Experimental Study of Turbine Fuel Thermal Stability in an Aircraft Fuel System Simulator

The thermal stability of aircraft gas turbines fuels was investigated. The objectives were: (1) to design and build an aircraft fuel system simulator; (2) to establish criteria for quantitative assessment of fuel thermal degradation; and (3) to measure the thermal degradation of Jet A and an alternative fuel. Accordingly, an aircraft fuel system simulator was built and the coking tendencies of Jet A and a model alternative fuel (No. 2 heating oil) were measured over a range of temperatures, pressures, flows, and fuel inlet conditions

Experimental Study of the Stability of Aircraft Fuels at Elevated Temperatures

An experimental study of fuel stability was conducted in an apparatus which simulated an aircraft gas turbine fuel system. Two fuels were tested: Jet A and Number 2 Home Heating oil. Jet A is an aircraft gas turbine fuel currently in wide use. No. 2HH was selected to represent the properties of future turbine fuels, particularly experimental Reference Broad Specification, which, under NASA sponsorship, was considered as a possible next-generation fuel. Tests were conducted with varying fuel flow rates, delivery pressures and fuel pretreatments (including preheating and deoxygenation). Simulator wall temperatures were varied between 422K and 672K at fuel flows of 0.022 to 0.22 Kg/sec. Coking rate was determined at four equally-spaced locations along the length of the simulator. Fuel samples were collected for infrared analysis. The dependence of coking rate in Jet A may be correlated with surface temperature via an activation energy of 9 to 10 kcal/mole, although the results indicate that both bulk fluid and surface temperature affect the rate of decomposition. As a consequence, flow rate, which controls bulk temperature, must also be considered. Taken together, these results suggest that the decomposition reactions are initiated on the surface and continue in the bulk fluid. The coking rate data for No. 2 HH oil are very highly temperature dependent above approximately 533K. This suggests that bulk phase reactions can become controlling in the formation of coke

Analytical evaluation of the impact of broad specification fuels on high bypass turbofan engine combustors

The impact of the use of broad specification fuels on the design, performance durability, emissions and operational characteristics of combustors for commercial aircraft gas turbine engines was assessed. Single stage, vorbix and lean premixed prevaporized combustors, in the JT9D and an advanced energy efficient engine cycle were evaluated when operating on Jet A and ERBS (Experimental Referee Broad Specification) fuels. Design modifications, based on criteria evolved from a literature survey, were introduced and their effectiveness at offsetting projected deficiencies resulting from the use of ERBS was estimated. The results indicate that the use of a broad specification fuel such as ERBS, will necessitate significant technology improvements and redesign if deteriorated performance, durability and emissions are to be avoided. Higher radiant heat loads are projected to seriously compromise liner life while the reduced thermal stability of ERBS will require revisions to the engine-airframe fuel system to reduce the thermal stress on the fuel. Smoke and emissions output are projected to increase with the use of broad specification fuels. While the basic geometry of the single stage and vorbix combustors are compatible with the use of ERBS, extensive redesign of the front end of the lean premixed prevaporized burner will be required to achieve satisfactory operation and optimum emissions

Experimental Study of Cross-Stream Mixing in a Rectangular Duct

An experimental investigation of non-reacting cross-stream jet injection and mixing in a rectangular duct was conducted for application in a low emissions combustor. Planar digital imaging was used to measure concentration distributions in planes perpendicular to the duct axis. Mixing rate was measured for 45 deg slanted slot and round orifice injectors. Five areas of inquiry are discussed: (1) mixing improves continuously with increasing momentum-flux ratio; (2) given a momentum-flux ratio, there is an optimum, orifice spacing; (3) mixing is more dependent on injector geometry than mass flow ratio; (4) mixing is influenced by relative slot orientation; and (5) jet structure is different for round holes and slanted slots injectors. The utility of acquiring multipoint fluctuating properties of the flow field is also demonstrated

Experimental study of cross-stream mixing in a cylindrical duct

An experimental investigation of cross stream injection and mixing was conducted with application to a low NO sub x combustor for the High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT). Mixing in a cylindrical chamber was studied for transverse injection from slanted slot and round orifice injectors. Momentum ratio, density ratio, and number were studied. Quantitative measurement of injectant concentration distributions were obtained by planar digital imaging of the Mie scattered light from an aerosol seed uniformly mixed with the injectant. The unmixedness, defined as the ratio of the r.m.s. concentration fluctuation to mean concentration in a plane perpendicular to the main flow direction, was found to be primarily a function of momentum ratio and injector spacing. An optimum spacing is indicated. Unmixedness is also a function of orifice size, or mass flow ratio, but the mass flow dependence can be accounted for by normalizing the unmixedness with its maximum theoretical value. The data indicate that a density ratio greater than unity retards mixing. It was found that above a certain momentum flux ratio, mixing with slanted slot injectors was better than with round hole injectors

Experimental study of the thermal stability of hydrocarbon fuels

The thermal stability of two hydrocarbon fuels (premium diesel and regular diesel) was determined in a flow reactor under conditions representing operation of an aircraft gas turbine engine. Temperature was varied from 300 to 750 F (422 to 672 K) for fuel flows of 2.84 to 56.8 liters/hr (corresponding to 6.84 x 0.00010 to 1.63 x 0.010 kg/sec for regular diesel fuel and 6.55 x 0.00010 to 1.37 x 0.010 kg/sec for premium diesel fuel); test times varied between 1 and 8 hr. The rate of deposition was obtained through measurement of weight gained by metal discs fixed along the channel wall. The rate of deposit formation is best correlated by an Arrhenius expression. The sample discs in the flow reactor were varied among stainless steel, aluminum and brass; fuels were doped with quinoline, indole, and benzoyl perioxide to yield nitrogen or oxygen concentrations of approximately 1000 ppm. The most substantial change in rate was an increase in deposits for brass discs; other disc materials or the additives caused only small perturbations. Tests were also conducted in a static reactor at temperatures of 300 to 800 F for times of 30 min to 2 1/2 hr. Much smaller deposition was found, indicating the importance of fluid transport in the mechanism

Experimental study of cross flow mixing in cylindrical and rectangular ducts

An experimental investigation of non-reacting cross flow jet injection and mixing in cylindrical and rectangular ducts has been conducted with application to a low emissions combustor. Quantitative measurement of injectant concentration distributions perpendicular to the duct axis were obtained by planar digital imaging of the Mie-scattered light from an aerosol seed mixed with the injectant. The flowfield unmixedness was evaluated using (1) a mixing parameter derived from the ratio of the jet concentration fluctuations to the fully mixed concentration, and (2) probability density functions of the concentration distributions. Mixing rate was measured for 45 degree slant slot and round orifice injectors

Henoch-Schonlein purpura in pregnancy

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a hypersensitivity vasculitis. This is a case report of HSP during pregnancy and a review of the literature in this rare pregnant disease. We present a case of a 32-year-old woman with HSP. Treatment with low-dose oral corticosteroids was administered leading to a beneficial outcome for the fetus and the mother. Henoch-Schonlein purpura is the most common connective tissue disorder of children. It is rarely reported in adults. Only 16 cases of HSP during pregnancy have been described in the literature worldwide, and this is the 17th reported case. © 2008 Informa UK Ltd