$NOx$ Formation in High-Pressure Jet-Stirred Reactors With Significance to Lean-Premixed Combustion Turbines

Measurements of $NOx$ and CO in methane-fired, lean-premixed, high-pressure jet-stirred reactors (HP-JSRs), independently obtained by two researchers, are well predicted assuming simple chemical reactor models and the GRI 3.0 chemical kinetic mechanism. The single-jet HP-JSR is well modeled for $NOx$ and CO assuming a single PSR for Damko¨hler number below 0.15. Under these conditions, the estimates of flame thickness indicate the flame zone, that is, the region of rapid oxidation and large concentrations of free radicals, fully fills the HP-JSR. For Damko¨hler number above 0.15, that is, for longer residence times, the $NOx$ and CO are well modeled assuming two perfectly stirred reactors (PSRs) in series, representing a small flame zone followed by a large post-flame zone. The multijet HP-JSR is well modeled assuming a large PSR (over 88% of the reactor volume) followed by a short PFR, which accounts for the exit region of the HP-JSR and the short section of exhaust prior to the sampling point. The Damko¨hler number is estimated between 0.01 and 0.03. Our modeling shows the $NOx$ formation pathway contributions. Although all pathways, including Zeldovich (under the influence of super-equilibrium O-atom), nitrous oxide, Fenimore prompt, and NNH, contribute to the total $NOx$ predicted, of special note are the following findings: (1) $NOx$ formed by the nitrous oxide pathway is significant throughout the conditions studied; and (2) $NOx$ formed by the Fenimore prompt pathway is significant when the fuel-air equivalence ratio is greater than about 0.7 (as might occur in a piloted lean-premixed combustor) or when the residence time of the flame zone is very short. The latter effect is a consequence of the short lifetime of the CH radical in flames.