Actively Controlled Afterburner for Compact Waste Incineration.
Abstract
In a continuing research program directed at developing technology for compact shipboard incinerators, active control of fluid dynamics has been used to enhance mixing in incinerator afterburner (AB) experiments and increase the DRE for a waste surrogate. Experiments were conducted at power levels between 50 kW and 700 kW. This highest level is essentially full scale. The open loop active control system is based on the concept of combustion in periodic axi-symmetric vortices. Acoustic excitation was used to stabilize coherent vortices in the central air flow of a dump combustor configuration and waste gases injected annularly at the dump. This leads to good mixing, a controlled yet lifted partially premixed flame, high DRE and low emissions. Tests with more realistic waste surrogate gases were undertaken. Nitrogen was used to dilute the ethylene and reduce the BTU content and an electric heater brought the waste surrogate gas temperature to more realistic levels. Even at BTU contents as low as 152 BTU/cu ft the active combustion control worked well with a strong vortex, a stable lifted blue flame, and low emissions. Then realistic waste off-gas chemistry was addressed using 64 deg F mixtures of CO, H2, H20, and N2. Despite the low energy content the active control was still successful and emissions low.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA363464
Entities
People
- K. C. Schadow
- K. J. Wilson
- R. A. Smith
- T. P. Parr
Organizations
- Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division