Atmospheric Effects of Emissions

Aircrafts emit gases and particles into upper atmosphere and change atmospheric composition. Specially instrumented aircraft or balloons are necessary to study the effects of emissions on the upper atmosphere. We have an altitude chamber that can simulate the upper atmosphere in the laboratory. We have GC-MS, FT-IR and other gas-analyzing equipments to study these effects. Gaseous emissions are discharged into the altitude chamber and then measured at the altitude chamber. We also study the fate of the chemical species over a period of time in the simulated upper-atmospheric condition.

Reduced Chemistry

Combustion-emissions calculations using CFD codes can not be performed using conventional chemical mechanisms, particularly when complex carbonaceous fuels are used. Chemistry with minimum reaction species and reaction steps are helpful in these calculations. We have developed various chemistry models for hydrocarbon fuels, and tested their performance with CFD codes,

Results of Recent Experiments

Measurements for particle number count and size distribution were taken in the exhaust of an RB-211 engine on a B-757, January 2002, Langley Research Center; to determine effect of fuel-sulfur content on particulate formation.

Particulate measurements were made in the exhaust of a development combustor in a pressurized test-facility at Pratt & Whitney, Middletown, CN, April 2003.

Particle and gaseous emission measurements were made in exhaust of a T700 helicopter engine to determine effects on emissions of various fuels including JP-5, F-76 and two synthetic fuels; and various fuel additives including Betz +100 and Cu. The testing was done in a test stand at Pax River Naval Air Station, May 2003.

Researchers

Steve Culler
Krishna P. Kundu