Measurement and prediction of emissions of aerosols and gaseous precursors from gas turbine engines (PartEmis): an overview

Abstract

An overview of the goals and achievements of the European PartEmis project (Measurement and prediction of emissions of aerosols and gaseous precursors from gas turbine engines) is discussed in this paper. PartEmis is focussed on the characterisation and quantification of exhaust emissions from a gas turbine engine. The engine was composed of a combustor and a unit to simulate a 3-shaft turbine section (so-called Hot End Simulator; HES). A comprehensive suite of aerosol, gas and chemi-ion measurements were conducted under different, (i) combustor and HES operating conditions, (ii) fuel sulphur and APA101 fuel additive concentrations. Aspects of volatile particle formation, growth factors of carbonaceous particles and sulphur (IV)/sulphur (VI) formation have been modelled using one-and multidimensional representations of the HES and nearfield plume, respectively. The combustor chosen in PartEmis behaves like a typical aircraft engine combustor with respect to thermodynamic data as well as to gas and particulate emissions, which suggests that the PartEmis database may be applicable to contemporary aircraft engines.

The dynamics of electrically charged soot particles in a premixed ethylene flame

“…Kittelson et al [11] measured charged soot particles in diesel engine exhaust and explored the possibility of removing them using electrostatic precipitation. Wilson et al [12] have identified high concentrations of small charged soot particles in the exhaust of a gas turbine aircraft engine, which Sorokin and Arnold [13] have achieved modest success in modeling. Clearly, studying the formation and dynamics of charged soot particles can play an important role in practical issues of controlling and measuring soot emissions.…”

Chemical Properties of Aircraft Engine Particulate Exhaust Emissions

“…Specific open issues relating to aircraft particulate emissions include the quantification of particles that are emitted on the ground at airports and at altitude during flights and an understanding of the role of emitted aerosol precursors in particle nucleation, growth, and particle activation [10]. Relatively little is known about the chemical speciation and sources (e.g., contributions of lubricating oils to volatile particulate matter [10]) of the emissions of particles and aerosol precursor gases from aircraft engines, and so a number of recent studies [e.g., Atmospheric Effects of Aviation Project study, Experiment to Characterize Aircraft Volatile Aerosol and Trace Species Emissions (EXCAVATE), NASA/QinetiQ, PartEmis (measurement and predictions of the emission of aerosols and gaseous precursors from gas turbine engines), have been directed at improving understanding of these emissions and how they may contribute to particles in the atmosphere [16][17][18][19][20].…”

Volatile particles formation during PartEmis: a modelling study

“…A brief description of the combustor and test-rig used during PartEmis, is given below, and further details can be found in Wilson et al (2004). A turbo-annular, transpiration cooled combustor was used for tests on QinetiQ's High Pressure Combustion Rig at Farnborough, UK.…”