ABSTRACT Title of Document: SPRAY FLAME AND EXHAUST JET CHARACTERISTICS OF A PRESSURIZED SWIRL COMBUSTOR

This work describes an investigation of swirl-stabilized flames, created in a combustor featuring co-annular swirling airflows, under unenclosed, enclosed, and submerged conditions. A centrally-located fuel nozzle, which uses air-assist atomization, creates a methanol fuel spray. This approach provides great control over fuel spray properties in a compact geometry. Factors affecting the structure of the flames, including the effect of the central atomization air jet, are investigated using three-dimensional particle image velocimetry, direct imaging, and phase-Doppler particle analysis techniques. Exhaust jet temperatures are measured. The dynamic events affecting two-phase exhaust jets from the combustor under submerged conditions are examined using high-speed cinematography and sound spectrum analysis. It is found that the structures of the flames examined, which feature low overall equivalence ratios, are closely linked to the features of the air flowfield in the combustor. Swirl numbers of flows emerging from twisted-vane swirl assemblies are characterized. The structure of the flow is affected by the swirl configuration, but does not depend heavily on the Reynolds number. The central atomization air jet (with or without fuel