Effect of Chemical Structure on Pollutant Formation Kinetics in Algae-Derived Biofuel Combustion

该研究项目旨在确定藻类衍生生物燃料的污染物形成化学，这种生物燃料有潜力成为高产、高效生产的可再生燃料。在燃烧生物柴油和直接植物油（SVO）时，氮氧化物和煤烟等污染物的形成与原料中存在的甘油三酯的化学结构有关。藻类衍生生物柴油和SVO的燃烧化学和污染物形成化学特征需要开创性的工作，它们的脂肪酸组成与典型的植物或动物脂肪原料大不相同。研究主要集中在藻类衍生的SVO、脂肪酸甲酯（FAME）和可再生柴油的均质压缩点火和部分预混液滴点火。使用快速压缩机（RCM）进行燃烧和污染物形成研究。这些实验能够瞬时测量气相中间体和污染物，如NO， NO2， CO, CO2，甲醛，HCN和烟灰前体，可以与目前正在开发的化学动力学模型进行比较。在第二种结构中，单分散液滴流在高温氧化环境中的点火被用作模拟柴油的非均相点火和燃烧过程。这种配置允许使用平面激光诱导荧光（PLIF）对点燃的藻类燃料液滴附近的NO、OH和CH进行定量、时间和空间测量，同时使用激光诱导白炽灯（LII）对煤烟体积分数进行测量。然后将液滴数据与一个瞬态、球对称的化学反应流动模型进行比较。在藻类衍生燃料上进行这些实验和建模的组合，将为快速预混燃烧阶段（快速形成氮氧化物和煤烟前体）和过渡到非预混燃烧阶段（形成热氮氧化物和煤烟）提供有价值的见解。人为造成的气候变化是一个文明层面的挑战。虽然没有单一的解决方案，但生物柴油和SVO等可再生燃料可以在减少温室气体排放方面发挥重要作用。这项研究为本科生研究、本科生设计和研究生研究提供了机会，旨在培养新一代工程师，他们必须提供有效应对气候变化的创造性能源解决方案。

0854134MarcheseThis research project is aimed at determining the pollutant formation chemistry of algae-derived biofuels, which have potential to be high-yield, efficiently produced, renewable fuels. In combustion of biodiesel and straight vegetable oil (SVO), formation of pollutants such as NOx and soot has been linked to the chemical structure of the triglycerides present in the feedstock. Pioneering work is needed to characterize the combustion chemistry and pollutant formation chemistry of algae-derived biodiesel and SVO, which have far different fatty-acid compositions than typical vegetable or animal-fat feedstocks. Research activities are focused on homogeneous-compression ignition and partially premixed droplet ignition of algae-derived SVO, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and renewable diesel. Combustion and pollutant formation studies are performed using a rapid compression machine (RCM). These experiments enable instantaneous measurement of gas-phase intermediates and pollutants such as NO, NO2, CO, CO2, formaldehyde, HCN and soot precursors, which can be compared against chemical kinetic models currently under development. In a second configuration, ignition of a monodisperse liquid droplet stream in a high temperature oxidizing environment is used as an analog to the heterogeneous diesel ignition and combustion process. This configuration allows quantitative, temporal and spatial measurements of NO, OH and CH in the vicinity of an igniting algae-based fuel droplet using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF), along with soot volume-fraction measurements using laser-induced incandescence (LII). Droplet data are then compared against a transient, spherically symmetric, chemically reacting flow model. Performing these combinations of experiments and modeling on algae-derived fuels will provide valuable insight into both the rapid premixed-combustion phase, where prompt NOx and soot precursors are formed, and the transition to non-premixed combustion, where thermal NOx and soot are formed. Anthropogenic climate change is a civilization-scale challenge. While there is no single solution, renewable fuels such as biodiesel and SVO can play a significant role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This research provides opportunities for undergraduate research, undergraduate design, and graduate research aimed at educating the new generation of engineers who must provide creative energy solutions that effectively address climate change.