University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Extinction strain rates of n-butanol, 2-butanol and iso-butanol in counterflow non-premixed flamelets

Mitsingas, Constandino

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Mitsingas_Constandinos.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/30996

Description

Title
Extinction strain rates of n-butanol, 2-butanol and iso-butanol in counterflow non-premixed flamelets
Author(s)
Mitsingas, Constandino
Issue Date
2012-05-22T00:20:43Z
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Kyritsis, Dimitrios C.
Department of Study
Mechanical Sci & Engineering
Discipline
Mechanical Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Date of Ingest
2012-05-22T00:20:43Z
Keyword(s)
  • butanol isomers
  • extinction strain rate
  • annular
  • edge flame
Abstract
The extinction strain rates of three butanol isomers, (n-butanol, sec-butanol and iso-butanol) were studied experimentally in a counterflow burner, and computationally using a one-dimensional numerical model. The experimental results provided an insight in how the difference between molecular structures affects combustion of the isomers. Molecular branching made the isomers more prone to extinction. They shared a similar maximum temperature, as well as virtually identical high temperature kinetics, which implied that the underlying chemistry that produced difference in extinction strain rates lay, in the low-temperature oxidation steps. A numerical study was employed to calculate the extinction strain rate of n-butanol, and compare it with the experimental results. Good correlation was observed between the simulation and experimental data. During gradual increase of strain that led to extinction in the computations, the maximum temperature as well as the reaction zone thickness decreased. The mole fractions of H and OH radicals decreased, while HCO appeared to remain constant throughout the process. The formation of an annular edge flame at high strain rates was also observed experimentally for all the isomers. Very rich mixtures (ϕ=4 or higher), produced more resilient edge flames, than lean (ϕ=0.5 or lower) ones.
Graduation Semester
2012-05
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/30996
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2012 Constandino Mitsingas

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