Characterization of A Swirl Flex Fuel Combustor in a CO2 Diluted Environment

Abstract

The article explores the thermal characterization of a pressurized flex-fuel combustor under variable operating power and CO2-diluted environments. The study represents experimental results of the radiative heat flux, the blowout behavior, and the combustor wall temperature with different O2/CO2 ratios. The current tests were conducted in a non-premixed oxy-methane combustion setting at a range of fuel energy input between 46 kWth to 110 kWth under atmospheric conditions. A heat flux sensor was used to measure the radiative heat flux of oxy-methane flame with CO2 dilution covering from 0% to 90% by total oxidizer mass at different firing input conditions. This analysis measured the irradiance (heat flux) received by a plane surface from a straight view angle. The combustor wall temperature was also investigated to understand the operability limits of the combustor. It was found that the rate of increase in combustor wall temperature decreases with increasing dilution ratio, which indicates the adiabatic flame temperature decreases with increasing dilution ratio. The results showed that peak radiative heat flux was maximum in the non-diluted environment and minimum in the enriched CO2 medium. In addition, the oxy-methane flame stability decreased at dilution ratios higher than 50%, and above 80% dilution, the flame blowout was observed for low energy input. However, it was also observed that flame stability improved with test duration. Wall temperature measurements showed a maximum of 9°C increments in the non-diluted environment at 110kW input power. The outcomes from the tests will be used to determine the operability limits of the pressurized oxy-combustion and map the pressurized experiments