M.Sc. Leon Elsässer

At TU Darmstadt, I am focusing my efforts on developing a swirled version of the multi-regime burner (MRB). This burner is designed to study interacting combustion regimes under well-controlled laboratory conditions. The swirled jet configuration brings the burner closer to practical gas turbine combustors and contributes to the understanding of hydrogen-based combustion for future zero-carbon gas turbines. Using hydrogen, hydrogen-methane, and ammonia-hydrogen blends, the burner stabilizes turbulent, lifted, fuel-rich jet flames, which are back-supported by recirculating heat from a surrounding lean flame. This replicates key features of staged combustion systems, a promising approach for controlling the high reactivity of hydrogen while minimizing NOx emissions from ammonia-containing fuels.

My work focuses on the detailed experimental characterization of flame structure, stabilization mechanisms, and pollutant formation processes. We employ Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and OH-Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (OH-PLIF) to analyze the flow field and flame topology. Raman–Rayleigh spectroscopy provides quantitative measurements of local thermochemical states, including temperature and species concentrations. Additionally, NO-Laser-Induced Fluorescence (NO-LIF) is used to investigate NO formation pathways and emissions in hydrogen- and ammonia-based flames. These complementary diagnostics provide high-quality validation data for advanced numerical models and support the development of fuel-flexible, low-emission combustion systems for future high-pressure gas turbine applications.