Novel Flame Holder Design Providing Enhanced Stability in Gas Turbine Augmentors

A concept for improving ignition, stabilization, and lean blow out of augmentor flameholders by using a microwave generated air plasma as a continuous ignition source is proposed. The proposed effort will focus primarily on testing of small scale flameholders. Initial testing will establish the extent of performance improvements available by comparing test results with published data on similar flameholders using pre-mixed gaseous fuels at representative, ambient pressure/temperature airflow velocities. Subsequent testing will utilize liquid fuels to optimize spray nozzle and/or spray bar locations, first at ambient pressure/temperature airflow velocities, and then followed by vitiated heated airflows in a Phase I Option. A summary of specific design parameters will be generated based on test results, and applicable scaling parameters will be developed for use in numerical simulation studies and larger scale systems.