Constant Volume Combustion Research Articles

Laminar burning velocity of Ammonia/Air mixtures at high pressures

Ammonia (NH3) is one solution for decarbonizing the economy. This study used high-speed schlieren imaging to investigate the NH3/air flame morphology and propagation characteristics (laminar burning velocity (LBV) and flame thickness) inside a constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC), at conditions relevant to different types of combustors used in power generation. Experiments were carried out for equivalence ratios (ϕ) from 0.7 to 1.3, initial pressures from 1 atm to 10 atm, and an initial temperature of 298 K using a variable gap ignition system. A novel passivation method that minimized the effect of NH3 adsorption on stainless steel surfaces was used during the CVCC filling to reduce the uncertainty in the actual ϕ before ignition. Results showed that the low speed of NH3/air flames increased the effect of buoyancy on the flame shape, especially at high initial pressures or near the flammability limits when flames adopted a bean-shaped structure. A comparison of Rayleigh and Peclet numbers (indicators of buoyancy and diffusion phenomena in flames, respectively) supported these findings. Maximum LBV was measured at ϕ = 1.1 and decreased non-linearly with the initial pressure. Similarly, flame thickness decreased with pressure, and it was thinnest at ϕ = 1.1 for all the examined conditions. Numerical simulations using Cantera produced similar LBV values as the experiment. A sensitivity analysis indicated that reactions involving NH2 and NO have an important role on LBV. Reactions leading to H, O, and OH radicals generation had the strongest effects on LBV enhancement, while LBV-inhibiting reactions had more accentuated effects at high pressures at which LBV is lower.

Numerical investigation on turbulent flame jet characteristics of a pre-chamber fueled with CH4/O2 and CH4/NH3/O2 mixture under different initial pressures

Ammonia is a very potential carbon-free alternative fuel with extremely low reactivity. The application of ammonia in internal combustion engines faces the risks of ignition failure, low burning rate, and poor combustion stability. Pre-chamber turbulent jet ignition (TJI), which can provide much more ignition energy, is a promising method to ignite ammonia fuel. However, the transient propagation process of pre-chamber jet flame has not been fully investigated yet. In this paper, the propagation characteristic of methane jet flame was numerically studied based on a constant volume combustion system. The supersonic jet flame propagation and Mach disk phenomenon were further analyzed with numerical methods. And the propagation characteristic of methane/ammonia mixed jet flame was investigated. According to the results, the formation and propagation process of methane jet flame has different characteristics at different stages. In High-speed development stage (Stage II) and Low-speed oscillation development stage (Stage III), the penetration distance of flame jet tip is almost proportional to the penetration time. However, the penetration speed of the two stages is significantly different. The change trend of the jet velocity at the outlet of orifice hole can also be divided into four stages: slow increasing, rapid increasing, gradual decreasing, and periodic oscillation. The periodic oscillation of the jet tip velocity and the jet velocity at the outlet of orifice hole is caused by the effect of forward and reverse shock waves. The calculation results of CH4/NH3/O2 mixture jet flame show that the addition of ammonia has significant effects on the flame propagation process in PC, the thermodynamic state of PC, and the propagation characteristics of jet flame. With the increase of ammonia proportion, the maximum pressure of PC gradually decreases and the pressure rise rate slows down. Meanwhile, the two-stage (the high-speed development stage and the low-speed development stage) characteristic of jet propagation process gradually disappears. And the addition of ammonia is more likely to destroy the two-stage characteristic under low initial pressure.

Combustion performance and flame front morphology of producer gas from a biomass gasification-based cookstove

The present work investigates the last phase of the biomass gasification-based cookstove, which is the combustion process of biomass producer gas (BGP). A constant volume combustion bomb and kinetic simulation are used to characterize the behavior of the biomass producer gas and its pollutant emissions under a conventional premixed combustion process. The BGP combustion processes of two types of biomasses available in Colombia (Pinus Patula and Cordia Alliodora) are studied under certain conditions of pressure, temperature, and equivalence ratio. To characterize the combustible mixture of gases obtained after biomass gasification, a combustion chamber with cylindrical geometry equipped with a Schlieren optical diagnostic system to visualize the combustion process, and a piezoelectric pressure transducer to register the instantaneous pressure are used. By visualizing the flame front, the flame propagation speed at which the flame propagates through the combustion chamber and the morphology of the flame are studied. Instantaneous pressure is the input of a two-zone diagnostic model through which variables, such as burning velocity, temperature, mass burned fraction, etc., are obtained to characterize the combustion process of the mentioned gasification gases. Experimental results are compared and complemented with kinetic modeling results obtained with the Cantera package using the Gri-Mech 3.0 and Aramko 1.3 kinetic mechanisms, in terms of laminar burning velocity and NO, NO2, CO, and CO2 exhaust emissions. Results show that Cordia Alliodora presents higher burning velocities than Pinus Patula BP. However, lower CO2 emissions are obtained during the Cordia Alliodora combustion, and NOx emissions are not influenced by the type of biomass considered.

An optical study on the cross-spray characteristics and combustion flames of automobile engine fueled with diesel/methanol under various injection timings

The fundamental research on the spray and combustion characteristics of diesel/methanol dual injection was explored in this study. A constant-volume combustion chamber was modified to accommodate cross-fuel injection by adding another fuel supply and an injection system. The effects of diesel/methanol injection timings on cross-spray and flame development were analysed for various injection intervals and pressures. The results showed that as the injection pressure increased, the high atomisation of the diesel–methanol mixed spray plume promoted its combustion. After diesel–methanol impingement at injection pressure of 100 MPa, a significant increase in the spray area occurred up to 62.5 % compared to its value at 60 MPa, resulting in a shortened combustion ignition delay, increased flame lift-off length and reduced soot generation. In addition, when methanol was used prior to diesel injection, the combustion ignition delay and flame lift-off length increased and soot generation decreased, as the diesel injection timings delay increased. Soot generation can be reduced by up to 33.3 % compared to that generated via the simultaneous injection of diesel/methanol at 60 MPa, by utilising a high injection pressure and proper injection timing. The study findings will provide a theoretical basis for the development of diesel/methanol dual-fuel direct-injection engines.

Development of two diesel surrogates focusing on the soot emission under engine-like conditions

ABSTRACT Threshold sooting index (TSI) is one of the critical properties related to the soot emission of diesel. Investigating the effects of TSI on the prediction of soot emission and the response of the soot model to TSI may improve our understanding of the soot formation process and model establishment during the combustion of diesel under engine-like conditions. To meet this need, two different d.iesel surrogates, named S1 and S2 were developed. S1 comprised n-dodecane, iso-octane, methylcyclohexane, and 1-methylnaphthalene, while S2 replaced 1-methylnaphthalene with toluene. Both were adjusted for similar cetane numbers, H/C ratios, and heating values, differing in TSI to analyze sooting tendencies to ensure the S1 and S2 had different soot tendencies but close ignition quality. Then, the skeletal mechanism containing the kinetics of the components in S1 and S2 was developed and validated against ignition delay times, speciation, laminar flame speeds and the 3-D spray combustion with results agreeing well with predictions. Finally, the soot performances of S1 and S2 in different soot models were compared in the constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC). The results showed that the comparison of S1 and S2 in different soot models could promote the understanding of soot models.

Energetic characteristics of highly reactive Si nanoparticles prepared by magnesiothermic reduction of mesoporous SiO2

In this study, highly reactive silicon nanoparticles (h-Si) were successfully prepared by an improved magnesiothermic reduction process with ∼ 100 nm mesoporous silica nanoparticles as templates. The prepared h-Si have an average particle size of 18 nm, an active content of 85 %, and a specific surface area of 69.2 m2/g. Meanwhile, the preparation process is simple, green (avoiding the use of HF), and shows a great improvement in the inhibition of side reactions. The energetic characteristics of h-Si were compared with those of commercially available silicon nanoparticles (c-Si) by using ultrasonically mixed KClO4 as the oxidizer. Thermal analysis indicates that h-Si/KClO4 has an advanced reaction onset temperature, increased heat release, and lower reaction activation energy. In constant-volume combustion tests, h-Si/KClO4 shows excellent ignition and combustion characteristics in the fuel-rich state. In addition, electrostatic discharge sensitivity tests indicate that the minimum ignition energy of stoichiometric h-Si/KClO4 exceeds 100 mJ, which is much more insensitive than that of n-Al/KClO4 (∼2 mJ). Overall, h-Si show enhanced reactivity and have attractive advantages in applications where suitable combustion properties and low electrostatic sensitivity are required.

Perfluorotetradecanoic acid-directed precipitation of P(VDF-HFP) around nano-Al for the improved ignition and combustion characteristics

In this study, the self-assembly method is used to modify Al nanoparticles (Al NPs) with perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTD) to obtain Al@PFTD. Based on the C–F…F–C interaction and the hydrogen bond between –CF and –CH, the adsorbed PFTD is used to direct the precipitation of P(VDF-HFP) around modified Al NPs to obtain Al@PFTD@P(VDF-HFP) composite energetic materials. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are used to characterize the prepared samples, which prove a successful preparation process. The prepared Al@PFTD@P(VDF-HFP) is compared with physically mixed Al/P(VDF-HFP) counterparts by thermal analysis, electric ignition and constant-volume combustion tests. Thermal analysis results show that the reaction onset temperature of Al@PFTD@P(VDF-HFP) is 20 °C lower while its heat release is 135% higher. Electric ignition and constant-volume combustion tests show that the ignition delay, combustion time and pressurization rate are 50% shorter, 50% shorter and 40% faster, respectively. The improved energetic performance is mainly due to PFTD-directed precipitation of P(VDF-HFP) around Al NPs. Moreover, the fluorine-containing PFTD also contributes positively to energy density and reactivity through the pre-ignition reaction.

Thickened Flame LES methodology for turbulent propagating flames in non-homogeneous mixtures: application to a constant volume chamber

A Large Eddy Simulation methodology is presented in the framework of the Thickened Flame model, to predict the dynamics of turbulent propagating flames in non-homogeneous mixtures at variable pressure and temperature. At first, an analytical model is introduced to evaluate dilution by burnt gases and correct the chemical scheme. This method is then coupled with a new combustion model (the Stretched-Thickened Flame model or S-TF) allowing to capture stretch effects on thickened flame fronts. The S-TF model is also extended to accommodate multiple gas conditions. This numerical approach is applied to simulate multiple cycles of the pistonless constant volume combustion (CVC) chamber CV2, operating at the Pprime laboratory in Poitiers, France. The experimental ignition sequence and flame propagation is taken as reference. Results demonstrate the capability of this model to predict flame evolution in the CVC chamber. Comparisons with the classical Thickened Flame model underscore the effectiveness of the S-TF model, also for turbulent flames.

Numerical study of ignition process of ternary hydrogenated catalytic biodiesel/methanol/n-octanol blends under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions

This article presents a numerical simulation study of the spray combustion process of methanol/n-octanol/hydrogenated catalytic biodiesel (HCB) blended fuel in a high-temperature and high-pressure constant volume combustion chamber environment, using the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method. This study focuses on the effects of the fuel properties on two-stage ignition processes. The blended fuel, denoted as M15, is composed of methanol, octanol, and HCB in volume ratios of 15 %:17 %:68 %. The pure HCB (M0) was also calculated under the same operating condition as references. The results indicate that M15 exhibits significant delays in both high-temperature and low-temperature ignition compared to M0. At low ambient temperatures, methanol demonstrates a strong inhibitory effect on spray ignition in part due to its competition with alkanes for OH radicals. Additionally, high-temperature ignition of M0 primarily occurs at the periphery of the spray, whereas the ignition of M15 transitions toward the fuel-rich region near the nozzle exit. This transition is attributed to the ignition delay, which provides better-mixing characteristics in the M15 spray, along with the oxygen content introduced by methanol.

Effects of methane addition on the laminar burning velocity and Markstein length of methanol/air premixed flame

Adding methane to methanol can solve the problem of difficult cold starts of methanol engines. Therefore, it is important to understand the combustion of methane and methanol fuel blends. Because of this, this study explores the effect of methane addition on the laminar burning velocity and Markstein length of methanol/methane premixed flames under stoichiometric conditions at the initial temperatures of 353 K, 373 K, and 393 K, initial pressures of 1 bar, 2 bar, and 4 bar, using methane addition ratios of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% in a constant volume combustion chamber. The results show that the laminar burning velocity decreases linearly with the increase of methane addition ratio due to the linear decrease of the Arrhenius factor. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the kinetic effect is the main reason for the inhibition of laminar burning velocity, which is insensitive to initial temperature but enhanced at a high initial pressure. The Markstein length decreases with the addition of methane and the increase of initial pressure, which is mainly caused by the high mass diffusivity of methane and the decrease of flame thickness due to the increase of initial pressure.

Spray and combustion characterization under an ultra-high-density condition – Multi-fuel comparison

This study reveals for the first time the ignition and combustion characteristics of different fuel properties under ultra-high-density ambient condition. A new pre-burn type optically accessible constant volume combustion chamber was established, allowing for operation at pressures exceeding 300 bar. This chamber was utilized to generate a spray combustion environment at 150 bar and 1000 K, corresponding to a bulk-density of 50.82 kg/m3. Diesel was used as the reference fuel, and three types of primary reference fuel (PRF), i.e., PRF0 (n-heptane), PRF50, and PRF100 (isooctane), were used as the main test fuels. OH* chemiluminescence was utilized to measure the stable flame lift-off length, while the broadband chemiluminescence technique was used to measure the ignition delay time and to capture time-resolved flame development. The results show that the ignition delay of PFR100 is significantly larger than that of other fuels due to its lowest cetane number. Flame visualization results indicate that diesel spray combustion aligns well with the conceptual model proposed by Dec [SAE transactions, 1997: 1319–1348], whereas noticeable wrinkles are observed in the flames of PRF50. The flame lift-off length during the quasi-steady period shows to be independent of fuel properties, but the value has notably reduced to less than 9 mm. Comparison of the multi-fuel luminosity images reveals that diesel experiences the most pronounced combustion recession. Spatially integrated natural luminosity analysis indicates that diesel has the longest combustion duration, chiefly due to a larger rate of injection, whereas the difference in combustion duration between different PRFs is negligible. The heat release rate error range for PRF0 is the largest, suggesting stronger combustion variations. The heat release rate of diesel combustion is the most robust. The peak value of AHRR of PRF50 and PRF100 is marginally higher than that of diesel, which can be attributed to their higher low heating value.

Hydrogen concentration measurements using spark induced breakdown spectroscopy in a real engine

This study develops spark induced breakdown spectroscopy (SIBS) for measurements of direct injected hydrogen concentration in a multi-cylinder engine operated at real conditions. To this end, calibration is performed in the air excess ratio (λ) range of 2.1 ∼ 2.9 and simultaneously, high-speed schlieren imaging of laminar hydrogen flame propagation is performed in an optical high-pressure constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC). To achieve real engine applications, the SIBS is further developed using a modified conventional spark plug for sapphire window insertion onto the positive electrode and guided arc formation via a newly designed nipple type ground electrode. Specifically, the peak spectra intensity ratio of Hα (656 nm) to O (777 nm) is used for calibration, which shows a linear correlation with λ. For the first time, the calibrated SIBS is applied to a real engine operated at 46.2 ∼ 63.9 Nm load and 2000 rpm with 3.5 MPa hydrogen direct injection. The results show lower local λ than the global λ despite early injection timing of 165 crank angles before top dead centre, indicating a significant influence of in-cylinder flow motion on the spatial distribution of hydrogen-air mixtures.

Modeling hydrogen–diesel dual direct injection combustion with FGM and transported PDF

This work extends the transported probability density function (PDF) method to model hydrogen–diesel dual direct injection (H2DDI) combustion, where a H2 jet is ignited by a small pilot diesel jet flame. The work is motivated by previous H2DDI engine tests where stable compression ignition engine operation was reported with up to 90 % H2 supply by energy share. To help explain this high performance and provide a tool to help further engine optimization, the Eulerian Monte Carlo Fields (EMCF) solution method is employed with which a transported PDF equation is solved in combination with Flamelet Generated Manifold (FGM) for high accuracy and computational efficiency. In all cases, the pilot fuel ignites before interacting with the H2 jet and thus reaction rate and chemical composition are computed as the weighted average of the corresponding values taken for two separated FGM tables generated for the two fuels. Pressure measurements and high-speed schlieren imaging performed in a preburn-type optical constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC) with n-heptane (nC7H16) pilot fuel were used to validate the EMCF+FGM model. The application focus is how H2 ignition and combustion is affected when the nC7H16 is injected prior to or after the main H2 jet. EMCF+FGM computed heat release rate and flame structure were compared with experimental data and results from conventional FGM model based on presumed PDF. When applied to H2DDI combustion, the EMCF+FGM model successfully reproduces flame structures and heat release rate under different injection strategies, including the transition towards partially-premixed combustion when the nC7H16 pilot follows the main H2 injection. Moreover, analysis of heat release rate from different stochastic fields can provide a useful indication about cyclic variability and combustion stability.

Co-firing ammonia and hydrogen with butane under methane-equivalent calorific value and Wobbe index: Insights into transition in flame propagation and swirl flame characteristics

Fuel flexibility stands as a critical requirement for the development of combustors in future carbon-free energy systems. Carbon-free fuels including ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen (H2) are substantial supports for achieving this target, raising strong needs to counterbalance their distinct fuel thermochemical properties from methane (CH4), such as volumetric calorific value (CV) and Wobbe index (WI). In this work, butane (C4H10) which is an emerging renewable synthetic fuel is proposed to co-fire NH3 and H2 under methane-equivalent calorific value (MECV) and Wobbe index (MEWI). Laminar flame propagation of NH3/H2/C4H10 mixtures under MECV and MEWI are investigated in a cylindrical constant-volume combustion vessel. C4H10 co-firing can simultaneously tune the fuel thermochemical properties to CH4 levels and regulate the laminar flame propagation of NH3 and H2. Kinetic simulation and modeling analysis are performed to provide insights into the dominant kinetics and transition in laminar flame propagation. CV-compensated transition variables can generally well constrain the transition profiles of laminar burning velocity (LBV), while WI-compensated transition variables can linearize the transition profile from NH3 to C4H10 but meet challenges in constraining the transition profiles of H2-blending mixtures. Chemical effects are found to play the dominant role in the transition of laminar flame propagation, while thermal effects also have positive contributions. Test experiments in a gas turbine model combustor are also conducted to assess the swirl flame characteristics of NH3/H2/C4H10 mixtures under MECV and MEWI. The measured swirl flame morphologies and lean blowout limits indicate enhanced fuel reactivity and flame stability with the transition in fuel content, which is in accordance with the observed trends in LBV. Furthermore, comparison with CH4 provides a comprehensive evaluation of NH3/H2/C4H10 mixtures from the aspects of combustion characteristics and thermochemistry.

Local statistics of turbulent spherical expanding flames for NH3/CH4/H2/air measured by 10 kHz PIV

In this paper, we present high-speed particle image velocimetry measurements to quantify combustion-induced turbulence and turbulent stretch rate effects on flame propagation in a fan-stirred constant-volume combustion vessel. Three stoichiometric fuel/air mixtures including methane/air, methane/hydrogen/air and ammonia/methane/air were tested. The expansion rate of flame radius is found to scale with a half-power law of the mean-radius based Reynolds number. Measurements of velocity in the reactant zone show that the gas mean and rms velocity increase within the flame brush then gradually decrease when approaching the detection edge. Combustion enhances the measured non-reacting flow turbulence by ∼64 % within the reactant side of the flame brush of this expanding spherical flame. The evolution of rms velocity is found to be insensitive to pressure but sensitive to initial turbulent intensity and laminar flame speed, scaling with Reynolds number in a similar manner as the rate of expansion of the flame radius. Hydrogen blending shows the largest absolute value of rms velocity increase, but ammonia blending leads to the largest increase in rms velocity relative to laminar flame speed. The pdfs of 2D curvature are broadened as u′ and p increase but gradually saturate at high u′ for all mixtures, those of stretch rate are widened by flame speed. The temporal evolution of statistical flame stretch rates suggests the tangential stretch rate is larger than and anti-correlated with the normal stretch, and that there is a strong positive correlation between instantaneous flame propagation rate and the rms strain rate. Finally, the mean flame curvature and mean stretch rate are found to be near zero as flame propagates outwardly.

Study on spray characteristics of biodiesel alternative fuels for in-cylinder environment of diesel engine

This paper presents an experimental study of spray characterization of MD-NH (a blend of methyl decanoate and n-heptane in a molar ratio of 1:1 to characterize biodiesel) in an in-cylinder environment of diesel engines to provide a reference for the experimental study of engines in advanced combustion mode. Based on the Peng-Robinson state equation, the thermodynamic model of real fluid was established, and the influence law of ambient temperature and pressure on the diffusion characteristics of fuel flow was analyzed. Based on the constant volume combustion bomb experiments, the variations of spray penetration distance, spray cone angle, spray projection area, spray air entrainment mass, and spray fragmentation forms in different critical environment conditions were studied. The results show that the transport properties of the fuel change abruptly within the critical point neighborhood of the fuel. As the ambient temperature increases, near the critical temperature, the thermal conductivity of biodiesel decreases and then increases; density and kinematic viscosity decrease at an accelerated rate; and surface tension increases to a maximum and then disappears sharply. The diffusion coefficient decreases sharply when the ambient pressure reaches the critical pressure. The spray characteristics of biodiesel in sub/supercritical conditions were different. Compared with the subcritical environment, the biodiesel spray penetration distance decreases, the spray cone angle increases, the spray projection area decreases, and the air entrainment mass increases in the supercritical atmosphere, which induces a gas-liquid interface mixing layer and promotes the mixing of biodiesel with the atmosphere gas. The experimental data in this paper fill the gap in the study of biodiesel spray characteristics in supercritical environments and provide a basis for high-fidelity numerical simulation of the spray model.

Combustion characteristics of oxymethylene dimethyl ether-diesel blends: An experimental investigation using a constant-volume combustion chamber

The combustion characteristics of oxymethylene dimethyl ether (OMEx) and its blends with diesel have been investigated using a multi-hole injector in a constant-volume combustion chamber. The results show OMEx addition can reduce the ignition delay, especially when blends of more than 50 vol% are used, at low chamber temperature. Two individual heat-release peaks are observed for OMEx during premixed combustion at 750 K, due to a pronounced low-temperature heat-release phase. The chamber temperature of 800 K can be regarded as a transition point for the behavior of burn duration as well as maximum ROHR peak, mostly caused by combustion regime transition from premixed- to diffusion combustion. It appears that there is an approximate linear relation between maximum ROHR peak and the time at which this peak occurs with injection pressure. The ignition delay of OMEx is almost insensitive to a decrease in ambient oxygen concentration. And the premixed ROHR profile, due to its high oxygen content, is very similar and only ignition delay and burn duration increase slightly. Additionally, comparisons of natural luminosity results for OMEx and diesel indicate that OMEx produces near-zero soot values. Luminosity is expected to be caused by chemiluminescence alone, which increases with injection pressure.

Revealing Al–O/Al–F reaction dynamic effects on the combustion of aluminum nanoparticles in oxygen/fluorine containing environments: A reactive molecular dynamics study meshing together experimental validation

Improving the energy conversion efficiency in metallic fuel (e.g., Al) combustion is always desirable but challenging, which often involves redox reactions of aluminum (Al) with various mixed oxidizing environments. For instance, Al–O reaction is the most common pathway to release limited energy while Al–F reaction has received much attentions to enhance Al combustion efficiency. However, microscopic understanding of the Al–O/Al–F reaction dynamics remains unsolved, which is fundamentally necessary to further improve Al combustion efficiency. In this work, for the first time, Al–O/Al–F reaction dynamic effects on the combustion of aluminum nanoparticles (n-Al) in oxygen/fluorine containing environments have been revealed via reactive molecular dynamics (RMD) simulations meshing together combustion experiments. Three RMD simulation systems of Al core/O2/HF, n-Al/O2/HF, and n-Al/O2/CF4 with oxygen percentage ranging from 0% to 100% have been performed. The n-Al combustion in mixed O2/CF4 environments have been conducted by constant volume combustion experiments. RMD results show that Al–O reaction exhibits kinetic benefits while Al–F reaction owns thermodynamic benefits for n-Al combustion. In n-Al/O2/HF, Al–O reaction gives faster energy release rate than Al–F reaction (1.1 times). The optimal energy release efficiency can be achieved with suitable oxygen percentage of 10% and 50% for n-Al/O2/HF and n-Al/O2/CF4, respectively. In combustion experiments, 90% of oxygen percentage can optimally enhance the peak pressure, pressurization rate and combustion heat. Importantly, Al–O reaction prefers to occur on the surface regions while Al–F reaction prefers to proceed in the interior regions of n-Al, confirming the kinetic/thermodynamic benefits of Al–O/Al–F reactions. The synergistic effect of Al–O/Al–F reaction for greatly enhancing n-Al combustion efficiency is demonstrated at atomic-scale, which is beneficial for optimizing the combustion performance of metallic fuel.

Exploration of NH3 and NH3/DME laminar flame propagation in O2/CO2 atmosphere: Insights into NH3/CO2 interactions

Cofiring with reactive hydrocarbon and oxygenated fuels is an effective approach to enhance ammonia (NH3) combustion, which raises growing interest in understanding CN interactions. Among these fuels, dimethyl ether (DME, CH3OCH3) has attracted extensive attention due to its renewable nature and potential for large-scale synthesis from CO2 feedstock. This work reports an experimental and modeling investigation on the laminar flame propagation of NH3 and NH3/DME in O2/CO2 atmosphere, with an emphasis on evaluating the enhanced NH3/CO2 interactions under flame conditions. Laminar burning velocities (LBVs) were measured at elevated pressures up to 5 atm in a constant-volume combustion vessel. A kinetic model was developed and can well reproduce the measured LBVs in this work, as well as the LBVs and speciation data in literature. Modeling analyses and the modified fictitious diluent gas method were used to explore the effects of DME cofiring, pressure and CO2 dilution on LBVs. The results reveal that the chemical effect plays a crucial role in promoting the laminar flame propagation of NH3 with DME cofiring, while the reduction of LBVs with CO2 dilution is predominantly influenced by the thermal effect. LBVs of NH3/DME present a stronger pressure dependency than that of pure NH3, which is attributed to the enhanced pressure-sensitive three-body reactions, including CH3 + H (+M) = CH4 (+M) and H + O2 (+M) = HO2 (+M). Phenomenological analysis of LBVs was conducted by varying the diluent gas from pure N2 to pure CO2, complemented by modeling analyses with adjusted rate constants, to provide insights into NH3/CO2 interactions. The results show that CO2 reduction reactions, including NH + CO2 = HNO + CO and CO + OH = CO2 + H, compete for reactive radicals like H and NH with chain-branching reactions H + O2 = OH + H and consequently prohibit the laminar flame propagation.

Effects of oxygen enrichment on diesel spray flame soot formation in O2/Ar atmosphere

In this study, diesel spray combustion at oxygen-enriched conditions (oxygen volume fraction of 21–70 %) with argon dilution is experimentally investigated in a constant-volume combustion chamber. Optical diagnostics are employed to study flame development, stabilization, and soot formation at oxygen-enriched conditions. To further verify the experimental observations, two-stage Lagrangian simulations are used to analyze the effects of oxygen on the formation and oxidation of soot precursors, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Results show that replacing nitrogen in air by argon leads to a 50 % reduction of the flame lift-off length, an increased soot flame temperature by 300 K, and higher soot concentrations. Flame morphology and structure still follow the classic conventional diesel combustion model in the oxygen range of 21–40 %, while changes are observed when oxygen levels are higher than 50 %. The width and length of the soot flame are shortened, and chemiluminescence from intermediate species like CO dominates the flame natural luminosity at the spray head, where the flame temperature reaches near 3000 K. Soot reduction mechanisms at high-degree oxygen-enrichment conditions are investigated. The intrinsic mixing-limited combustion of diesel sprays leads to unavoidable fuel-rich areas locally, but the shortened flame lift-off length and sufficient oxygen supply confines soot-forming conditions to a smaller, upstream region. The residence time of fuel parcels in this confined soot-forming area is shortened due to the larger local spray velocity. Thereafter, fuel parcels enter a high-temperature fuel-lean region, where the formed soot is oxidized rapidly.