This project constitutes one of the three essential research lines for evaluating a dual-fuel combustor concept, which adds hydrogen to
operate future decarbonized aviation gas turbine engines, at ultra-low emissions. Namely, the research line that includes the development
and implementation of advanced fluid-flow diagnose experimental techniques.
Hydrogen is present in the Spanish and European roadmaps for the future aviation industry. For long-range flights, the paradigm relies upon burning hydrogen based synthetic fuel in jet-engines. Low-swirl-stabilized lifted-flames burners are a technology
target, due to their potential in NOx emission reduction. Their main drawback is their small stability range extent. This project adds H2 in
the burning process of a synthetic fuel to increase the burner stability range.
In the evaluation of this concept, the LOOK-AHEAD subproject will design, construct and operate a small experimental atmospheric H2 rig
that will also be used for the development of fluid-flow diagnostic experimental techniques. These techniques will later be applied in a fullscale confined test rig developed in other of the subprojects (STAY-AHEAD). The third subproject (COUNT-AHEAD) will provide numerical
methods to shed light on the design of the burner. In turn, these numerical methods will be validated and tuned with the experimental data.
In LOOK-AHEAD, the Instituto de Investigación Aplicada a la Industria Aeronáutica (IANIA) will contribute to the consortium throughout
three lines:
1- Improvement and application of advanced measurement techniques, using the more than 20 years of previous experience in Particle
Image Velocimetry (PIV). Unique PIV instrumentation will be updated and applied in the project. The group will research PIV error
assessment and coherent structures detection procedures. Also, it will pursue the development of emissions measurement techniques,
including isokinetic probes.
2- Application of previous experience on the construction and operation of a pressurized confined ultra-LowNox LPP combustion test
facility with optical access. This is the only one that reached full operation from the three planned in the LOWNOX IIl European Project.
This knowledge will be used to construct and operate the atmospheric test rig for inhouse developments, performing also know-how
transfer to help in the construction of the confined test rig at the STAY-AHEAD subproject. The working team includes an expert on Labour
Risk Prevention to help on safety issues regarding the H2 supply infrastructure.
3- Application of previous experience on Low-swirl lifted flame burners. In the past, a single fuel burner with the capability to change from
high-swirl into low-swirl configuration was designed, constructed and operated, yielding relevant flow dynamics. This will be the starting
point for the planned dual-fuel burner. The project will study the characteristics and location of the H2 addition to improve burner stability
and emissions.
The research will be performed with the coordinated cooperation of the institutions in the other two subprojects. Their research areas
complement INAIA capabilities. Namely, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center will contribute with their research on numerical methods
including Reduced-Order Modeling and Machine Learning. Instituto CMT de Motores Térmicos will be responsible for the mayor
experimental test facility and the coordination of the subprojects.

t.