Axial staging in premixed gas turbine combustors is a promising option for the increase of firing temperature without NO_x-penalty and for the improvement of turndown ratio, which is limited by the onset of CO-emissions. The configuration of greatest interest is the combination of state of the art premixed combustion in the primary stage with secondary injectors near the turbine inlet, which feed additional jets of premixed combustible mixture into the hot cross flow. Regarding NO_x this configuration is particularly beneficial (1) if the overall mixing quality in the first stage is limited, (2) if the difference between primary zone flame temperature and turbine inlet temperature due to air addition along the combustor is large and (3) if a high degree of mixing in the second stage is achieved. The potential of this promising combustion concept was investigated in a large scale atmospheric test rig. For the study presented below scaling of the second stage according to Karlovitz number similarity was chosen. This leads to smaller jet diameters and higher injection velocities compared to scaling based on Damkohler number applied in an earlier study. The impact of the higher velocities at the injector outlet on the flow field, on the lift-off height of the flame and on NO_x-formation is analyzed. A chemical network model is presented, which illustrates the effects of pre-flame and post-flame mixing on NO_x-formation under atmospheric and high pressure conditions. In addition this model is used to study the interactions of chemistry with mixing between the reacting jet and cross flow. On the basis of atmospheric testing and reactor modeling, predictions for engine pressure are made assuming similar lift-off as well as pre- and post-flame mixing. These re- sults are further analyzed regarding the NO_x-reduction potential at different equivalence ratios and residence times. Finally, it is discussed under which conditions the investigated configuration can be beneficially applied to reduce NO_x-emissions of real engines.
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