Smoke Abatement in Gas Turbine Engines through Combustor Design

Intensive investigation of the effect of design features of jet engine combustors with regard to the formation of smoke has been performed by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft during recent years. This paper discusses the effect on the intensity of smoke formation observed by changes of such factors as primary air distribution, burner shape, swirlers, premixing, vaporizing, and so forth. A brief discussion concerning the effects of such variables as pressure, inlet temperature, and the like is presented, as is some discussion on the possibility of needed compromise between smoke abatement and performance factors.