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Effects of DME mixing on number density and size properties of soot particles in counterflow non-premixed ethylene flames

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Abstract

In order to investigate the effect of DME mixing on the number density and size of soot particles, DME was mixed in a counter flow non-premixed ethylene flame with mixture ratios of 5%, 14% and 30%. A laser extinction/scattering technique has been adopted to measure the volume fraction, number density, and mean size of soot particles. The experimental results showed that the highest soot concentrations were observed for flames with mixture ratios of 5% and 14%; however, for a mixture ratio of 30% the soot concentration decreased. Numerical results showed that the concentrations of propargyl radicals (C3H3) at the 5% and 14% ratios were higher than those measured in the ethylene-based flame, and the production of benzene (C6H6) in the 5% and 14% DME mixture flames was also increased. This indicates the crucial role of propargyl in benzene ring formation. These reactions generally become stronger with increased DME mixing, except for A1- + H2 → A1 + H (-R554) and n-C4H5 + C2H2 → A1 + H (R542). Therefore, it is indicated that adding DME to ethylene flames promotes benzene ring formation. Note that although the maximum C6H6 concentration is largest in the 30% DME mixing flame, the soot volume fraction is smaller than those for the 5% and 14% mixture ratios. This is because the local C6H6 concentration decreases in the relatively low temperature region in the fuel side where soot growth occurs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Marine System Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 606-791, Korea

    J. H. Choi

  2. Ship & Plant Research Team, Korean Register of Shipping, Seoul, 150-871, Korea

    B. C. Choi

  3. Environmental and Energy Systems Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon, 305-343, Korea

    S. M. Lee & S. K. Choi

  4. Clean Combustion Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia

    S. H. Chung

  5. Sea Training Center, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 606-791, Korea

    K. S. Jung

  6. Maritime Industry Research Institute, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 606-791, Korea

    W. L. Jeong

  7. Division of Marine Information Technology, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 606-791, Korea

    S. K. Park

Authors
  1. J. H. Choi
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  2. B. C. Choi
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  3. S. M. Lee
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  4. S. H. Chung
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. K. Choi.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Jeong Park

J. H. Choi received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Marine System Engineering from Korea Maritime University in 1996 and 2000, respectively. He then went on to receive a Ph.D. degree from Hokkaido University in 2005. He is currently a Professor at Korea Maritime University in Busan, Korea. His research interests are in the area of reduction of pollutant emission (soot and NOx), high temperature combustion, laser diagnostics, alternative fuel and hydrogen production with high temperature electrolysis steam (HTES).

S. K. Choi received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Seoul National University in 2004, and 2010, respectively. Dr. Choi is currently a Senior Researcher in the Environmental and Energy Systems Research Division in Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (KIMM). His research interests are in the area of renewable energy, pollutant emission, and numerical simulation.

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Choi, J.H., Choi, B.C., Lee, S.M. et al. Effects of DME mixing on number density and size properties of soot particles in counterflow non-premixed ethylene flames. J Mech Sci Technol 29, 2259–2267 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-0447-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-0447-9

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