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ARF18 - Energy from biofuels for process heating and power generation
Researcher:Dr. Andrzej Sobiesiak, Dept. of Mechanical, Automotive and Mechanicals Engineering, University of Windsor Objectives:Overall:To investigate and improve the combustion performance of liquid biofuels for applications in processes heating and power generation. Specific:
Expected Benefits:The lack of reliable databases on biofuels droplet, spray and vapors mixing, thermal break-up and combustion is a barrier to biofuels market acceptance and commercialization. The proposed research aims to close that gap by advancing knowledge of biofuels combustion in industrial conditions to allow the development of combustion systems which minimize environmental impact. Combustion of biofuels in such optimized systems will emphasize the major advantage that the CO2 that is produced is naturally recycled through the photosynthesis process. Summary of Research Results:In the first stage, biofuels such as canola based biodiesel (esters of straight vegetable oils and their blends with ethyl alcohol) and bio-ethanol, their mixtures, and petroleum based diesel fuel and its blends with biofuels were characterized for sooting characteristics in a single droplet combustion experiments. It was found out that biodiesel droplet contains half of the soot that is present in petroleum diesel droplet flame. Further reduction of soot was observed in blends with ethanol and when liquid fuel was initially preheated. In phase 2, the experimental trials were done on a small scale set-up
that includes burner/combustor in which: 1) biofuel was atomized by an
ultrasonic atomizer, 2) atomized fuel was mixed with combustion air, In the final phase, the larger scale trials that, in addition to an ultrasonic
atomizer, include an experimental furnace with internal recirculation
of combustion products are done at Queen's University in Kingston. The
key characteristics of such optimized combustion technology are as follows:
1) liquid biofuel atomization with the use of ultrasonic atomizer and
initial premixing with combustion air and recirculated combustion products
to form a prepared fuel mixture, 2) the prepared fuel mixture nozzles
that are positioned at an optimized radial distance from the main combustion
air stream(s) injecting the prepared mixture into furnace hot combustion
products with low oxygen content, 3) both the prepared fuel mixture jet(s)
and the main combustion air stream(s) entrain large quantities of combustion
products prior their final mixing takes place, 4) the combustion zone
is extended throughout the furnace without visible flame ( thus the name For more information: Toll Free: 1-888-466-2372 ext. 64554 Local: (519) 826-4554 E-mail: research.omafra@ontario.ca |
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