Effect of Fuel Temperature on Emissions and Structure of a Swirl-Stabilized Flame
View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-3480.vid
The effect of fuel temperature on the emissions and structure of a liquid-fueled, piloted swirl flame was investigated. NOx, CO, and unburnt hydrocarbon (UHC) measurements are presented along with 50 kHz OH* chemiluminescence images. With an inlet air pressure of 1.0 MPa, three fuel temperatures of 373 K, 473 K, and 568 K were tested, and with an inlet air pressure of 2.0 MPa, a fuel temperature of 584 K was tested. The inlet air temperature was fixed at 755 K, and the fuel/air equivalence ratio was varied between 0.33 and 0.51. Increases in NOx emissions and decreases in CO and UHC emissions were measured for increases in fuel temperature and for an increase in the inlet air pressure. Measured increases in NOx were beyond what could be attributed to the slight increase in thermal power associated with fuel heating. The OH* chemiluminescence images showed an elongated flame for higher fuel temperatures as well as a slight shift of the main flame toward the injector.