EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF SWIRL AND AIR DILUTION ON BIOGAS NON-PREMIXED FLAME STABILITY

Abstract

An experimental investigation of the stability limits of biogas in a swirling non-premixed burner has been carried out. A mixture of 60% methane (CH4) and 40% carbon dioxide (CO2) was used to reach the typical biogas composition. Vane swirlers with 30º, 45º and 60º angles were used to make the swirling air. The biogas stability limits and flame behavior under swirling conditions were tested. Besides, effects of air dilution with nitrogen (N2) and CO2 on biogas stability limits were investigated. The results show that using swirl can enhance the flame stability limits approximately four or five times comparing to non-swirling air stream. Adding N2/CO2 to the air had negative effects on the flame stability but no changes were observed in the flame structure. The maximum air dilution was also obtained when 27% and 15% N2 was added to the swirling air under strong and weak swirl, respectively.

Dates

  • Submission Date2013-01-12
  • Revision Date2013-07-08
  • Acceptance Date2013-12-12
  • Online Date2013-12-22

DOI Reference

10.2298/TSCI130112157R

References

  1. Board, N., Handbook on biogas and its applications, National Institute of Industrial Research Publishers, New Delhi, 2004
  2. Walsh, J.L., Ross, C.C.,Smith, M.S., Harper, S.R., Wilkins, A., Biogas Utilization Handbook, Georgia Tech Research Institute Publishers, Atlanta, Georgia, 1988
  3. Kapdi, S.S., Vijay, V.K., Rajesh,S.K., Prasad,R., Biogas scrubbing, compression and storage: prospectus and prospective in Indian context, Renewable energy, 30(2005),pp. 1195-1202
  4. Kalghatgi.G.T.,Blowout stability of gaseous jet diffusion flames. Part Ι: In still air,Combustion Science and Technology, 26(1981), pp. 233-239
  5. Chao,Y.C., Wu,C.Y., Lee, K.Y., Li,.Y.H., Chen,R.H., Cheng,T.S., Effects of dilution on blowout limits of turbulent jet flames,Combustion Science and Technology, 176(2004), pp. 1735-1753
  6. Feikema, D., Ghen, R.H., Driscoll, J.F, Enhancement of flame blowout limits by the use of swirl, Combustion and Flame, 80(2004),pp. 183-195
  7. Feikema, D., Ghen, R.H., Driscoll,Blowout of non-premixed flames: Maximum coaxial air velocities achievable, with and without swirl, Combustion and Flame, 86(1991), pp. 347-358
  8. Schefer, R.W.,Hydrogen enrichment for improved lean flame stability, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 28(2003), pp. 1131-1141
  9. Schefer, R.W., Wicksall, D.M., Agrawal, A.K., Combustion of hydrogen-enriched methane in a lean premixed swirl-stabilized burner, Proceeding of Combustion Institute, 29(2002), pp.843-851
  10. Jackson, G.S., Sai,R., Plaia, J.M., Baggs, C.M., Kiger, K.T., Influence of the H2 on the response of lean premixed CH4 flame to high strained flows, Combustion and Flame, 132 (2003),3, pp. 503-511
  11. Karbassi, M., Wierzba, I.,The effect of hydrogen addition on the stability limits of methane jet diffusion flames,International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 23(1998), pp.123-129
  12. Leung, T., Wiezba, I., The effect of hydrogen addition on biogas non-premixed jet flame stability in a co-flowing air stream, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 33(2008), pp.3856-3862
  13. Gupta, A.K., Lilley, D.G., Syred, N., Swirl Flows, Abacus Press.,Cambridge, 1984
  14. Cheol-Hong, Hwang, Lee, C., Kim, J.,Flame blowout limits of landfill gas mixed fuels in a swirling non-premixed combustor, Energy and Fuels, 22(2008), pp.2933-2940
  15. Weber, J.M.,Strakey, P.A., Low swirl combustion of simulated biogas, National energy technology laboratory, US department of energy, Morgantown, WV, 2008
  16. Colorado, A.F., Herrera, B.A., Amell,A.A., Performance of a Flameless combustion furnace using biogas and natural gas, Bioresource Technology, 101(2010), 7, pp. 2443- 2449
  17. Bedoya, I.D., Arrieta, A.A., Cadavid, F.J., Effects of mixing system and pilot fuel quality on diesel-biogas dual fuel engine performance, Bioresource Technology, 100(2009), 24,pp. 6624-6629
  18. Crookes, R.J.,Comparative bio-fuel performance in internal combustion engines, Biomass and Bioenergy, 30(2006), 5,pp. 461-468