A study of spray combustion characteristics of ethanol water solution using a swirl burner

Abstract

Bioethanol is a well-known oil-alternate fuel for automobiles as a carbon neutral fuel adapted to environmental problems. Furthermore, ethanol water solution is thought to be effective to the depletion of problems of fossil fuel resources. Continuous combustion is achieved in a wide range of air ratios using low concentration ethanol water solution in previous research. This study aims to examine the influences on spray combustion characteristics by using a swirl burner. The images of flame structure for ethanol water solution was visualized for various air ratio and water contents by using a glass tube. The exhaust gases (CO, NOx, O2) and exhaust gas temperature are measured in a combustion chamber and exhaust pipe by using N type thermocouples. The main conclusions are as follows: 1) The brightness and length of flame for ethanol water solution at low ethanol concentration (E45) decreases compared to the other ethanol water concentrations (E60, E80 E95). 2) The exhaust temperature decreases with decreasing the air ratio at any ethanol concentration under constant ethanol flow rate conditions. 3) The CO emission decreases with increasing the air ratio at the low ethanol concentration (E45). 4) The NOx emission decreases with decreasing the ethanol concentration at any air ratios. 5) Fuel flow rate has a small influence for NOx emission under high air ratios at any ethanol water concentration.

Keywords

• ethanol
• ethanol water solution
• swirl burner
• free spray combustion
• exhaust gas temperature
• co emission
• nox emission