NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation Project Develops Next-Generation Low-Emissions Combustor Technologies (Phase I)

Abstract

NASA's Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) Project is working with industry to develop the fuel flexible combustor technologies for a new generation of low-emissions engine targeted for the 2020 timeframe. These new combustors will reduce Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions to half of current state-of-the-art (SOA) combustors, while simultaneously reducing noise and fuel burn. The purpose of the low NOx fuel-flexible combustor research is to advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Integration Readiness Level (IRL) of a low NOx, fuel flexible combustor to the point where it can be integrated in the next generation of aircraft. To reduce project risk and optimize research benefit NASA chose to found two Phase 1 contracts. The first Phase 1 contracts went to engine manufactures and were awarded to: General Electric Company, and Pratt & Whitney Company. The second Phase 1 contracts went to fuel injector manufactures Goodrich Corporation, Parker Hannifin Corporation, and Woodward Fuel System Technology. In 2012, two sector combustors were tested at NASA's ASCR. The results indicated 75% NOx emission reduction below the 2004 CAEP/6 regulation level.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Flow, Combustion and Emission Characteristics of Novel Multi-Swirl LDI burners.

“…Over the last two decades, NASA Glenn Research Center has concentrated significant experimental and computational resources on developing MPLDI technology for aircraft engine combustors [9]. They designed and tested different MPLDI combustors, named it as first [18][19][20], second [16,21,22], and third generation [23][24][25], and found out that these achieved the ERA (Environmentally Responsible Aviation) goals of 75% NOx reduction [21].…”

Evaluation of preparation and combustion rig tests of an effusive cooled SiC/SiCN panel

“…11 Experimental investigations with an effusion-cooled five-sector CMC combustor are reported in Ref. 11 Non-oxide CMCs exhibit high specific strength at elevated temperatures as well as a high strain to failure and thermal shock resistance. 12,13 Silicon carbide fiber reinforced composites were developed in the past 30 years.…”

“…8,9 With the anticipated gas temperatures in future fuel efficient and high overall pressure ratio engines, for example, General Electric GE9X, 10 even high temperature CMCs may have to rely on active cooling films. 11 Experimental investigations with an effusion-cooled five-sector CMC combustor are reported in Ref. 11 Non-oxide CMCs exhibit high specific strength at elevated temperatures as well as a high strain to failure and thermal shock resistance.…”

“…For lower engine pressure ratios the CMC combustors were designed to run without any active cooling film 8,9 . With the anticipated gas temperatures in future fuel efficient and high overall pressure ratio engines, for example, General Electric GE9X, 10 even high temperature CMCs may have to rely on active cooling films 11 . Experimental investigations with an effusion‐cooled five‐sector CMC combustor are reported in Ref 11 …”