Co-combustion of methane hydrate granules and liquid biofuel

Abstract

The use of fossil hydrocarbons is accompanied by such problems as the depletion of energy resources and high levels of anthropogenic emissions. One of the options for solving these problems can be the involvement in the fuel sector of composite mixed fuels using gas hydrates and vegetable liquid bio-fuels. In this research we test a hypothesis that gas hydrate with added rapeseed oil will make an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly composite fuel. According to the experimental findings, the co-combustion of gas hydrates and liquid biofuels shows high potential. It shortens the ignition delay by 1.5 times at 700 °C in the combustion chamber and by half at 800 °C compared with the combustion of methane hydrate alone. It also produces 18–32% less carbon monoxide, 12–22% less nitrogen oxides, and 14–33% less sulfur oxides than the direct combustion of rapeseed oil. On the basis of the results obtained, we have developed a predictive mathematical model simulating the heat transfer in a layer of composite fuel. A methane hydrate and rapeseed oil mixing scheme is proposed for combustion chambers. We also provide recommendations on how to use the research findings in a number of energy-related applications.