Kinetics of nitric oxide formation in laminar and turbulent methane combustion. Final report, September 1982-December 1985
Many practical combustor devices burning natural gas operate as turbulent diffusion flames, and the control of their NOx emissions remains a technologically and environmentally important problem. Understanding both chemical-reaction rates and turbulent fluid-mixing processes is essential for quantitative prediction of NOx emissions. Three nitric oxide processes were investigated: thermal NO formation including superequilibrium, prompt NO formation, and the conversion of NO to NO/sub 2/. The report summarizes laser diagnostic (pulsed-Raman, laser velocimetry, and saturated fluorescence) and probe measurements (thermocouples, gas chromatography and chemiluminescent detection) on laminar opposed-flow diffusion flames and on turbulent jet diffusion flames. Results indicate that in laminar opposed-flow diffusion flames with CO/H/sub 2//N/sub 2/, CO/N/sub 2//H/sub 2/, and CH/sub 4//N/sub 2/ fuels, peak thermal NOx levels are approximately inversely proportional to flame stretch. Prompt NOx formation contributes approximately 70% to the total NOx formed in a CH/sub 4//N/sub 2/ flame, relatively independent of flame stretch. The dominant chemical form of NOx is NO in fuel rich regions but nearly all of that NO converts to NO/sub 2/ in very lean flame regions.
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co., Schenectady, NY (USA). Corporate Research and Development Center
- OSTI ID:
- 5835590
- Report Number(s):
- PB-86-179009/XAB; REPT-86-SRD-004
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
GAS BURNERS
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
METHANE
COMBUSTION
NITRIC OXIDE
EMISSION
FLAMES
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUORESCENCE
PROBES
RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
SAMPLING
ALKANES
BURNERS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
HYDROCARBONS
LASER SPECTROSCOPY
LUMINESCENCE
MECHANICS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
SPECTROSCOPY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
034000* - Natural Gas- Combustion
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)