Performance of synthetic jet fuels in a meso-scale heat recirculating combustor
Wierzbicki, TA; Lee, IC; Gupta, AK
| HERO ID | 2905535 |
|---|---|
| In Press | No |
| Year | 2014 |
| Title | Performance of synthetic jet fuels in a meso-scale heat recirculating combustor |
| Authors | Wierzbicki, TA; Lee, IC; Gupta, AK |
| Journal | Applied Energy |
| Volume | 118 |
| Page Numbers | 41-47 |
| Abstract | The performance of two synthetic aviation fuels was evaluated in a meso-scale heat recirculating combustor and the respective results compared with the combustion characteristics of a conventional petroleum-based jet fuel. One of the alternative jet fuels was synthesized via a Fischer-Tropsch (F-.T fuel) process, while the other was produced from tallow (bin-jet fuel). The petroleum-based fuel used in this study was JP-8. The combustion and extinction behavior of the above fuels and their mixtures (50% synthetic fuel and 50% JP-8 by volume in JP-8) in the meso-scale combustor using oxygen under fuel-rich and fuel-lean non-premixed combustion conditions was examined. The synthetic fuels exhibited stable combustion over a range of equivalence ratios at each fuel flow rate; however, stable combustion was not achieved for JP-8 under any of the examined conditions. The mixtures also exhibited somewhat unstable combustion phenomena as those seen with JP-8, but dampened enough such that mostly stable combustion could occur. Fuel characterization analysis was performed for each fuel, and their respective thermal performances evaluated. Both the F-T and bio-jet fuels reached a maximum thermal efficiency of about 95% near their respective rich extinction limits. The mixtures exhibited somewhat poor thermal performances, with a maximum thermal efficiency of about 75%. The results reveal that composition of the fuel plays a prominent role in the flame stability and thermal performance in meso-scale combustors, as more complex species (such as aromatics, found in JP-8) have a slower reaction rate than simple species. The short residence time available in the combustion zone of the micro-combustion chamber does not allow to fully combust the complex fuel species, resulting in flame instability and formation of soot. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
| Doi | 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.12.021 |
| Wosid | WOS:000332435000005 |
| Is Certified Translation | No |
| Dupe Override | No |
| Is Public | Yes |
| Keyword | Alternative fuel; JP-8; Microcombustion; Heat recirculating combustor; Flame stability; Combustion characteristics |