Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence and Chemiluminescence Analyses of CO2-Argon-Steam Oxyfuel (CARSOXY) Combustion

Strict regulations and acts have been imposed to limit NOx and carbon emissions. The power generation industry has resorted to innovative techniques to overcome such a low level of tolerance. Amongst those in the literature, CO2-argon-steam oxyfuel (CARSOXY) gas turbines have theoretically been proven to offer an economically sustainable solution while retaining high efficiency. Although theoretical studies have characterized CARSOXY, no experimental evidence has been provided in the literature. Therefore, this paper attempts to experimentally assess CARSOXY in comparison to a CH4/air flame. OH* chemiluminescence integrated with OH Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) imaging has been utilized to study flame stability and flame geometry (i.e., the area of highest heat intensity (AOH¯Max center of highest heat intensity (COH¯Max)) over a range of working fluid Reynolds’ numbers and oxidizing equivalence ratios. In addition, the standard deviation of heat release fluctuations (σOH*/OH¯) has been utilized as the base-criteria to compare the stability performance of CARSOXY to CH4/air combustion. Moreover, turbulence-chemistry interactions have been described using Damköhler numbers and by plotting Borghi regime diagrams. This paper suggests a modified numerical approach to estimate Damköhler numbers and plot regime diagrams for non-premixed combustion by utilizing the Buckingham π theorem based on experimental observations and results. CARSOXY flames showed lower flame intensity than that of the CH4/air flame throughout the entire Re interval by approximately 16%, indicating higher heat release. The Damköhler numbers of the CARSOXY flame were also greater than those of the CH4/air flame in all conditions, indicating more uniform CARSOXY flames. It was found that the tendency of the CARSOXY flame of approaching the concentrated reaction zone is greater than that of the CH4/air flame.