Engines currently utilize the injection of fuel and oxidant into the combustion chamber in diffusion or premixed mode to transform the chemical energy of fuel into thermal energy. Using available methods, which rely on the Colorless Distributed Combustor (CDC), engine manufacturers face challenges of combustion instability, emissions, durability, noise, and significant temperature variations that decrease combustor life.

A researcher at the University of Maryland has modified the CDC to emit vastly lower levels of nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and noise. A novel process of enthalpy exchange and fuel mixture preparation has been developed for use in the CDC. The modified technique achieves a uniform temperature profile along the combustor centerline and negligible emissions without using any pollution control device or expensive catalyst. Testing demonstrates a significant reduction in energy consumption (hence a reduction in CO2 emission), a compact combustor with reduced equipment size, ultra low noise emission, and a significant reduction of pollutants including NOx, CO, and unburned hydrocarbons. This improved CDC technique has numerous applications, including industrial gas-turbine combustion, utilization of low grade waste fuels, and land-based gas turbines with long-term development applications for aircraft gas-turbine engines. A patent application is pending.

File Number: PS-2008-129 

Web site: http://www.otc.umd.edu