Numerical and Experimental Flame Stabilization Analysis in the New Spinning Combustion Technology Framework

Global warming, climate change and pollution are burning environmental issues. To reduce the carbon footprint of the aviation sector, aeronautical companies have been striving to lower engine emissions via the development of reliable lean combustors. In this context, effort has been devoted to the better understanding of various flame dynamics with emphasis on thermoacoustic instabilities, lean blow-off and extinctions. In line with this effort, Safran Helicopter Engines has recently developed and patented the revolutionary spinning combustion technology (SCT) for its next generation of combustors. This technology has indeed great flexibility when it comes to ignition and blow-off capabilities. To better understand the various physical mechanisms occurring in a SCT combustor, a joint numerical and experimental analysis of the flame stabilization in this spinning combustion technology framework has been devised. On the experimental side, the NTNU atmospheric annular combustor has been modified to introduce a relevant azimuthal component of velocity while operating under premixed fuel conditions, following the SCT concept. Note that to reduce temperature at the backplane of the chamber, film cooling is incorporated to avoid fuel injector damage. On the numerical side, high fidelity Large Eddy Simulations of the test bench have been carried out with the AVBP code developed at CERFACS, providing insights on the flame stabilization in this unique SCT geometry. In particular, it is noted that there is a strong interaction between the cooling film and the highly swirled flames exiting from the fuel injector bend. In that respect, changing the injector or global equivalence ratios while operating the SCT is shown to affect the combustion of this design.

Influence of Zirconium Oxide on Thermal Degradation and Flame Retardancy of Viscose Fibers

We have investigated the effect of zirconium oxide on the thermal degradation and flame retardancy of viscose fibers. ZrO2/cellulose fiber was prepared by wet spinning. Combustion behaviour and flammability were assessed using the limiting oxygen index (LOI) and thermogravimetric analysis from ambient temperature to 800°C and cone calorimetry. LOI results showed that the ZrO2 increased the LOI of viscose fiber from 20% to 26%, which showed that ZrO2 particles had a positive effect on cellulose flame-retardancy. Results from thermogravimetric analysis (TG) indicated that the ZrO2/cellulose fibers produced greater quantities of residues than viscose fibers. The combustion residues were examined using the scanning electron microscopy, indicating that ZrO2/cellulose fiber produced consistent, thick residues. Cone calorimetry indicated that heat release rate and total heat release values of ZrO2/cellulose fiber were less than those of viscose fibers.