Combustion Characteristics of Biofuels in Porous-Media Burners at an Equivalence Ratio of 0.8

摘要

Biofuels, such as canola methyl ester (CME) and soy-methyl ester (SME) derived from vegetable oil, are alternative sources of energy that have been developed to reduce the dependence on petroleum-based fuels. In the present study, CME, SME, and commercial Jet-A fuel were tested in a porous-media burner at an equivalence ratio of 0.8 at the burner entrance. The measured combustion characteristics included NO_x and CO emission indices, radiative fraction of heat release, and axial temperature profile in the surface stabilized and extended flame. The effects of fuel on the injector and porous-media durability were also documented. The NO_x emission index was higher for the SME and CME flames than that of the Jet-A flame. Furthermore, the axial temperature profiles were similar for all the flames. The prolonged use of CME and SME resulted in more solid-particle deposition on the interior walls of the injector and within the structure of the porous medium than for Jet-A fuel, thereby increasing the restriction to the fuel/air flow and pressure drop across the burner.