Study of carbonaceous nanoparticles in premixed C{sub 2}H{sub 4}-air flames and behind a spark ignition engine

Journal Article · Wed Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · Combustion and Flame

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COMBUSTFLAME.2009.01.022· OSTI ID:21168978

Grotheer, Horst-Henning; Hoffmann, Kai; Wolf, Katrin; Kanjarkar, Santosh; Wahl, Claus; Aigner, Manfred ^[1]

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1. Institute of Combustion Technology, DLR, Pfaffenwaldring 38, 70569 Stuttgart (Germany)

Nanoparticle size distributions and their concentrations were studied in atmospheric premixed ethylene/air flames using photo ionization mass spectrometry (PIMS) and total organic carbon (TOC) calibration supplemented by differential mobility analysis (DMA). Focus of this study is the evolution of nanoparticles as a function of height above burner (HAB) and of the C/O ratio of the unburned gases. It was found that especially particles of the cluster type exhibit a sharp concentration drop by more than two orders of magnitude within a narrow C/O window which is close to the sooting threshold. Using DMA a decline by two orders of magnitude was found. These results suggest that at best only small concentrations of nanoparticles should be formed significantly below the sooting threshold. As these conditions prevail in a homogeneously charged IC engine no or only very small nanoparticle emissions are expected in the exhaust gas. This was indeed found for a small Otto engine driving a power generator unit. Using flame nanoparticle profiles as standard, absolute concentrations for their emissions could be deduced. These data were supported by additional DMA measurements. The calibration using TOC did not completely match the one based on the condensation particle counter of the DMA apparatus. (author)

• OSTI ID: 21168978
• Journal Information: Combustion and Flame, Vol. 156, Issue 4; Other Information: Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved; ISSN 0010-2180
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
SPARK IGNITION ENGINES
AIR
ETHYLENE
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
PARTICLES
SIZE
NANOSTRUCTURES
FLAMES
CARBON
CALIBRATION
EMISSION
HEIGHT
SOOT
BURNERS
DISTRIBUTION
PRECURSOR
ABUNDANCE
Nanoparticles
Formation threshold
Photoionization mass spectrometry