Defense Tech Briefs - Small-Scale Combustion-Chamber Testing Facility

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Small-Scale Combustion-Chamber Testing Facility

Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

Aug 01 2007

Page 2 of 2

Figure 2. Equivalence Ratios for liquid and gaseous fuels in combustion tests can be adjusted over wide ranges by adjusting flow rates.

The facility can supply air to the combustor model at a rate of as much as 260 standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM) [0.123 m3/s], split into two legs at 200 SCFM (0.0944 m3/s) and 60 SCFM (0.0283 m3/s), respectively. These legs can be independently heated to temperatures of as much as 500 ºF (260 ºC). The flow rates, pressures, and temperatures of air in the two legs are monitored and regulated, and are recorded along with other measurement data. Liquid fuel can be pumped to the testing volume at a maximum flow rate of 340 mL/min; gaseous fuel can be supplied at a maximum flow rate of 200 standard liters per minute. The combination of air and fuel rates can be adjusted to obtain a desired equivalence ratio (see Figure 2), which can range up to as much as 4.3 for JP-8 (a kerosine-based jet fuel).

The facility includes equipment for analyzing unburned fuel and combustion- product gases via their infrared spectra and for measuring oxygen concentrations in combustion products via the magnetic susceptibility of oxygen. Also included is an exhaust system that, if required, can pump gases out of the test volume.

This work was done by Eric R. Dittman of the Air Force Institute of Technology for the Air Force Research Laboratory. For more information, download the Technical Support Package (free white paper) at www.defensetechbriefs.com/tsp under the Manufacturing & Prototyping category. AFRL-0028

This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).

Small-Scale Combustion-Chamber Testing Facility (reference AFRL-0028) is currently available for download from the TSP library.

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