Effects of Burner Diameter and Fuel Type on Smoke Point and Radiation Characteristics of Diffusion Flames

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to comprehend the effects of burner diameter and fuel type on smoke point characteristics of a hydrocarbon diffusion flame and its radiation emission. The critical mass flow rate of pure fuel at this smoke point was measured. At nine different fractions of the critical mass flow rate, nitrogen gas was supplied along with the fuel to achieve smoke point. At each condition, flame radiation and flame height were measured. The axial radiation profile at the critical fuel mass flow rate for one burner was also measured. Three fuels of differing sooting propensities were used: ethylene (C2H4), propylene (C3H6), and propane (C3H8). Three different burners with inner diameters of 1.2 mm, 3.2 mm and 6.4 mm were used. Results showed that propylene had the highest critical fuel flow rate and the highest nitrogen dilution required to suppress smoking and total flame radiation, followed by ethylene and propane. For all fuels, the curves of nitrogen flow rate required for smoke suppression versus fuel flow rate exhibited a skewed bell shape. The variation of Reynolds number at the critical fuel mass flow rate with the burner diameter showed a linear relation. On the other hand, the variation of total flame radiation with burner diameter was nonlinear.