Simple Automobile Gas Turbine Combustors for Low Emissions

Combustors suitable for both simple- and regenerative-cycle automotive gas turbine engines have been designed and rig developed for low exhaust emissions. The simple-cycle combustor has demonstrated potential for meeting the EPA 1976 automotive emission standards, employing simple practical hardware with no variable geometry. Low emissions have been rig demonstrated with the regenerative combustor, but techniques such as variable geometry and/or regenerator bypass will probably have to be used to achieve target emission levels. Severe transients under actual driving conditions of the regenerative engines are expected to make it particularly difficult to duplicate rig results.