Study of alternative jet fuel ignition behavior in gas turbine combustion environments

The development and study of alternative aviation fuels is influential in the creation of a more sustainable future. Characterization of the behavior of these alternative fuels is a rigorous process and requires precise experimentation in specific operational regimes. These experiments utilize the ARC-M1, a small-scale gas turbine combustor developed in conjunction with engine OEMs to replicate key geometric features of helicopter-size gas turbine combustors while offering optical access to allow for the application of diagnostic techniques. Ignition tests at a relevant altitude condition are performed with four different fuels including a standard military-grade jet fuel and four C-grade alternatively derived jet fuels. Measurements of ignition probability are presented and a first order qualitative analysis of chemiluminescence imaging to understand the overall heat release rate of the flame and phase-contrast imaging to investigate droplet behavior is included. Results demonstrate the effects of fuel properties on the ignition process and suggest that further investigation and quantitative image analysis could potentially lead to a deeper understanding of the physics involved in the ignition behavior of alternative fuel sources.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Trotter, Caleb Joseph

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lee, Tonghun

• Gas Turbine Combustion
• Alternative Aviation Fuels

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Caleb Trotter

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/120405

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F120405