In order to examine and characterize burner systems for micro gas turbines under real combustor entry temperatures and atmospheric pressure conditions, the ATM lab contains flexible, visually accessible individual burner test rigs.
The research activities in the ATM lab focus on the detailed experimental analysis under technically relevant conditions of newly-developed, low-emission, fuel-flexible, single and multi-stage burner system concepts for different output power ranges. A further emphasis of the research is the definition of a stable operating range and the development of control and operating concepts. The results will help optimize the numerically designed burner systems with respect to their range of application in the micro gas turbine. The last step will be the transfer to the gas turbines themselves.
The lab has space for two separate test rigs with an air preheating function of up to 800°C. A modular structure and flexible connections allow the mobile test rigs to be prepared in the ATM lab simultaneously. This flexibility allows optimized preparation and testing times.
In order to examine burners with various different fuels, the lab is equipped with natural gas (up to 18 bar) and a compressed air supply (up to 12 bar) as well as a limited supply of gaseous and fluid fuels, contained in gas cylinders/fuel storage cabinets. The expansion of a synthesis gas facility which composes the required individual gases (for example, H2, O2, CH4, CO, CO2), as well as a connection to a gas storage facility for storing large quantities of fuel in order to enable uninterrupted operation, are under construction.
A comprehensive process control and measurement data logging system aid in monitoring and controlling the processes and gathering the data produced. Amongst the lab’s most important equipment is an emission analysis facility (O2, CO, CO2, NO, NO2, UHC, H2O) for the continuous detection of pollutant emissions as well as an OH* chemiluminiscence camera which analyses the flame shape, its width and position. Laser-based methods from the department for combustion diagnostics are used to observe the flow and combustion processes in detail.