Effects of prevaporized fuel on exhaust emissions of an experimental gas turbine combustor.

Effect of fuel vaporization on the exhaust emission levels of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide, total hydrocarbons and smoke number were obtained in an experimental turbojet combustor segment. Two fuel injector types were used in which liquid ASTM A-1 jet fuel and vapor propane fuel were independently controlled to simulate varying degrees of vaporization. Tests were conducted over a range of inlet-air temperatures from 478 to 700 K, pressures from 4 to 20 atmospheres, and combustor reference velocities from 15.3 to 27.4 m/sec. Converting from liquid to complete vapor fuel resulted in NOx reductions as much as 22% and smoke number reductions up to 51%.