Thesis (PH. D.)--University of Michigan, 1939. / cover-title By Violet L. Wu and E. F. Barker. "Reprinted from the Journal of chemical physics, vol. 9, no. 7 ... July, 1941."

The present manuscript discusses the use of two diesel injections in diesel-ignited propane dual fuel Low Temperature Combustion (LTC). Using propane fumigation into the intake runners of a single cylinder research engine, the maximum and minimum percent energy substitution (PES) values were obtained to be 90% and 53%, respectively at 3.3 bar BMEP. An optimal PES value of 80% was used to explore the effects of a secondary injection on the engine-out emissions. The secondary injection proved to have a strong influence on combustion phasing (CA50). As combustion is phased closer to TDC the IFCE shows and increase of 4% at 5 bar BMEP and 6% at 3.3 bar BMEP. Finally, a relationship between the IFCE and the CO to CO2 conversion was developed. An increase in the carbon to hydrogen ratio of the fuel shows a reduction of the CO output of the engine while the CO2 concentration increases. More importantly however, the CO to CO2 conversion shows a direct effect on the IFCE. It is shown that a decrease in CO emissions found in the engine-out emissions will correlate directly with an increase in the IFCE.

<p> The hydrogenolysis of propane over 0.5 weight percent ruthenium supported on (see symbol in text)-alumina in a continuous stirred-tank catalytic reactor was studied at various pressures and temperatures. </p> <p> The reaction orders with respect to propane and hydrogen and the activation energies were examined at various pressures. A mechanism was proposed and a Hougen-Watson type of rate expression was obtained from the analysis of the proposed mechanism. </p> <p> The product distributions were studied at various pressures and temperatures. A reaction network involving reversible adsorption-desorption of the hydrocarbons and irreversible rupture of the carbon-carbon bonds in the surface species was applied to the experimental data. </p> <p> The proposed mechanism was consistent with the data for kinetics and selectivity. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Rapid and efficient initiation of hydrocarbon/air mixtures has been identified as one of the critical and enabling technologies for Pulse Detonation Engines (PDEs). Although the NPS Rocket Propulsion Laboratory has successfully demonstrated fuel/air detonations in a valveless pulse detonation engine using ethylene, propane, and JP-10 fuels, past engine designs have relied upon a sensitive fuel/oxygen initiator unit. To realize the increased thermodynamic efficiencies of PDEs and thus compete with ramjets and other supersonic platforms, it is imperative to eliminate any need for supplementary oxygen in an air-breathing PDE design. This thesis examined ignition technologies and initiator designs which did not require auxiliary oxygen, including capacitive discharge systems and the developing technology of Transient Plasma Ignition (TPI). The current NPS pulse detonation engine architecture was modified to evaluate the various ignition strategies in a PDE operating on an ethylene/air mixture at simulated supersonic cruising conditions. Comparisons were based upon ignition success rate, ignition delay time, detonation wave speed, and Deflagration-to-Detonation (DDT) distance. Reliability and performance of the TPI system proved to be superior to conventional ignition systems. Furthermore, successful initiation of a PDE operating at a frequency of up to 40 hertz was demonstrated without the use of supplementary oxygen.

A 3D 8-component thermal compositional simulation study has been performed to evaluate the merits of steam-propane injection and a novel vertical-smart horizontal well system for the Lombardi reservoir in the San Ardo field, California. The novel well system consists of a vertical steam injector and a horizontal producer, whose horizontal section is fully open initially, and after steam breakthrough, only one-third (heel-end) is kept open. A 16x16x20 Cartesian model was used that represented a quarter of a typical 10acre 9-spot inverted steamflood pattern in the field. The prediction cases studied assume prior natural depletion to reservoir pressure of about 415 psia. Main results of the simulation study may be summarized as follows. First, under steam injection, oil recovery is significantly higher with the novel vertical-smart horizontal well system (45.5-58.7% OOIP at 150-300 BPDCWE) compared to the vertical well system (33.6-32.2% OOIP at 150-300 BPDCWE). Second, oil recovery increases with steam injection rate in the vertical-smart horizontal well system but appears to reach a maximum at about 150 BPDCWE in the vertical well system (due to severe bypassing of oil). Third, under steam-propane injection, oil recovery for the vertical-smart horizontal well system increases to 46.1% OOIP at 150 BPDCWE but decreases to 51.6% OOIP at 300 PDCWE due to earlier steam breakthrough that resulted in reduced sweep efficiency. Fourth, for the vertical well system, steam-propane injection results in an increase of oil recovery to 35.4-32.6% OOIP at 150-300 BPDCWE. Fifth, with steam-propane injection, for both well systems, oil production acceleration increases with lower injection rates. Sixth, the second oil production peak in the vertical-smart horizontal well system is accelerated by 24-50% in time for 150-300 BPDCWE compared to that with pure steam injection.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy