High Pressure Combustor Test Rig 1 (HBK-1) and Test Section BOSS

The test rig HBK-1 is the operational and supply environment of the test section BOSS („Big Optical Single Sector“). This test section is an optically accessible high pressure single sector, used for studies of lean injectors for civil aviation engines by Rolls-Royce Deutschland. A variety of laser-based diagnostic methods is employed for these investigations.

These research activities aim at a better understanding of the complex interaction of aerodynamics, combustion and two phase flows in combustors with piloted, lean (i.e., operating with excess of air) burners. A well-founded understanding of these phenomena is indispensable for a systematic design strategy and short development cycles of the engine manufacturer.

Test section BOSS

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Optisch zugängliche Brennkammer

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Laser diagnostic setup installed at test section

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Research areas:

Fuel preparation :
o atomization, evaporation, dispersion
Pilot/main burner interaction:
o Flow field, stabilization, heat release
Pilot burner performance:
o Power range, soot production
efficiency
emissions
thermoacoustics

Available optical test methods:

Emission spectroscopy (OH, CH)
Planar Mie scattering (visualization of the liquid fuel phase)
Planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) on kerosene (fuel distributions, vapour and liquid phase)
PLIF on OH (mixing, reaction zones, temperature)
Phase Doppler Anemometry (PDA): spray diagnostics
Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV): flow field
LDA (Laser Doppler Anemometry): flow field

HBK-1 technical data

Features:

- Emissions measurements: NOx, CO, CO2, UHC, O2

- Traversing table for precise positioning of optical setups, load up to 500kg, accuracy 0.1 mm

- Water injection into exhaust gas for exhaust gas velocity and thereby noise reduction in test cell

- Hydraulic nozzle for combustor pressure control, independent of air mass flow

- 3 electric air preheaters, 2 for burner & heat shield supply, 1 for window cooling

P_4max 20bar

T_3max 900K

T₄ 2400K

Air/fuel ratio >20

m_{Burner air} (20bar_,900K) 1.7kg/s

M_{window cooling air}(20bar_,900K) 0.6kg/s

M_{liner air} (20bar, Umgebungstemp.) 1.3kg/s