Fuel Structure and Pressure Effects on the Formation of Soot Particles in Diffusion Flames.
Abstract
During the first year of the present grant, efforts have concentrated on examining the effects of fuel molecular structure on soot formation in diffusion flames. Studies involving alkane, alkene, alkyne and aromatic fuel species have been studied with specific attention given to the surface growth process. Analysis of these studies has demonstrated a strong fuel structure dependence for the amount of soot formed, the conversion percentage of fuel carbon to soot, and the soot particle surface area present in these diffusion flames. However, when surface area taken into account, similar specific surface growth rate coefficients are observed for all the fuels studied. These results point to a similar surface growth process for all the fuels. Consistent with premixed flame results, the present studies show a continual decrease in this specific surface growth rate coefficient with time. Other effects of fuel structure observed include an acceleration of the inception of soot particles to lower locations and, thus, earlier times in the flame as soot conversion percentage increases. These results also point to the importance of the initial particle inception process which appears to control subsequent soot particle evolution. Keywords: Soot formation; Soot particles; Diffusion flames.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 15, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA195501
Entities
People
- Robert J. Santoro
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University