Experimental Comparison of Working Region, Flame Stability, and Flame Height of LPG, DME, and DME-mixed LPG in an Atmospheric Diffusion Cylindrical Burner

Abstract

This study investigates the possibility of substituting liquid petroleum gas (LPG) with dimethyl ether (DME) by considering the procedures of burner design in terms of working region, flame stability, and flame height. An experiment was designed using a cylindrical burner worked in atmospheric pressure by means of diffusion combustion. Comparisons of the working region, flame stability, and flame height were made between LPG, DME, and DME-mixed LPG with DME compositions of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% w/w. The results show that, based on flame stability in terms of lift off (LO) and blow out (BO), the uf working region for DME is 67.8% lower than that of LPG, while the burning load (BL) working region for DME is 79.7% lower than LPG. Using the obtained uf working region, the average FH of DME is 31.4% lower than LPG. Blends of LPG and DME improve the working region and FH of DME.

Keywords

• dimethyl ether
• flame height
• flame stability
• liquefied petroleum gas
• working region