A new combustion zone analytical model has been developed in which the combustion front temperature may be calculated. The model describes in the combustion zone, the amount of fuel burned based on reaction kinetics, the fuel concentration and produced gas composition based on combustion stoichiometry, and the amount of heat generated based on a heat balance. Six runs were performed in a 3-inch diameter, 40-inch long steel combustion tube with Jobo crude oil (9-11°API) from the Orinoco Belt in Venezuela. These runs were carried out with air containing three values of oxygen concentration, 21%, 30%, and 40%. The weight percentage of sand, clay, water, and oil in the sand mix was kept constant in all runs at 86.6%, 4.7%, 4.0%, and 4.7% respectively. Injection air rates (3 L/min) as well as the production pressure (300 psig) were kept constant in all runs. The results indicate that the calculated combustion zone temperatures and temperature profiles are in good agreement with the experimental data, for the range of oxygen concentration in the injected air. The use of oxygen-enriched air slightly increased the combustion front temperature from 440°C in a 21 mole % O2 concentration to a maximum of 475°C for air with 40 mole % O2 concentration. Oxygen-enriched air injection also increased the combustion front velocity from 13.4 cm/hr (for 21% oxygen) to 24.7 cm/hr (for 40% oxygen), thus reducing the start of oil production from 3.3 hours (for 21% oxygen) to 1.8 hours (for 40% oxygen). In the field, the use of oxygen-enriched air injection could translate into earlier oil production compared to with not-enriched air injection. The new analytical model for the combustion zone developed in this study will be beneficial to future researchers in understanding the effect of oxygen-enriched in-situ combustion and its implications on the combustion front temperature and combustion front thickness.

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Oxy-fuel combustion technology, which is based on burning coal in a mixture of oxygen and recycled flue gas (RFG), is suggested as one of new promising technologies for capturing CO2 from power plants. In this thesis study, the pyrolysis and combustion behaviour of various fuels including imported coal, petroleum coke, two different types of indigenous lignites, olive residue and their blends with different proportions in air and oxy-fuel conditions were investigated by using non-isothermal thermogravimetric method (TGA) coupled with Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. Pyrolysis tests were carried out in nitrogen and carbon dioxide environments, which are the main diluting gases of air and oxy-fuel environment, respectively. Pyrolysis results reveal that weight loss profiles are similar up to high temperature zone in both pyrolysis environments, indicating that CO2 behaves as an inert gas in this temperature range. However, further weight loss takes place in CO2 atmosphere v after 700oC due to CO2-char gasification reaction which is observed in pyrolysis of all fuel samples. Combustion experiments were carried out in four different atmospheres / air, oxygen-enriched air environment (30 % O2 &ndash / 70 % N2), oxy-fuel environment (21 % O2 &ndash / 79 % CO2) and oxygen-enriched oxy-fuel environment (30 % O2 &ndash / 70 % CO2). Combustion experiments show that replacing nitrogen in the gas mixture by the same concentration of CO2 does not affect the combustion process significantly but leads to slight delay (lower weight loss rate and higher burnout temperature) in combustion. Overall comparison of weight loss profiles shows that higher oxygen content in the combustion environment is the dominant factor affecting the combustion rather than the diluting gas. As O2 concentration increases profiles shift through lower temperature zone, peak and burnout temperatures decrease, weight loss rate increases and complete combustion is achieved at lower temperatures and shorter times. Pyrolysis and combustion behaviour of three different fuel blends were also investigated. Results reveal synergistic interactions in combustion tests of all blends in all combustion environments. During pyrolysis and combustion tests gaseous products CO2, CO, H2O, CH4, SO2 and COS were identified in flue gas and analyzed by using FTIR. Results indicate that higher CO and COS formation take place during pyrolysis tests due to gasification reaction in CO2 atmosphere at high temperature zone. Gaseous species evolution trends in combustion tests are found specific for each fuel. However, evolution trends slightly shift to lower temperatures in oxygen-enriched conditions.

Increasing concern for energy sustainability has created motivation for the combustion of renewable, CO2 neutral fuels. Biomass co-firing with coal provides a means of utilizing the scaled efficiencies of coal with the lower supply availability of biomass. One of the challenges of co-firing is the burnout of biomass particles which are typically larger than coal but must be oxidized in the same residence time. Larger biomass particles also can increase the length of the radiative region and alter heat flux profiles. As a result, oxygen injection is being investigated as a means of improving biomass combustion performance.An Air Liquide designed burner was used to investigate the impact of oxygen enrichment on biomass combustion using two size distributions of ground wood pellets (fine grind 220 µm and medium grind 500 µm mass mean diameter). Flame images were obtained with a calibrated RGB digital camera allowing a calculation of visible radiative heat flux. Ash samples and exhaust NO were collected for a matrix of operating conditions with varying injection strategies. The results showed that oxygen can be both beneficial and detrimental to the flame length depending on the momentum of the oxygen jet. Oxygen injection was found to improve carbon burnout, particularly in the larger wood particles. Low flow rates of oxygen enrichment (2 to 6 kg/hr) also produced a modest increase in NO formation up to 30%. The results showed medium grind ~500 µm mass mean diameter particle combustion could improve LOI from 30% to 15% with an oxygen flow rate of 8 kg/hr. Flame images showed low flow rates of O2 (2 kg/hr) in the center of the burner with the fine particles produced a dual flame, one flame surrounding the center oxygen jet and a second flame between the volatiles and secondary air. The flame surrounding the center oxygen jet produced a very high intensity and temperature (2100 K). This center flame can be used to help stabilize the flame, increase devolatilization rates, and potentially improve the trade-off between NO and burnout.

La transposition d’un milieu liquide (FML) à un milieu solide (FMS) de la production de γ-décalactones par fermentation par Yarrowia lipolytica a été étudiée pour la première fois. Dans un premier temps, différentes matrices solides (rafles de maïs, éponges de cellulose, éponges de courgette et graines de ricin) ont été utilisées. L'éponge de courgette était le support sur lequel les lactones étaient produites aux concentrations les plus élevées. La production de lactones a donc été réalisée sur ce support et dans trois types de réacteurs FMS sous différentes conditions d’aérations (sans aération, avec aération statique et avec aération forcée). Une concentration élevée de 5 g/L d’hydroxy-lactone a été détectée dans la condition d’aération statique en fiole à col large. Une certaine concentration de lactones était entrainée lors de l’aération forcée au cours de la production en mini-réacteur. Pour calculer la production totale de lactones dans cette condition, un modèle mathématique a été utilisé pour modéliser les pertes. Par ailleurs, un nouveau procédé par injection d’air enrichi en oxygène (20 %, 30 %, 40 % et 50 %) a été mis en place pour étudier les effets de l’oxygène sur la β-oxydation chez Y. lipolytica. Dans cette partie, les résultats ont montré que l’oxygène est nécessaire pour la production d’hydroxy-lactone et la dégradation de γ-décalactone mais pas pour la dernière étape de production de cette dernière. Dans la dernière partie de ce travail, l’effet de l’activité de l’eau (Aw) a été étudié préliminairement sur la croissance en milieu gélosé, et pour la croissance et la production de lactone en FML. / The adaptation of the production of γ-decalactones from submerged fermentation (SmF) to solid state fermentation (SSF) by Yarrowia lipolytica was investigated in this work. First of all, different solid matrices (corncob, cellulose sponge, luffa sponge, and castor seeds) were used for the first adaptation of the production of γ-décalactones. Luffa sponge appeared to be the most interesting solid support on which lactones were produced in higher concentrations than in the other solid matrices used. Then, the production of lactones using luffa sponge as the solid support was carried out in three types of SSF reactors to monitor different aeration conditions (without aeration, with a static aeration and with a forced aeration). A 5 g/L-high concentration of hydroxy-lactone was detected in the condition of static aeration using wide-mouth Erlenmeyer flasks. Furthermore, a concentration of lactones was stripped when forced aeration was used during the production using mini-reactors. To calculate the total production of lactones in this case, a mathematical model was used to evaluate the losses. Moreover, a novel alternative process using oxygen-enriched air (20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) was employed to study the effect of oxygen on β-oxidation in Y. lipolytica. In this part, the results showed that oxygen is required for hydroxy-lactone production and γ-decalactone degradation but not for the last step of production of this latter lactone. In the last part of this work, the effect of water activity (Aw) was preliminary studied on growth in agar medium, and for growth and lactone production in SmF.

Biomass gasification using air with addition of oxygen can be the right way to increase the quality of the syngas produced. This thesis aims to characterize the gasification process using oxygen-enriched air and verify its effect on the gas. The theoretical part deals with description of the technology with an emphasis on various gasifying agents and different possibilities of increasing gas quality. The practical part contains the results of measurements on the atmospheric fluidized bed reactor and their evaluation. The experiment was performed with various oxygen enrichment taking into account the capabilities of the equipment used.

Aujourd’hui, les constructeurs automobiles continuent de chercher les technologies renouvelables face à la pénurie d’énergie et les problèmes d’émission de polluants. Un moyen important pour optimiser l’économie de carburant et réduire les émissions polluantes des moteurs à allumage commandés est le concept ‘downsizing’. Cependant, ce concept est limité par le phénomène de cliquetis dû aux conditions de haute température et haut pression. Dans cette étude, le contrôle de la concentration d’oxygène dans l’air est proposé. Car d’une part, la combustion enrichie en oxygène permet d’améliorer la densité de puissance de moteur avec le même niveau de pression d’admission. Cela permet soit de ‘booster’ la combustion pour augmenter la puissance du moteur ou de l’activer lorsque le moteur fonctionne à faible charge ou dans des conditions de démarrage à froid. D’autre part, une faible concentration en oxygène dans l’air (ou dilution de N2) par un système membranaire peut être considérée comme une alternative à la recirculation des gaz d’échappement. Les expériences ont été effectuées dans un moteur monocylindre ‘downsizing’ avec différents taux d’oxygène et richesse. L’étude de l’impact du contrôle de la concentration d’oxygène sur les caractéristiques de combustion et d’émissions a été effectuée pour plusieurs charges en fonctionnement optimum pour limiter la consommation spécifique de carburant. L’effet de la concentration en oxygène sur les caractéristiques de combustion du moteur a été simulé en utilisant le logiciel commercial AMESim avec le modèle de combustion développé par IFP-EN. En mettant en oeuvre des corrélations de la vitesse de combustion laminaire, déterminées au préalable durant ce travail, et délai d’auto-inflammation, les pressions dans les cylindres sont parfaitement calibrés avec une erreur maximale inférieure à 2% et l’intensité du cliquetis a pu être prédite. / Nowadays, car manufacturers continue to lead researches on new technologies facing to the energy shortage and pollutant emission problems. A major way to optimise fuel economy and reduce pollutant emissions for Spark-Ignition (SI) engines is the downsizing concept. However, this concept is unfortunately limited by ‘knock’ phenomena (abnormal combustion) due to high temperature and high pressure in-cylinder conditions. In the present study, control the oxygen concentration in air is proposed. Indeed, on the one hand, oxygen-enriched combustion can improve engine power density with the same intake pressure level. Thus, oxygen-enriched combustion can be used either as a booster to increase engine output or as a combustion enhancer when the engine operates at low loads or in cold start conditions. On the other hand, low oxygen concentration in air (or N2 dilution) can be considered as an alternative to exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). The experiments were carried out in a downsized single-cylinder SI engine with different rates of oxygen and equivalence ratios. The study of the impact of controlling oxygen concentration on the combustion characteristics and emissions was performed at several loads by optimizing the spark advance and the intake pressure to maintain the load and obtain a minimum value of indicated Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC). The effect of oxygen concentration on the engine combustion characteristics was simulated by using the commercial software AMESim, with the combustion model developed by IFP-EN. By implementing correlations for the laminar burning velocity, determined previously during this study, and auto-ignition delay data base, the in-cylinder pressures were perfectly calibrated with a maximum pressure relative error less than 2%, and the knock intensity was predicted.

Ce travail de thèse porte sur l’analyse des effets de la recirculation des gaz de combustion, via l’étude de la dilution par le dioxyde de carbone et plus particulièrement de la vapeur d’eau sur des flammes méthane/air enrichi en dioxygène, dans le cas d’une combustion prémélangée pressurisée rencontrée dans les turbines à gaz. Des mesures de vitesses de flammes CH4/O2/H2O/N2 laminaires pressurisées ont été obtenues à l’aide d’une flamme sphérique se propageant librement dans une enceinte close. L’analyse des résultats expérimentaux a permis de vérifier la validité du schéma cinétique GRIMech ?3.0 au travers des calculs numériques de flammes libres monodimensionnelles. Des calculs complémentaires ont permis l’établissement d’une base de données (vitesse de flamme laminaire, longueur de Markstein et nombre de Lewis, température adiabatique de combustion et épaisseur de flamme) en fonction des paramètres d’entrées de la combustion (température, pression, X(H2O), richesse et enrichissement en dioxygène. L’étude expérimentale complémentaire en régime turbulent des flammes diluées à l’H2O ou au CO2 a permis de mettre en avant l’effet de la vitesse laminaire de flamme sur les structures moyennes et la stabilité des flammes turbulentes. Elle a également permis d’analyser les paramètres (température adiabatique, X(H2O), X(CO2), X(N2), Vitesse de flamme laminaire) ayant un rôle important sur la production des polluants CO et NO. / This PhD thesis deals with the analysis of the effects of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) through the study of the dilution by carbon dioxide and more particularly of the water steam on dioxygen enriched methane/air flames, in the case of a premixed pressurized combustion encountered in gas turbines. CH4/O2/H2O/N2 pressurized laminar burning velocity measurement were obtained using a spherical flame propagating freely in a closed chamber. The analysis of the experimental results made it possible to check the validity of the kinetic scheme GRIMech.3.0 through numerical calculations of one-dimensional free flames. Further calculations allowed the establishment of a database (laminar burning velocity, Markstein length and Lewis number, adiabatic combustion temperature and flame thickness) as a function of combustion input parameters (temperature, pressure, X(H2O), equivalence ratio and dioxygen enrichment). The additional experimental study under turbulent regime, the flames diluted with H2O and CO2 allowed to highlight the effect of the laminar burning velocity on the average structures and the stability of turbulent flames. It also allowed to analyze the parameters (adiabatic flame temperature, pressure, X(H2O), X(CO2), X(N2), laminar burning velocity) which have an important role in the production of CO pollutants and NO.

This thesis is concerned with the development and application of laser induced thermal grating spectroscopy (LITGS) as a tool for thermometry in reacting and non-reacting flows. LITGS signals, which require resonant excitation of an absorbing species in the measurement region to produce a thermal grating, are acquired for systematic measurements of temperature in high pressure flames using OH and NO as target absorbing species in the burned gas. The signal obtained in LITGS measurements appears in the form of a time-based signal with a characteristic frequency proportional to the value or the sound speed of the local medium. With knowledge of the gas composition, the temperature can be derived from the speed of sound measurement. LITGS thermometry using resonant excitation of OH in the burned gas region of in oxygen enriched CH4/O2/N2 and CH4/air laminar flames was performed at elevated pressure (0.5 MPa) for a range of conditions. Measurements were acquired in oxygen enriched flames to provide an environment in which to demonstrate LITGS thermometry under high temperature conditions (up to 2900 K). The primary parameters that influence the quality of LITGS signal were also investigated. The signal contrast, which acts as a marker for the strength of the frequency oscillations, is shown to increase with an increase in the burnt gas density at the measurement point. LITGS employing resonant excitation of NO is also demonstrated for quantitative measurements of temperature in three environments – a static pressure cell at ambient temperature, a non-reacting heated jet at ambient pressure and a laminar premixed CH4/NH3/air flame operating at 0.5 MPa. Flame temperature measurements were acquired at various locations in the burned gas close to a water-cooled stagnation plate, demonstrating the capability of NO-LITGS thermometry for measuring the spatial distribution of temperature in combustion environments. In addition, the parameters that in influence the local temperature rise due to LITGS were also investigated in continuous vapour flows of acetone/air and toluene/air mixtures at atmospheric conditions. Acetone and toluene are commonly targeted species in previous LITGS measurements due to their favourable absorption characteristics. Results indicate that LITGS has the potential to produce accurate and precise measurements of temperature in non-reacting flows, but that the product of the pump intensity at the probe volume and the absorber concentration must remain relatively low to avoid significant localised heating of the measurement region.