AGWU Ogbonnaya, RUNYON Jon, GOKTEPE Burak, CHONG TUNG Cheng, NG Jo-Han, GILES Anthony, VALERA-MEDINA Agustin
Expanding the fuel flexibility of continuous combustion systems to include multiphase fuel combustion offers additional support to combat the problem of energy security and, potentially, environmental pollution. In this study, apart from establishing stability limits and measuring post-combustion emissions, flames generated from simultaneous combustion of biodiesel and syngas were examined using C2* and CH* chemiluminescence imaging to capture changes in the reaction zone. The proportion of syngas in the fuel mix was varied from 0 to 30% content (by energy contribution) while maintaining a total power output of 15 kW. The overall equivalence ratio was held at 0.7 in cases other than for determining the flammability range. The results indicate a reduction of stability limits as gas proportion in fuel blend increases. Also, chemiluminescence imaging of the two targeted species suggest a general reduction in reaction rate as well as reaction zone area and length with increase in gas ratio in the dual phase tests. Furthermore, emissions performance in the context of NOx and CO was investigated as liquid-to-gas ratios were altered. Conclusively, the study demonstrates the feasibility, limitations and potential benefits of multiphase renewable fuel combustion in a swirl-stabilised burner.