A large operational envelope is a key requirement for modern gas turbines. Fuel staging is used here to improve the part load performance of an enhanced FLOX® type combustor. A swirl-stabilized pilot stage is integrated in the FLOX® burner and the results of high pressure lab-scale experiments at system relevant conditions are presented. The operational envelope of the piloted system could be extended by approximately 10%. Pressure scaling and variations of air preheat temperature and jet velocity describe fundamental characteristics of the piloted system. OH* chemiluminescence imaging is used to investigate flame shapes and the effect of the interacting flames. Emissions and pressure pulsations define limits, and optimum operation conditions of the combustor and show the influence of part load relevant parameters.

Volume Subject Area:
Combustion, Fuels and Emissions
Keywords:
FLOX®, flameless combustion, gas turbine combustion, high temperature gas turbine, operational flexibility, part load, pilot burner, fuel staging, high pressure test rig, laser diagnostics
Topics:
Combustion systems, Fuels, Gas turbines, High pressure (Physics), Stress
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Copyright © 2012 by ASME
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