraction and size distribution, and exhaust gas composition to understand the kinetic formation and oxidation process of nvPM. The proposed comprehensive diagnostics will be conducted for a set of current (for baselining) and proposed new fuel injectors provided by an industry partner. The comprehensive experimental data will be used to validate computational models for both a baseline and novel fuel injector to reduce nvPM formation.

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