Characterisation of modern aircraft gas turbine volatile particulates and their impact on the environment

  • Supervisors: Dr. Paul I. Williams (UoM)
    Prof. Hugh Coe (UoM)
    Dr. Mark Johnson (RR)

  • External Supervisors:

  • Contact:

    Dr. Paul I. Williams, paul.i.williams@manchester.ac.uk

  • CASE Partner: Yes - Rolls Royce CASE studentship

Application deadline: 3 February 2017

Introduction:

Modern aircraft engines emit a complex mixture of gaseous and particulate material. The goal of this PhD is to better characterise the source and formation of volatile particulate (vPM) matter emitted by modern gas turbine engine exhaust and their potential impact on the environment. The work will involve working closely with Rolls-Royce to develop vPM measurement and sampling methods, obtain datasets from aircraft gas turbine combustion and analysis of existing datasets from previous international measurement campaigns.

The work on aircraft engine emissions is closely linked to evolving European and worldwide ambient regulations on anthropogenic source emissions. The work has the potential to help inform aviation policymakers on future worldwide regulation through CAEP (Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection).

Project Summary:

Aerosol particles emitted from a gas turbine engine can be broadly split into two categories: non-volatile and volatile. The non-volatile particulate matter (nvPM) is soot, formed as a by-product of incomplete combustion, and regulated as a solid particle above 350C. Volatile particulate matter (vPM) forms from gaseous precursors and has a range of sources such as unburnt fuel, fuel sulphur content, background aerosol ingested into an engine and lubrication oil.  

At aircraft engine exhaust exit the raised temperature (>350C) means that vPM does not exist in this plane. vPM forms in the plume downstream of engine exit or in the sampling system. Near-scale plume (<1 day) vPM is predominately composed of sulphate and organic carbon material. Total PM at airports and at altitude is dominated by vPM. nvPM regulatory methodology will be implemented in 2016 with the first nvPM standard in 2020. Characterising and understanding vPM will be needed to inform regulators on a possible future vPM international aviation standard. A robust sampling and measurement methodology will need to be developed if such a standard is implemented.

Experimental data is expected to include simulation of aircraft exhaust plume aging, type speciation of vPM and comparison to nvPM using a variety of sampling and measurement methods.

It is expected that data shall be obtained via participation in at least 1 international project Rolls-Royce engine test campaign. There will be opportunities for further engine and/or combustor datasets and lab scale experiments will also be performed. Previous engine and combustor datasets will be made available to support this PhD.

Specific skills and tasks:

  • Learning aerosol mass spectrometry techniques and data analysis
  • Participation in field measurements on real gas turbine engines
  • Data analysis from several previous campaigns
  • Lab based oil testing
  • Linking measurements with literature
  • Potential for modelling – environmental impacts
  • Conference presentations
  • Journal paper(s)

Rolls Royce expectations:

  • Extended work (e.g. 2 to 4 weeks at a time) at a Rolls-Royce European facility (e.g. Derby, Loughborough, Cologne, Madrid), acquiring skills to work in the industrial environment
  • Understanding/learning existing emissions measurement  systems and related limitations
  • 6 monthly reports and/or presentations to RR

Possible presentation to international aviation measurements method committee (SAE E31) or CAEP (e.g. Impact Science Group ISG)

References:

Apply Now