Feasibility of Reburning for Controlling NOx Emissions from Air Force Jet Engine Test Cells.

摘要

The objective of this study was to determine the technical and economic feasibility of reburning as a NOx control technique for Air Force jet engine test cells. Work included laboratory-scale testing of a prototype reburner, a preliminary reburn system design, and an estimate of capital and operating costs for a hypothetical JETC rated at 600 lb air/second. The study shows that 60 percent NOx reduction on a mass basis (80 percent on a lb/MBtu basis) can be achieved, but large NOx reductions require excessive amounts of reburning fuel (natural gas). Pressure loss across the reburner did not exceed 0.1 in. of water. Laboratory results suggested a full-scale reburner design rated at 150 million Btu/hr. Four reburners located in a separate combustion chamber downstream of the augmenter tube would be required for the hypothetical JETC. Capital cost for the retrofit was estimated to be $3 million; operating costs were $2 million/year based on 800 hours of testing per year at a constant reburning fuel flow rate (to minimize hydrocarbon as well as NOx emissions). Operating the reburner only at military and afterburner engine modes (NOx control only) could cut the operating cost by 50 percent. Reburner developments to minimize fuel usage would make the technology more attractive.