Laminar burning velocity of 2-methylfuran-air mixtures at elevated pressures and temperatures: Experimental and modeling studies

Abstract

2-Methylfuran (MF), a promising biofuel candidate catalytically produced from biomass-based fructose, has attracted the attention of fuel researchers. However, there is limited data available for the laminar burning velocity, especially at high initial pressure conditions. In this work, the laminar burning velocity of MF-air mixtures at elevated initial pressures (T0 = 363 K; p0 = 0.1–0.4 MPa) was experimentally determined in a spherical outwardly expanding flame. Numerical simulation was also conducted in Chemkin using two detailed chemical kinetic mechanisms at elevated pressures (similar to the experiment condition: T0 = 363 K; p0 = 0.1–0.4 MPa) and elevated temperatures (T0 = 363–563 K; p0 = 0.1 MPa). Data from experimental and modelling studies were compared and discussed. The experimental results showed that at a given T0 and p0 the laminar burning velocity of MF-air mixtures reached peak values at equivalence ratios ϕ = 1.1–1.2, and it slowed down dramatically when the MF-air mixture was too rich or lean. Laminar burning velocity decreased with the increase in p0. The laminar flame speed of MF-air mixture from two chemical kinetic mechanisms exhibited a similar trend with experimental data; however, both the two mechanisms led to overestimation at the most initial conditions. Compared to the Galway mechanism, the Tianjin mechanism better predicted the laminar burning velocity of MF-air mixtures, especially at initial pressures of 0.1 and 0.2 MPa. The current MF mechanism needs further improvement to better predict the combustion of MF at high-pressure conditions.