Mini Review of Current Combustion Research Progress of Biodiesel and Model Compounds for Gas Turbine Application

Abstract

Biodiesel is one of the most promising low-carbon fuels and has been applied in internal combustion engines. In recent years, there have been emerging interests in the application of biodiesel in gas turbines, accompanied by the growing need for carbon reduction in the gas turbine industry. This mini review focuses on the fundamental combustion research of biodiesel and its model compounds, as well as its current application in gas turbines, mainly in the last 15 years. As for fundamental combustion research, selected advances in combustion chemistry and swirl combustion are reviewed. Diversity in molecular structures of biodiesel and its model compounds includes a vast amount of research on fuel molecular structure effects on combustion characteristics, including the effects of the functional group, chain length, and isomeric structure. Swirling flame studies of biodiesel are also reviewed, which focus on the flame shape, flame stability, atomization performance, and pollutant emissions. Combustion performances of biodiesel in aircraft and land-based gas turbine are also highlighted. Furthermore, some prospects of future research of biodiesel combustion with the purpose of gas turbine application are provided.