Chemiluminescence as diagnostic tool in the development of gas turbines

Abstract

To optimise the operation of gas turbine combustors with respect to emission, cycle efficiency and components lifetime, increased attention has to be attributed to diagnostic techniques and more flexible control schemes. Chemiluminescence is an obvious choice and a relatively easy and low cost option for such a diagnostic tool. Application examples include spectral analysis and light intensity scaling, temporal analysis studying flame dynamic effects and imaging techniques resolving spatial distribution of heat release zones, as well as combinations of the methods like phase matched imaging and tracking of ignition kernels using high speed imaging. Further fundamental work should be triggered on the nature for the excited species and their formation pathways as well as their connection to heat release and the NO x formation processes.