Physical and chemical comparison of soot in hydrocarbon and biodiesel fuel diffusion flames: A study of model and commercial fuels

Journal Article · Sat Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Combustion and Flame

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COMBUSTFLAME.2010.07.022· OSTI ID:21396163

Matti Maricq, M ^[1]

---

1. Research and Advanced Engineering, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (United States)

Data are presented to compare soot formation in both surrogate and practical fatty acid methyl ester biodiesel and petroleum fuel diffusion flames. The approach here uses differential mobility analysis to follow the size distributions and electrical charge of soot particles as they evolve in the flame, and laser ablation particle mass spectrometry to elucidate their composition. Qualitatively, these soot properties exhibit a remarkably similar development along the flames. The size distributions begin as a single mode of precursor nanoparticles, evolve through a bimodal phase marking the onset of aggregate formation, and end in a self preserving mode of fractal-like particles. Both biodiesel and hydrocarbon fuels yield a common soot composition dominated by C{sub x}H{sub y}{sup +} ions, stabilomer PAHs, and fullerenes in the positive ion mass spectrum, and C{sub x}{sup -} and C{sub 2x}H{sup -} in the negative ion spectrum. These ion intensities initially grow with height in the diffusion flames, but then decline during later stages, consistent with soot carbonization. There are important quantitative differences between fuels. The surrogate biodiesel fuel methyl butanoate substantially reduces soot levels, but soot formation and evolution in this flame are delayed relative to both soy and petroleum fuels. In contrast, soots from soy and hexadecane flames exhibit nearly quantitative agreement in their size distribution and composition profiles with height, suggesting similar soot precursor chemistry. (author)

• OSTI ID: 21396163
• Journal Information: Combustion and Flame, Journal Name: Combustion and Flame Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 158; ISSN CBFMAO; ISSN 0010-2180
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ANIONS
BIOFUELS
CARBONIZATION
CARBOXYLIC ACID ESTERS
CATIONS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DIESEL FUELS
DIFFUSION
DISTRIBUTION
Diffusion flames
FLAMES
FRACTALS
FULLERENES
HEIGHT
HEXADECANE
Laser ablation mass spectrometry
MASS SPECTRA
NANOSTRUCTURES
PARTICLE SIZE
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PRECURSOR
SOOT
TIME DEPENDENCE