Iso-octane, n-heptane, ethanol and their blends were tested in a constant volume combustion chamber to measure laminar burning velocities. The experimental apparatus was modified from the previous version to an automatically-controlled system. Accuracy and speed of data acquisition were improved by this modification. The laminar burning velocity analysis code was also improved for minimized error and fast calculation. A large database of laminar burning velocities at elevated temperatures and pressures was established using this improved experimental apparatus and analysis code. From this large database of laminar burning velocities, laminar flame speeds were extracted. Laminar flame speeds of iso-octane, n-heptane and blends were investigated and analysed to derive new correlations to predict laminar flame speeds of any blending ratio. Ethanol and ethanol blends with iso-octane and/or n-heptane were also examined to see the role of ethanol in the blends. Generally, the results for iso-octane and n-heptane agree with published data. Additionally, blends of iso-octane and n-heptane exhibited flame speeds that followed linear blending relationships. A new flame speed model was successfully applied to these fuels. Ethanol and ethanol blends with iso-octane and/or n-heptane exhibited a strongly non-linear blending relationship and the new flame speed model was not applied to these fuels. It was shown that the addition of ethanol into iso-octane and/or n-heptane accelerated the flame speeds. / text

Nanosecond repetitively pulsed (NRP) discharges are being increasingly used in various applications, in particular in plasma-assisted combustion and aerodynamic flow control. First, we studied the thermal and hydrodynamic effects of NRP discharges using quantitative Schlieren measurements and numerical analyses in atmospheric pressure air. The time resolved images show the expansion of the heated gas channel starting from as early as 50 ns after the discharge and the shock-wave propagation from about 500 ns. Gas density profiles simulated in 1-D cylindrical coordinates are used to reconstruct numerical Schlieren images for comparison with experimental ones. We propose an original method to determine the initial gas temperature and the fraction of energy transferred into fast gas heating, using a comparison of the contrast profiles obtained from experimental and numerical Schlieren images. The results show that a significant fraction of the electric energy is converted into gas heating within a few tens of ns. The values range from 25 % at a reduced electric field of 164 Td in air at 300 K to about 75 % at 270 Td in air preheated to 1000 K, which supports the fast heating processes via dissociative quenching of N2(B, C) by molecular oxygen. Second, we provide a database to test the kinetic modeling of lean mixture ignition by NRP discharges. We characterize the initial spark radius and the ignition kernel development at pressures up to 10 bar. Comparisons with a conventional igniter show that better results are obtained with NRP discharges in terms of flame propagation speed, especially at high pressure. The flame speed increases by up to 20 % at 10 bar due to the increased wrinkling of the flame front induced by NRP discharges. Finally, we investigate the dynamic response of a flame to actuation by NRP discharges in a 12-kW bluff-body stabilized burner. The results show a significant reduction in flame lift-off height, within 5 ms after applying the NRP discharges. The mechanism is attributed to the entrainment of the OH radicals and heat towards the shear layer of incoming fresh gases. This opens up new applications in the control of combustion instabilities.

After the restriction of different halogenated fire suppressants by the Montreal Protocol, there is an urgent need to identify environmentally friendlier alternatives. In particular, several efforts have been conducted to find substitutes of Halon 1301 (CF_(3)Br) which was considered the best in its class, not only because of its superior extinguishing performance, but also due to its relatively low toxicity. Different options have been proposed over the last decade. However, no single compound has been found to meet all of the exigent criteria. Further progress in this research requires fundamental combustion knowledge that can help us understand the unique performance of Halon 1301, to prevent this search from becoming a tedious trial-and-error process. To this end, the present work aids in the search of fire suppressants alternatives by improving the flame inhibition mechanism understanding, starting with CF_(3)Br, which serves as a benchmark for new fire suppressants. Then, a case study of two of the most currently used fire suppressants, C_(2)HF_(5) (HFC-125) and C_(2)HF_(7) (HFC-227), is presented and compared with CF_(3)Br performance. For these analyses, a systematic analytical methodology was used to examine the effect of fire suppressants on ignition and laminar flame propagation of C_(1)-C_(3) alkanes premixed mixtures, as good representatives of flammable gas fires (Class B fires). This methodology integrates model formulations and experimental designs in order to examine both chemical kinetics and thermal effects on fire suppressants at different stoichiometric conditions. Modeling predictions were based on a detailed chemical kinetics mechanism which was assembled from a new, well-studied H_(2), C_(0)–C_(5) hydrocarbon mechanism from NUI Galway and recent CF_(3)Br and HFC fire suppressant chemistry from NIST. Experimental study involved the use of a shock tube (for ignition analysis) and a freely expanding flame speed bomb (for laminar flame speed analysis). Most of the experimental data provided in this work are the first measurements of their kind for the compounds and mixtures explored in this thesis. These measurements are extremely valuable since they can be used as a metric for model validation which represents one of the objectives of this work. Current analyses indicate that the combustion properties of halogenated compounds cannot be generalized and depends on different factors. On one hand, the presented results showed that all the tested fire suppressants can decrease the laminar flame speed of the examined C_(1)-C_(3)alkanes premixed flames; however, in some cases they can act as ignition promoters. In order to understand these behaviors, sensitivity analyses were conducted showing that halogenated species, resulting from the fire suppressants decomposition, can participate in both promoting and inhibiting reactions that compete to give a net effect. Identification of the key reaction responsible for such effects was conducted. Then, improvements on the fire suppressant chemistry can be done by modifying the corresponding Arrhenius parameters of such important reactions. This work not only provides fundamental knowledge of halogenated flame inhibition mechanisms, but also serves as the basis for more accurate chemical kinetics mechanisms that can be used for better predictions over a wide range of conditions.

Les décharges Nanosecondes Répétitives Pulsées (NRP) sont de plus en plus utilisées dans diverses applications, en particulier dans la combustion assistée par plasma et le contrôle d'écoulement aérodynamique. Tout d'abord, nous étudions les effets thermiques et hydrodynamiques d'une décharge NRP en utilisant des mesures de Schlieren rapide quantitatives et des analyses numériques dans l'air à la pression atmosphérique à 300 et 1000 K. Les images Schlieren résolues en temps montrent l'expansion du canal de gaz chauffé à partir de 50 ns après la décharge et la propagation d'ondes de choc à partir d'environs 500 ns. L'onde de choc change de forme cylindrique à sphérique après 3 µs. Nous analysons des images Schlieren enregistrées à partir de 50 nanosecondes à 3 microsecondes après la décharge. Des profils de densité de gaz simulés en coordonnées cylindriques 1-D sont utilisés pour reconstruire des images Schlieren numériques pour la comparaison avec les résultats expérimentaux. Nous proposons une méthode originale pour déterminer la température du gaz initial et la fraction de l'énergie transférée dans le chauffage rapide, en utilisant une comparaison des profils de contraste d'images obtenues à partir d'images Schlieren expérimentales et numériques. Les résultats montrent qu'une fraction importante de l'énergie électrique est convertie en chauffage du gaz en quelques dizaines de nanosecondes. Les valeurs vont de 25 % pour un champ électrique réduit de 164 Td dans l'air à 300 K à environ 75 % à 270 Td dans l'air à 1000 K. Celles-ci reflètent les processus de chauffage rapide par quenching dissociatif de N2(B,C) par l'oxygène moléculaire. Deuxièmement, nous fournissons une base de données pour tester la modélisation cinétique de l'allumage pauvre de mélange par les décharges NRP. Le rayon d'allumage initial, le développement du noyau d'allumage à des pressions jusqu'à 10 bar sont caractérisées. Les comparaisons avec un allumeur classique montrent que de meilleurs résultats sont obtenus avec des décharges NRP en termes de vitesse de propagation de la flamme, en particulier à haute pression, où la vitesse de flamme augmente jusqu'à 20% à 10 bar en raison de l'augmentation de plissement du front de flamme induit par les décharges NRP. Enfin, nous étudions la réponse dynamique d'une flamme à l'actionnement par les décharges NRP dans un brûleur 12-kW. Les résultats montrent une réduction significative (75%) de la hauteur de décollement de flamme après l'application des décharges NRP. Le mécanisme en jeu est l'entrainement des radicaux OH et de la chaleur produite par la décharge vers la couche de cisaillement de gaz frais entrant. Cette étude ouvre ainsi de nouvelles perspectives vers le contrôle des instabilités de combustion. / Nanosecond repetitively pulsed (NRP) discharges are being increasingly used in various applications, in particular in plasma-assisted combustion and aerodynamic flow control. First, we studied the thermal and hydrodynamic effects of NRP discharges using quantitative Schlieren measurements and numerical analyses in atmospheric pressure air. The time resolved images show the expansion of the heated gas channel starting from as early as 50 ns after the discharge and the shock-wave propagation from about 500 ns. Gas density profiles simulated in 1-D cylindrical coordinates are used to reconstruct numerical Schlieren images for comparison with experimental ones. We propose an original method to determine the initial gas temperature and the fraction of energy transferred into fast gas heating, using a comparison of the contrast profiles obtained from experimental and numerical Schlieren images. The results show that a significant fraction of the electric energy is converted into gas heating within a few tens of ns. The values range from 25 % at a reduced electric field of 164 Td in air at 300 K to about 75 % at 270 Td in air preheated to 1000 K, which supports the fast heating processes via dissociative quenching of N2(B, C) by molecular oxygen. Second, we provide a database to test the kinetic modeling of lean mixture ignition by NRP discharges. We characterize the initial spark radius and the ignition kernel development at pressures up to 10 bar. Comparisons with a conventional igniter show that better results are obtained with NRP discharges in terms of flame propagation speed, especially at high pressure. The flame speed increases by up to 20 % at 10 bar due to the increased wrinkling of the flame front induced by NRP discharges. Finally, we investigate the dynamic response of a flame to actuation by NRP discharges in a 12-kW bluff-body stabilized burner. The results show a significant reduction in flame lift-off height, within 5 ms after applying the NRP discharges. The mechanism is attributed to the entrainment of the OH radicals and heat towards the shear layer of incoming fresh gases. This opens up new applications in the control of combustion instabilities.

Population growth and increasing standards of living have resulted in a rapid demand for energy. Our primary energy production is still dominated by fossil fuels. This extensive usage of fossil fuels has led to global warming, environmental pollution, as well as the depletion of hydrocarbon resources. The prevailing difficult situation offers not only a challenge but also an opportunity to search for alternatives to fossil fuels. Hence, there is an urgent need to explore environmentally friendly and cost-effective renewable energy sources. Oxygenates (alcohols, ethers) and ammonia are among the potential renewable alternative fuels of the future. This thesis investigates the combustion characteristics of promising alternative fuels and their blends using a combination of experimental and modelling methodologies. The studied fuels include ethanol, diethyl ether, dimethyl ether, dimethoxy methane, γ-valerolactone, cyclopentanone, and ammonia. For the results presented in this thesis, the studies may be classified into three main categories: 1. Ignition delay time measurements of ethanol and its blends by using a rapid compression machine and a shock tube. The blends studied include binary mixtures of ethanol/diethyl ether and ternary mixtures of ethanol/diethyl ether/ethyl levulinate. A chemical kinetic model has been constructed and validated over a wide range of experimental conditions. The results showed that a high-reactivity fuel, diethyl ether, may be blended with a low-reactivity fuel, ethanol, in varying concentrations to achieve the desired combustion characteristics. A ternary blend of ethanol/diethyl ether/ethyl levulinate may be formulated from a single production stream, and this blend is shown to behave similarly to a conventional gasoline. 2. Ignition delay time and flame speed measurements of ammonia blended with combustion promoters by utilizing a rapid compression machine and a constant volume spherical reactor. The extremely low reactivity of ammonia makes it unsuitable for direct use in many combustion systems. One of the potential strategies to utilize ammonia is to blend it with a combustion promoter. In this work, dimethyl ether, diethyl ether, and dimethoxy methane are explored as potential promoters of ammonia combustion. Chemical kinetic models were developed and validated in the high temperature regime by using flame speed data and in the low-to-intermediate temperature regime by using ignition delay time data. The results showed that even a small addition (~ 5 – 10%) of combustion promoters can significantly alter ammonia combustion, and diethyl ether was found to have the highest propensity to enhance ammonia ignition and flame propagation. Blends of combustion promoters with ammonia can thus be utilized in modern downsized turbo-charged engines. 3. Octane boosting and emissions minimization effects of next generation oxygenated biofuels. These studies were carried out using a cooperative fuel research engine operating in a homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode. The oxygenated fuels considered here include γ-valerolactone and cyclopentanone. The results showed that γ-valerolactone and cyclopentanone can be effective additives for octane boosting and emission reduction of conventional fuels. Overall, the results and outcomes of this thesis will be highly useful in choosing and optimizing alternative fuels for future transportation systems.

To contribute to the design of next-generation high performance and low emission combustion devices, this study provides a series of high fidelity numerical simulations of turbulent premixed combustion and autoignition with different clean fuels. The first part of the thesis consists of the direct numerical simulations (DNS) of the lean hydrogen-air turbulent premixed flames at a wide range of Karlovitz number (Ka) conditions up to Ka = 1,126. Turbulence-chemistry interaction is discussed in terms of statistical analysis of the turbulent flame speed and flame structure. Global and local flame speed are separately studied through the fuel consumption speed and displacement speed of the flame front, respectively, and the results are compared with the reference laminar flames as well as similar studies in the literature. The global flame structure is assessed via cross-sectional and conditional averages, and modeling implication is further discussed. Detailed analysis of the local flame structure along the positive and negative curvature is also conducted, providing an understanding of the different behavior of local heat release response. Finally, as the modeling perspectives for Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and large eddy simulations (LES), the mean quantities of major species, intermediate species, density, the reaction rate of the progress variable, and heat release rate are assessed in the context of the probability density function (PDF). The second part of the thesis consists of applications of the advanced mathematical tool called the computational singular perturbation (CSP). A skeletal chemical mechanism is developed using the CSP algorithm for the autoignition of methanol and dimethyl ether blends, and the ignition delay time and laminar flame speed are validated for a wide range of mixture conditions. A series of autoignition simulations are carried out in the canonical counter flow mixing layer using the developed skeletal mechanism, and detailed analyses of the autoignition for the methanol and dimethyl ether blends at a wide range of strain rate conditions are provided using the CSP diagnostics tools for a wide range of chemical and fluid combinations.

Following stringent mandates from environmental regulatory authorities worldwide, various steps are being implemented to ensure clean combustion with minimum emissions, including fuel dilution, mild combustion and additives. Due to the need to understand combustion characteristics in primary applications (engines and turbines) with minimum emissions, the laminar burning velocity of natural gas has been measured with CO2 dilution and a wide range of blends with higher hydrocarbons. And because it has improved anti-knock quality to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), the demand for oxygenated gasoline is now worldwide, making a compelling case for determining combustion behavior of oxygenated gasoline doped with hydrogen, ozone and carbon monoxide. The first section of this dissertation discusses dilution of methane with CO2 at elevated pressures, providing insight into comparative laminar burning characteristics in a wide range of equivalence ratios, particularly significant at elevated initial pressure. Utilizing CHEMKIN, a detailed kinetic study has been performed that explains the varying dependence on dilution ratio controlled by initial pressure. The second phase of this work reports the laminar burning velocity measurement of commercial gasoline. A TPRFE surrogate was used here to investigate burning characteristics and to provide detailed kinetic analysis of gasoline doped with additives (hydrogen, carbon monoxide and ozone). A study was also made of the behavior of gasoline with these additives in practical applications like engine and turbines. For this purpose, laminar burning velocity was measured at elevated pressures and temperatures, by varying the concentrations of synthetic EGR, and followed by measuring turbulent burning velocity at two turbulent intensities.

The thesis focus on simulating one-dimensional flame subjected to a microwave and nanosecond pulse. We modified open-source codes Cantera and Ember to perform one-dimensional flame simulations for steady and unsteady state, respectively. Our model is computationally efficient to perform simulations in a range of parameters such as electric field strength, flow strain rate, and pulse repetitive frequency. Our model for the one-dimensional flame subjected to a microwave predicted flame speed enhancement more accurately than the previous studies. <br>

There is a great interest to develop biomass combustion systems for industrial and utility applications. Improved biomass energy conversion systems are designed to provide better combustion efficiencies and environmental friendly conditions, as well as the fuel flexibility options in various applications. The gas derived from the gasification process of biomass is considered as one of the potential candidates to substitute traditional fuels in a combustion process. However, the gascomposition from the gasification process may have a wide range of variation depending on the methods and fuel sources. The better understanding of the combustion features for the Gasified Biomass Gas(GBG) is essential for the development of combustion devices to be operated efficiently and safely at the user-end. The objective of the current study is therefore aiming to achieve data associated with the combustion features of GBG fuel for improving the efficiency and stability of combustion process. The numerical result is achieved from the kinetic models of premixed combustion with a wide range of operating ranges and variety of gas compositions. The numerical result is compared with experimental data to provide a better understanding of the combustion process for GBG fuel. In this thesis the laminar flame speed and ignition delay time of the GBG fuel are analyzed, using 1-D premixed flame model and constant volume model respectively. The result from different kinetics are evaluated and compared with experimental data. The influences of initial temperature, pressure and equivalence ratio are considered, as well as the variation of gas compositions. While the general agreement is reached between the numerical result and experimental data for laminarflame speed prediction, deviations are discovered at fuel-rich region and increased initial temperature. For the ignition delay time, deviations are found in the low-temperature and low pressure regime. The empirical equations considering the influence of initial temperature,pressure and equivalence ratio are developed for laminar flame speed and ignition delay times. The influence of major compositions such as CO, H2 and hydrocarbons are discussed in details in the thesis. Furthermore, a simplified kinetic model is developed and optimized based on the evaluation of existing kinetics for GBG fuel combustion. The simplified kinetic model is expected to be used for simulating the complexc ombustion process of GBG fuel in future studies. / <p>QC 20150511</p>

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