Axial Injection Research Articles

Investigation of Lean Premixed Swirl-Stabilized Hydrogen Burner With Axial Air Injection Using OH-PLIF Imaging

In the context of lean premixed combustion, the prevention of upstream flame propagation in the premixing zone, referred to as flashback (FB), is a crucial challenge related to the application of hydrogen as a fuel for gas turbines. The location of flame anchoring and its impact on FB tendencies in a technically premixed, swirl-stabilized hydrogen burner are investigated experimentally at atmospheric pressure conditions using planar laser-induced fluorescence of hydroxyl radicals (OH-PLIF). The inlet conditions are systematically varied with respect to equivalence ratio (ϕ=0.2−1.0), bulk air velocity u0 = 30–90 m/s, and burner preheat temperature ranging from 300 K to 700 K. The burner is mounted in an atmospheric combustion test rig, firing at a power of up to 220 kW into a 105 mm diameter quartz cylinder, which provides optical access to the flame region. The experiments were performed using an in-house burner design that previously proved to be highly resistant against FB occurrence by applying the axial air injection strategy. Axial air injection constitutes a nonswirling air jet on the central axis of the radial swirl generator. While a high rate of axial air injection yields excellent FB resistance, reduced rates of air injection are utilized to trigger FB, which allowed to investigate the near FB flame behavior. Results show that both, fuel momentum of hydrogen and axial air injection, alter the isothermal flow field as they cause a downstream shift of vortex breakdown and, thus, the axial flame front location. Such a shift is proven beneficial for FB resistance from the recorded FB limits. This effect was quantified by applying an edge detection algorithm to the OH-PLIF images, in order to extract the location of maximum flame front probability xF. By these means, it was revealed that for hydrogen xF is shifted downstream with increasing equivalence ratio due to the added momentum of the fuel flow, superseding any parallel augmentation in the turbulent flame speed. The parameter xF is identified to be governed by J, the momentum ratio between fuel and air flow, over a wide range of inlet conditions. These results contribute to the understanding of the sensitivity of FB to changes in the flow field, stemming from geometry changes or specific fuel properties.

What Do We Know, What are the Current Limitations of Suspension HVOF Spraying?

Suspension spraying has evolved during the past decades and now is at the threshold of a commercial utilization. Compared to standard powder spray methods, mainly DC plasma spraying and (high velocity) flame spraying, it is quite clear that suspension spraying will not replace these well-established technologies but can extend them by adding new coating properties. Still there remain many issues to be solved. Suspension interaction with the hot gas stream is much more complex than in ordinary powder spray processes. In case of HVOF when axial injection into the combustion chamber is used, a direct observation of the liquid flame interaction is not possible. This paper discusses the present status of suspension HVOF-spraying (high velocity suspension flame spraying) including torch concepts, torch configuration in case of a TopGun system as well as different injector concepts and their influence on suspension atomization. The role of suspensions is discussed regarding their rheological and thermodynamical properties, mainly given by the solvent type and the solid content. An overview of different available diagnostic methods and systems and the respective applicability is given. Coating properties are shown and discussed for several oxide ceramics in respect to their possible applications.

Effects of Mass Flow Rate on the Thermal-Flow Characteristics of Microwave CO2 Plasma.

In this study, the thermal-flow characteristics of atmospheric pressure microwave CO2 plasma were numerically investigated by simulation. The electric and gas flow fields in the reaction chamber with a microwave axial injection torch operated at 2.45 GHz were simulated. The microwave launcher had the standard rectangular waveguide WR340 geometry. The simulation was performed by using the COMSOL Multiphysics plasma model with various mass flow rates of CO2. The electric fields, temperature profiles and the density of electrons were graphically depicted for different CO2 inlet mass flow rates.

Vortices generation in the reactive flow on the evaporative surface

Vortices generation and flow dynamics are investigated by a numerical calculation with LES methodology on the evaporative surface including chemical reactions. For simplicity, fuel is radially injected from the surface in order to decouple pyrolysis of solid fuel from the governing equation and consideration of heat transfer balance. Nevertheless its simple treatment of chemical reactions and fuel pyrolysis, numerical results captured very fundamental understandings in terms of averaged temperature, velocity profile, and mixture fraction distribution. Results showed that a well-defined turbulent velocity profile at the inlet becomes twisted and highly wrinkled in the downstream reaching the maximum velocity at far above the surface, where the flame is located. And the thickness of boundary layer increases in the downstream due to the enhanced interaction of axial flow and mass injection from the surface. Also, chemical reaction appears highly active and partially concentrated along the plane where flow condition is in stoichiometric. In particular, flame front locates at the surface where mixture fraction Z equals to 0.07. Flame front severely wrinkles in the downstream by the interaction with turbulences in the flow. Partial reactions on the flame front contribute to produce hot spots periodically in the downstream attaining the max temperature at the center of each spot. This may take the role of additional unsteady heat generations and pressure perturbations in the downstream. Future study will focus on the evolution of hot spots and pressure perturbations in the post chamber of lab scale hybrid rocket motors.

Effect of hot electrons on the electrical conductivity of carbon nanotubes under the influence of applied dc field

The effect of hot electrons on the electrical conductivity of undoped single walled achiral carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under the influence of applied dc field along the tube axis is considered. We investigated semiclassically by solving the Boltzmann’s transport equation with and without the presence of the hot electrons source to derive the current densities. Plots of the normalized current density versus electric field strength of the CNTs in both scenarios reveal a negative differential conductivity (NDC). We observed that the intensity of the current density gradually decreases and shifts towards lower electric fields as the rate of hot electrons injection increases. Furthermore, with strong enough axial injection of the hot electrons, there is an upturn in the current density near 50 kV/cm and 75 kV/cm for a zigzag CNT and an armchair CNT, respectively. In this region of positive differential conductivity (PDC), the unwanted domain instability usually associated with NDC can be suppressed, suggesting a potential application in terahertz radiation at low and high (room) temperatures.

Modeling of Micro- and Nanoparticle Characteristics in DC Suspension Plasma Spray

Suspension plasma spray is a promising technology for surface coatings. In this work, a comprehensive numerical model was developed to investigate the multiphase flow of suspension droplets and nanoparticles in direct-current (DC) plasma spraying. A three-dimensional computational model was developed to describe the plasma jet flow fields coupled with the axial injection of suspension droplets in which the zirconia micro- and nanoparticles were dispersed. The suspension droplets were tracked using Lagrangian coordinates, considering particle heating, melting, and evaporation. After evaporation of the solvent surrounding the particle, the nanoparticles were discharged into the plasma flow. In addition to the viscous force exerted by the flow on the micrometer-sized particles, the Brownian force and the Saffman lift force were taken into account. The effects of the noncontinuum on particle momentum transfer and evaporation on heat transfer were also considered. The numerical predictions of gas flow temperature were compared with experimental data and numerical data obtained with a different computational fluid dynamics code. The agreement was reasonable. The trajectories, velocity, and temperature of nanoparticles were calculated, and compared with those of microparticles. The results showed that the Brownian force plays a major role in acceleration and heating of nanoparticles. Compared with the conventional plasma spray process with micrometer-sized feedstock, the nanoparticles in suspension plasma spraying were found to have a wider spatial distribution and higher temperature. The effects of operating parameters, such as the power input to the plasma gas and plasma gas composition, on the gas velocity and temperature were investigated. The parameters that have a significant effect on the heat and momentum transfer to the particles injected in the plasma jet were identified.

Microstructure and properties of nanostructured YSZ coating prepared by suspension plasma spraying at low pressure

Suspension plasma spraying as a new processing method was employed to deposit nanostructured YSZ coating at a low pressure down to 100Pa. A nanostructured YSZ powder, a kind of dispersant and ethanol were mixed uniformly prior to conducting the experiment. The axial injection mode was adopted to improve the enthalpy exchange between the plasma jet and sprayed material. The relatively dense coatings were obtained due to the higher velocity of particles accelerated by the relatively higher velocity of the plasma jet at low pressure. The optical emission spectroscopy was used to characterize the nature of the plasma jet and the sprayed YSZ material. The existence of vapor phase of YSZ was demonstrated. The phase and microstructure of the coating were characterized by XRD and SEM, respectively. It is revealed that the crystallite size of as-sprayed coating is reduced from 30nm for the feedstock to about 20nm after the thermal spraying process at low pressure. It is also found that the mean value of elastic moduli shows a decreasing tendency from 114.5 to 87.5GPa with the increase of spraying distance from 150 to 250mm, whereas the hardness shows a mean value up to 5.77GPa at a stand-off distance of 200mm. The hardness and the elastic moduli increase by 61% and 31% in comparison with the obtained values by SPS at atmospheric ambient by previous authors, respectively.

Proposed design of axial injection system for the DC-280 cyclotron

The design of the high-voltage axial injection system for the DC-280 cyclotron that is being constructed at the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions (FLNR) at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) is presented. The injection system will make it possible to efficiently inject ions of elements ranging from helium to uranium with the ratios of their atomic mass to the charge varying from 4 to 7.5.

Optimization of the magnetic field in the analyzing magnet of the axial injection beam line of the cyclotron DC-280

The optimization of the field distribution of the analyzing magnet installed in the axial injection beam line of the cyclotron DC-280 is carried out. This optimization is done on the basis of a three-dimensional calculation of the magnet field. The optimum value of the basic geometrical characteristics of the magnet influencing the form of the field distribution is found.

Diverse magma flow directions during construction of sheeted dike complexes at fast- to superfast-spreading centers

Dike intrusion is a fundamental process during upper oceanic crustal accretion at fast- to superfast-spreading ridges. Based on the distribution of magma along fast-spreading centers inferred from marine geophysical data, models predict systematic steep flow at magmatically robust segment centers and shallow magma flow toward distal segment ends. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) fabrics from 48 fully-oriented block samples of dikes from upper oceanic crust exposed at Hess Deep Rift and Pito Deep Rift reveal a wide range of magma flow directions that are not consistent with such simple magma supply models. The AMS is interpreted to arise from distribution anisotropy of titanomagnetite crystals based on weak shape-preferred orientation of opaque oxide and plagioclase crystals generally parallel to AMS maximum eigenvectors. Most dike samples show normal AMS fabrics with maximum eigenvector directions ranging from subvertical to subhorizontal. The distributions of inferred magma flow lineations from maximum eigenvectors show no preferred flow pattern, even after structural correction. We use a Kolmogorov–Smirnov test (KS-test) to show that the distribution of bootstrapped flow lineation rakes from Pito Deep are not statistically distinct from Hess Deep, and neither are distinguishable from Oman and Troodos Ophiolite AMS data. Magma flow directions in sheeted dikes from these two seafloor escarpments also do not correlate with available geochemistry in any systematic way as previously predicted. These results indicate distinct compositional sources feed melt that is injected into dikes at fast- to superfast-spreading ridges with no preference for subhorizontal or subvertical magma flow. Collectively, results imply ephemeral melt lenses at different along-axis locations within the continuous axial magma chamber and either direct injection or intermingling of melt from other deeper ridge-centered or off-axis sources.

Increasing Flashback Resistance in Lean Premixed Swirl-Stabilized Hydrogen Combustion by Axial Air Injection

Since lean premixed combustion allows for fuel-efficiency and low emissions, it is nowadays state of the art in stationary gas turbines. In the long term, it is also a promising approach for aero engines, when safety issues like lean blowout (LBO) and flame flashback in the premixer can be overcome. While for the use of hydrogen the LBO limits are extended, the flashback propensity is increased. Thus, axial air injection is applied in order to eliminate flashback in a swirl-stabilized combustor burning premixed hydrogen. Axial injection constitutes a nonswirling jet on the central axis of the radial swirl generator which influences the vortex breakdown (VB) position. In the present work, changes in the flow field and their impact on flashback limits of a model combustor are evaluated. First, a parametric study is conducted under isothermal test conditions in a water tunnel employing particle image velocimetry (PIV). The varied parameters are the amount of axially injected air and swirl number. Subsequently, flashback safety is evaluated in the presence of axial air injection in an atmospheric combustor test rig and a stability map is recorded. The flame structure is measured using high-speed OH* chemiluminescence imaging. Simultaneous high-speed PIV measurements of the reacting flow provide insight in the time-resolved reacting flow field and indicate the flame location by evaluating the Mie scattering of the raw PIV images by means of the qualitative light sheet (QLS) technique. The isothermal tests identify the potential of axial air injection to overcome the axial velocity deficits at the nozzle outlet, which is considered crucial in order to provide flashback safety. This effect of axial air injection is shown to prevail in the presence of a flame. Generally, flashback safety is shown to benefit from an elevated amount of axial air injection and a lower swirl number. Note that the latter also leads to increased NOx emissions, while axial air injection does not. Additionally, fuel momentum is indicated to positively influence flashback resistance, although based on a different mechanism, an explanation of which is suggested. In summary, flashback-proof operation of the burner with a high amount of axial air injection is achieved on the whole operating range of the test rig at inlet temperatures of 620 K and up to stoichiometric conditions while maintaining single digit NOx emissions below a flame temperature of 2000 K.

Vortex Breakdown Types and Global Modes in Swirling Combustor Flows with Axial Injection

This paper presents the results of a combined experimental, numerical, and analytical study of the occurrence of different vortex breakdown types and helical instabilities in realistic swirling combustor flows with axial air injection through a centerbody. A parametric study of the isothermal flowfield inside the combustion chamber and in the mixing tube upstream of the combustor is carried out in a water-tunnel test facility. Selected configurations were further assessed under reacting conditions. Next, a large-eddy simulation was conducted and successfully validated with the experimental data. The isothermal and reacting results show a strong effect of the inflow parameters on the type of the vortex breakdown and the frequency, amplitude, and shape of the global mode. Linear local hydrodynamic stability analyses, carried out on the time-average measured and simulated velocity data, yield the absolutely unstable domain inside the flowfield. Axial injection is shown to impede a zone of absolute instability near the combustor inlet, whereas a second zone further downstream remains. An excellent agreement of the measured to the calculated frequencies of the global modes is achieved over the whole range of investigated axial injection rates. The findings of this paper help to understand the mechanisms that are involved in the occurrence of global modes in swirling combustor flows and how they may be controlled by small flowfield modifications. Furthermore, axial air injection is shown to provide a suitable flowfield for flashback-proof combustor operation.

Measurement of axial injection displacement with trim coil current unbalance.

The Dee probe used for measuring internal radial beam intensity shows large losses inside the radius of 20 cm of the 88 in. cyclotron. The current of the top and bottom innermost trim coil 1 is unbalanced to study effects of the axial injection displacement. A beam profile monitor images the ion beam bunches, turn by turn. The experimental bunch center of mass position is compared with calculations of the magnetic mirror effect displacement and shows good agreement.

Experimental study of a flush wall scramjet combustor equipped with strut/wall fuel injection

In this study a flush wall scramjet combustor is tested in a supersonic incoming air flow with the Mach number of 3 which is generated by an air vitiation heater producing the stagnation temperature of 1505K. Using liquid kerosene as the fuel, the flame is stabilized by means of a centrally mounted O2 pilot strut after being ignited by a plasma torch. During experimental measurements, the fuel is injected with a constant equivalence ratio of 0.8 according to specified strut/wall injection ratios, i.e., a portion of the fuel amount is injected from the strut while the rest is injected from the wall. The strut and wall injectors are arranged at the same axial position. The combustion performance and wall temperature gradients are evaluated with various fuel feeding ratios between the wall and the strut. Experimental results show, when the equivalence ratio is constant and the axial injection position is fixed, the combustion characteristics vary significantly with the strut/wall fuel feeding ratio, especially when this ratio is close to its lowest and highest limits. Among the four fuel feeding ratios examined, the strut only injection mode and the average distributed strut/wall injection mode show the best combustion performance. However, the strut/wall injection mode produces a smaller wall temperature gradient compared to the strut only injection mode, which is due to the significant film cooling effect caused by the wall injected liquid kerosene.

Numerical analysis of radiation dynamics in a combined hohlraum in the X-ray opacity experiments on the ‘Iskra-5’ laser facility

We report the results of numerical analysis of radiation dynamics (laser absorption and X-ray generation) by using SND-LIRA code in a combined box used in the X-ray opacity measurements on the ‘Iskra-5’ facility (laser radiation wavelength, ; laser pulse duration, ; and energy, ). Combined boxes used in these experiments comprised three sections: two illuminators delivering laser radiation and a central diagnostic section with a test sample. We have proposed a scheme for step-by-step calculation of the heating dynamics of the sample under study in a three-section hohlraum. Two designs of a combined box, which differ in the ways the laser radiation is injected, are discussed. It is shown that the axial injection of the beams results in intense secondary laser irradiation of the illuminator edge which leads to its partial disruption and penetration of laser radiation into the central diagnostic section. In this case the sample under study is exposed to additional uncontrolled action of scattered laser radiation. Such an undesirable action may be avoided by using the lateral injection of the beams through four holes on the lateral side of the illuminators. For the latter case we have calculated the heating dynamics for the sample and found an optimal time delay for an X-ray probe pulse.

2D MHD Simulation of a FRC Plasma with Axial Neutral Gas Flow Injection

2D MHD Simulation of a FRC Plasma with Axial Neutral Gas Flow Injection

A room temperature electron cyclotron resonance ion source for the DC-110 cyclotron

The project of the DC-110 cyclotron facility to provide applied research in the nanotechnologies (track pore membranes, surface modification of materials, etc.) has been designed by the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (Dubna). The facility includes the isochronous cyclotron DC-110 for accelerating the intensive Ar, Kr, Xe ion beams with 2.5 MeV/nucleon fixed energy. The cyclotron is equipped with system of axial injection and ECR ion source DECRIS-5, operating at the frequency of 18 GHz. This article reviews the design and construction of DECRIS-5 ion source along with some initial commissioning results.

Characterization of Ni–YSZ anodes for solid oxide fuel cells fabricated by solution precursor plasma spraying with axial feedstock injection

Nickel and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) anodes were fabricated by solution precursor plasma spraying (SPPS) and incorporated into metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). A power density of 0.45 W cm−2 at 0.7 V and a peak power density of 0.52 W cm−2 at 750 °C in humidified H2 was obtained, which are the first performance results reported for an SOFC having an anode fabricated by SPPS. The effects of solution composition, plasma gas composition, and stand-off distance on the composition of the deposited Ni–YSZ coatings by SPPS were evaluated. It was found that the addition of citric acid to the aqueous solution delayed re-solidification of NiO particles, improving the deposition efficiency and coating adhesion. The composition of the deposited coatings was found to vary with torch power. Increasing torch power led to coatings with decreasing Ni content, as a result of Ni vaporizing in-flight at stand-off distances less than 60 mm from the torch nozzle exit.

Gyrotron Microwave Heating of Vacuum Arc Plasma for High-Charge-State Metal Ion Beam Generation

High-charge-state heavy metal ion beams have been formed by high-power microwave heating of vacuum arc plasma confined in magnetic traps. Two types of magnetic traps were investigated: one is a simple mirror configuration, and the other is a cusp configuration with inherent “minimum- $B$ ” structure. Pulsed high-power ( $>$ 100 kW) gyrotrons with frequencies of 37.5 and 75 GHz were used for heating the vacuum arc plasma injected into the traps. Two different approaches were used for injecting the metal plasma—axial injection from a miniature arc source located on axis near the microwave window and radial injection from sources mounted radially at the midplane of the trap. High-charge-state heavy metal ion beams were extracted from the heated plasma.

Numerical analysis of a microwave torch with axial gas injection

The characteristics of a microwave discharge in an argon jet injected axially into a coaxial channel with a shortened inner electrode are numerically analyzed using a self-consistent equilibrium gas-dynamic model. The specific features of the excitation and maintenance of the microwave discharge are determined, and the dependences of the discharge characteristics on the supplied electromagnetic power and gas flow rate are obtained. The calculated results are compared with experimental data.