Combustion performance of plasma-stabilized lean flames in a gas turbine model combustor

• Published in: Applications in energy and combustion science Vol. 15; p. 100158
• Main Authors: Blanchard, Victorien P., Scouflaire, Philippe, Laux, Christophe O., Ducruix, Sébastien
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Engineering Sciences; Gas turbine model combustor; Lean extinction; Nanosecond repetitively pulsed discharges; NOX reduction; Plasma-assisted combustion; Plasma-assisted combustion; Gas turbine model combustor; NOX reduction; Lean extinction; Nanosecond repetitively pulsed discharges; NOx reduction
• ISSN: 2666-352X; 2666-352X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaecs.2023.100158

•Lean methane-air flames are stabilized in a gas turbine model combustor with nanosecond repetitively pulsed discharges•The lean blow-off limit is significantly extended with plasma for a wide range of operating conditions•Lean flames are stabilized up to 100 kW, with a plasma power of less than 0.2% if the flame thermal power•Plasma-assisted flames do not emit more NOX than the leanest flames without plasma•Plasma power and pollutant emissions are reduced by modulating the pattern of discharges application This work presents an experimental study of the stabilization of lean methane-air flames by nanosecond repetitively pulsed (NRP) discharges. The experimental facility consists of a gas turbine model combustor with a Lean-Premixed-Prevaporized injector. The working pressure is 1 atm. The fuel is injected through two stages, each stabilized by swirl. The main stage consists of a multipoint annular injection. This facility is representative of a single sector of a gas turbine combustion chamber. The NRP discharges significantly extend the lean blow-off limit for a wide range of operating conditions, down to an equivalence ratio of 0.16. Lean flame stabilization is demonstrated for flame thermal powers up to 100 kW, with an electric power of less than 0.2% of the flame thermal power. We also observe plasma-assisted lean flames emiting less NOX than the leanest stable flames without plasma. Finally, by exploring the application of various pulse patterns instead of applying the discharges continuously at a constant repetition frequency, the plasma-to-flame power ratio required to stabilize a lean flame is decreased to 0.06% and the pollutant emissions can be further decreased.