Abstract
The propulsive application of detonation-based engines has been well recognized since detonations offer an environment for efficient burning of a given fuel–oxidizer mixture with increased efficiency. The use of liquid hydrocarbon fuels is necessary for these advanced detonation-based combustors to resolve problems associated with the fuel payload and operating cost. However, using jet fuels for such combustors is a challenging task since the propagation limits and stability of detonation waves in such scenarios are not known and warrant further investigation. In addition, NOx emissions from such systems have so far received less attention. Since the emissions control protocol has become more stringent for air-breathing engines, it is necessary to understand the NOx chemistry of real distillate fuels in a detonating environment. For the mixtures and operating conditions featuring promising detonability, NOx formation in the detonation wave has been simulated using a detailed HyChem Jet A reaction model combined with the NOx model of Glarborg et al. The purpose of the present study is to quantify the effect of initial temperature and initial pressure on NOx emissions for Jet A–air detonations over a wide range of initial conditions. The effect of dilution on NOx emissions was also investigated in the presence of inert diluents such as argon and helium. The observation from the computed results indicates that the addition of inert diluents significantly reduces the NOx emissions, with the comparative difference in NOx suppressing ability between argon and helium being insignificant. The present study lays the groundwork for the optimized operation of liquid hydrocarbon-fuelled detonation-based engines and enables an insight into the potential measures that can be employed for reduced NOx emissions in such devices.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article. Raw data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- Δ i :
-
Induction zone length (mm)
- τ i :
-
Induction delay time (µs)
- Δ r :
-
Reaction zone length (mm)
- τ r :
-
Reaction time (µs)
- Δ recom :
-
Recombination zone length (mm)
- τ recom :
-
Recombination time (µs)
- T CJ :
-
Post-detonation temperature (K)
- T VN :
-
Post-shock temperature (K)
- P CJ :
-
Post-detonation pressure (atm)
- P VN :
-
Post-shock pressure (atm)
- M CJ :
-
CJ detonation Mach number
- X i :
-
Mole fraction of ith species
- σ :
-
Thermicity (1/µs)
- NO x :
-
Oxides of nitrogen (NO + NO2 + N2O)
- T 0 :
-
Initial temperature (K)
- P 0 :
-
Initial pressure (atm)
- φ :
-
Equivalence ratio (−)
References
Anand V, Gutmark E (2019) A review of pollutants emissions in various pressure gain combustors. Int J Spray Combust Dyn 02(01):1–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/1756827719870724
Asgari N, Padak B (2018) Effect of fuel composition on NOx formation in high-pressure syngas/air combustion. AIChE J. 64(08):3134–3140. https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.16170
Browne S, Ziegler J, Shepherd JE (2008) Numerical solution methods for shock and detonation jump conditions. Pasadena, CA
Correa SM, Smooke MD (1991) NOx in parametrically varied methane flames. Proc. Combust. Inst. 23(01):289–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0082-0784(06)80272-9
Chen GB, Li YH, Cheng TS, Hsu HW, Chao YC (2011) Effects of hydrogen peroxide on combustion enhancement of premixed methane/air flames. Int J Hydrog Energy 36(01):15414–15426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.07.074
Crane J, Shi X, Singh AV, Yujie T, Wang H (2018) Isolating the effect of induction length on detonation structure: Hydrogen–oxygen detonation promoted by ozone. Combust Flame 200(01):44–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2018.11.008
Dahake A, Singh AV (2021) Numerical study on NOx emissions from a synthetic biofuel for applications in detonation-based combustors. AIAA Propul Energy Forum. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-3678
Dahake A, Singh AV (2022a) A Comparative study of critical detonation parameters for jet a and an alcohol-to-jet synthetic biofuel. In AIAA Scitech. 18:022–0819
Dahake A, Singh AV (2022b) Effect of fuel sensitization on NOx emissions from a synthetic biofuel under detonating conditions. In AIAA SCITECH. 51:022–0518
Dahake A, Singh AV (2022c) Nitrogen Oxides Emissions from Fuel-Sensitized Detonations for a Synthetic Biofuel. Trans Indian Natl Acad Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41403-022-00354-y
Dahake A, Singh AV (2022d) A Comparative Study of the Detonation Chemistry and Critical Detonation Parameters for Jet A and a Biofuel. Trans Indian Natl Acad Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41403-022-00353-z
Dahake A, Kumar DS, Singh AV (2022a) Using Ozone and Hydrogen Peroxide for Improving the Velocity Deficits of Gaseous Detonations. Trans Indian Natl Acad Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41403-022-00345-z
Dahake A, Singh RK, Singh AV (2022b) Nitrogen Oxides Emissions from a Bio-derived Jet Fuel under Detonating Conditions. Trans Indian Natl Acad Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41403-022-00378-4
Dahake A, Singh RK, Singh AV (2022c) NOx mitigation and Ignition Promotion Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide Addition to H2-air. Trans Indian Natl Acad Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41403-022-00374-8
Djordjevic N, Hanraths N, Gray J, Berndt P, Moeck J (2018) Numerical Study on the Reduction of NOx Emissions From Pulse Detonation Combustion. J Eng Gas Turbines Power 140(04):041504. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4038041
Glarborg P, Miller JA, Ruscic B, Klippenstein SJ (2018) Modeling Nitrogen Chemistry in Combustion. Prog Energy Combust Sci 67(01):31–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2018.01.002
Goodwin DG, Moffat HK, Speth RL (2009) Cantera: An object-oriented software toolkit for chemical kinetics. Pasadena, CA, Caltech. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.48735
Hanraths N, Tolkmitt F, Berndt P, Djordjevic N (2018) Numerical study on NOx reduction in pulse detonation combustion by using steam injection decoupled from detonation development. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power 140(12):121008. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4040867
Ivin K, and Singh AV (2023) JP-10 Propellant Powered Rotating Detonation Waves for Enhancing the Performance of Hypersonic and Supersonic Missiles. In: G Sivaramakrishna (eds) Proceedings of the National Aerospace Propulsion Conference, Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. Springer. Singapore
Iyer MSK, Singh AV (2022) Ignition Kinetics of Real Distillate Fuels Under Detonating Conditions. In Forum. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2022-0816
Iyer MSK, Dahake A, Singh AV (2022) Comparative Studies on Ignition Kinetics and Detonation Chemistry of Real Distillate Fuels. Trans Indian Natl Acad Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41403-022-00331-5
Kailasnath K (2000) Review of propulsion applications of detonation waves. AIAA J 10(2514/2):1156
Kumar DS, Singh AV (2021) Inhibition of hydrogen-oxygen/air gaseous detonations using CF3I, H2O, and CO2. Fire Saf J 124(01):1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2021.103405
Kumar DS, Ivin K, Singh AV (2021) Sensitizing gaseous detonations for hydrogen/ethylene-air mixtures using ozone and H2O2 as dopants for application in rotating detonation engines. Proc Combust Inst 38(03):3825–3834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2020.08.061
Kumar DS, Dahake A, Singh AV (2022a) Detonation Chemistry of Fuel-Sensitized JetA1-Air Detonations. Trans Indian Natl Acad Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41403-022-00339-x
Kumar DS, Dahake A, Singh AV (2022b) Detonation Chemistry of Fuel-Sensitized JetA1-Air Detonations. Trans Indian Natl Acad Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41403-022-00339-x
Kumar DS, and Singh AV (2023) Using Ozone and Hydrogen Peroxide for Manipulating the Velocity Deficits, Detonabilility, and Flammability Limits of Gaseous Detonations. In: G. Sivaramakrishna (eds) Proceedings of the National Aerospace Propulsion Conference, Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering, Springer, Singapore
Magzumov AE, Kirillov I, and Rusanov V (1998) Effect of small additives of ozone and hydrogen peroxide on the induction-zone length of hydrogen-air mixtures in a one-dimensional model of a detonation wave. Combust Explos Shock Waves 34: 338–341. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02672728
Ng HD, Radulescu MI, Higgins AJ, Nikiforakis N, Lee JHS (2005) Numerical investigation of the instability forone-dimensional Chapman-Jouguet detonations with chain-branching kinetics. Combustion Theory and Modeling 9(03):385–401. https://doi.org/10.1080/13647830500307758
Saggese C, Wan K, Xu R, Tao Y, Bowman CT, Park JW, Lu T, Wang H (2020) A physics-based approach to modeling real-fuel combustion chemistry–V. NOx formation from a typical Jet A. Combust Flame 212(01):270–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2019.10.038
Schwer DA, Kailasnath K (2016) Characterizing NOx Emissions for Air-Breathing Rotating Detonation Engines. AIAA Propulsion Energy Forum. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2016-4779
Shepherd JE (1986) Chemical Kinetics of Hydrogen-air-diluent Detonations. Prog Astronaut Aeronaut 106(01):263–293. https://doi.org/10.2514/5.9781600865800.0263.0293
Singh RK, Dahake A, Singh AV (2022) Inhibition of H2-air Detonations Using Halogenated Compounds. Trans Indian Natl Acad Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41403-022-00376-6
Stamps DW, Tieszen SR (1991) The Influence of Initial Pressure and Temperature on Hydrogen-Air-Diluent Detonations. Combust Flame 83(01):353–364. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-2180(91)90082-M
Wang K et al (2018) A physics-based approach to modeling real-fuel combustion chemistry - IV HyChem Modeling of Combustion Kinetics of a Bio-derived Jet Fuel and its Blends with a Conventional Jet A. Combust Flame 198(01):477–489
Wang H, Xu R, Wang K, Bowman CT, Hanson RK, Davidson DF, Brezinsky K, Egolfopoulos FN (2018) A physics-based approach to modeling real-fuel combustion chemistry - I Evidence from experiments and thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, and statistical considerations. Combust Flame 193(01):502–519
Wang F, Weng C, Wu Y, Bai Q, Zheng Q, Xu H (2020) Numerical research on kerosene/air rotating detonation engines under different injection total temperatures. Aerosp Sci Technol 103(01):105899
Warimani M, Azami MH, Khan SA, Ismail AF, Saharin S, Ariffin AK (2021) Internal flow dynamics and performance of pulse detonation engine with alternative fuels. Energy 237(01):121719
Westbrook CK, Urtiew PA (1982) Chemical kinetic prediction of critical parameters in gaseous detonations. Proc Combust Inst 19(01):615–623. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0082-0784(82)80236-1
Westbrook CK (1982) Chemical kinetics of hydrocarbon oxidation in gaseous detonations. Combust Flame 46(01):191–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-2180(82)90015-3
Xisto C, Petit O, Grönstedt T, Lundbladh A (2019) Assessment of CO2 and NOx emissions in intercooled pulsed detonation turbofan engines. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power 141(01):011016. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4040741
Yungster S, Breisacher K (2005) Study of NOx formation in Hydrocarbon-fueled Pulse Detonation Engine. Joint Propulsion. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2005-4210
Yungster S, Radhakrishnan K, Breisacher K (2006) Computational study of NOx formation in hydrogen-fuelled pulse detonation engines. Combust Theory Model 10(06):981–1002. https://doi.org/10.1080/13647830600876629
Zeldovich YB (1940) On the theory of the propagation of detonation in gaseous systems. J Tech Phys 10(01):542–568
Zhao M, Zhang H (2020) Origin and chaotic propagation of multiple rotating detonation waves in hydrogen/air mixtures. Fuel 275(01):117986
Zhao H, Yang X, Ju Y (2016) Kinetic studies of ozone assisted low-temperature oxidation of dimethyl ether in a flow reactor using molecular-beam mass spectrometry. Combust Flame 173(01):187–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2016.08.008
Acknowledgements
The financial support from Aeronautics Research and Development Board (ARDB) is gratefully acknowledged for the current work (Grant # ARDB/01/1042000M/I).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Iyer, M.S.K., Dahake, A., Singh, R.K. et al. Numerical Study on NOx Emissions from Jet A–Air Detonations. Trans Indian Natl. Acad. Eng. 8, 221–233 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41403-023-00389-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41403-023-00389-9