Lean Blowout in a Research Combustor at Simulated Low Pressures

Abstract

A propane-fueled research combustor has been designed to represent the essential features of primary zones of combustors for aircraft gas turbine engines in an investigation of lean blowouts. The atmospheric pressure test facility being used for the investigation made it difficult to approach the maximum heat release condition of the research combustor directly. High combustor loadings were achieved through simulating the effects on chemical reaction rates of subatmospheric pressures by means of a nitrogen diluent technique. A calibration procedure is described, and correlated experimental lean blowout results are compared with well-stirred reactor calculations for the research combustor to confirm the efficacy of the calibration.