Testing of a full-scale staged combustor operating with a synthetic liquid fuel

The purpose of the study reported here was to determine if a full-scale rich-lean staged combustor would exhibit the same desirable emission and performance characteristics as had previously been demonstrated with a subscale device when operating with a coal-derived liquid fuel. The test specifically dealt with the combustor's ability to produce very low nitrogen oxides emissions while exhibiting acceptable smoke levels. Several restraints were placed on the effort in order to minimize expenditure. First, an existing large-scale combustor was used, and some sacrifice in geometric similarity was made as a result. Second, the full-scale test facility employed a vitiation air preheating system, whereas the subscale device was tested in a non-vitiated system. Some minor bias of the emissions and smoke data subsequently does exist. In other important respects, the combustors and the test apparatuses were similar. Results for emissions and smoke levels are given.