TAPS: A Fourth Generation Propulsion Combustor Technology for Low Emissions

This paper describes a low-emissions combustion system that uses a Twin Annular Premixing Swirler (TAPS) arrangement to further reduce NOx emissions without adversely affecting other conflicting design requirements of propulsion engine combustors. Two combustion systems have been developed using the test rigs: a single annular combustor scaled for the CFM56 engine size, Tech56/CFM SAC TAPS; and a Dual Annular TAPS for the GE90 size engine, DAC TAPS. Both the DAC and SAC TAPS give approximately 50% reduction in the landing/takeoff (LTO) NOx compared to current richdome product combustors. The Tech56/CFM TAPS combustion system has successfully completed engine demonstration including emissions, performance, operability and endurance.