Fuel Decomposition and Aromatic Formation Pathways for the Hydrocarbons Contained in Liquid Combustion Fuels

燃气轮机、柴油发动机、炉子和其他燃烧设备排放的烟尘颗粒会对人体健康造成不利影响，并加剧全球变暖。由于燃烧器中碳烟的生成速度在很大程度上取决于燃料中碳氢化合物的结构，因此有可能通过重新配制燃料成分或使用燃料添加剂来减少碳烟排放。这也意味着碳烟排放将受到从石油燃料到替代燃料的任何变化的影响，无论是基于生物质、煤炭还是其他资源。本项目的目标是系统地研究碳烟生成率和机理对燃料结构的依赖。结构/反应性关系将使用实验数据和基本理论工具来开发。这一结果将使工程师和政策制定者能够定量评估燃料结构对碳烟生成率的影响。对机械原理的理解还将用于改进计算机模型，预测汽车和卡车发动机等实际燃烧室的烟尘排放。被测试的碳氢化合物将被添加到甲烷中，并在实验室燃烧器中与空气一起燃烧。然后将测量产生的煤烟和碳氢化合物浓度的变化，涉及煤烟的形成。测试化合物的添加量将足够小，使火焰结构不受影响，因此碳烟及其前体的任何变化都可以归因于添加剂的直接化学作用。将测试一系列添加剂，包括在传统燃料和替代燃料中发现的各种碳氢化合物。

CBET-0756303PfefferleSoot particles emitted from gas turbines, diesel engines, furnaces, and other combustion devices can impact human health adversely and contribute to global warming. Because the rate of soot formation in a combustor depends strongly on the structure of the hydrocarbons in the fuel, there is an opportunity to reduce soot emissions by reformulating fuel composition or by using fuel additives. It also means that soot emissions will be affected by any changes from petroleum-based fuels towards alternative fuels, whether based on biomass, coal or other resources.The objective of this project is to systematically study the dependence of soot formation rates and mechanisms on fuel structure. Structure/reactivity relationships will be developed using both experimental data and fundamental theoretical tools. The results will allow engineers and policymakers to assess the impacts of fuel structure on soot formation rates quantitatively. Mechanistic understanding will also be used to improve computer models and predict soot emissions from practical combustors like car and truck engines.Hydrocarbons to be tested will be added to methane and burned with air in a laboratory burner. The resulting changes in concentrations of soot and hydrocarbons involved in soot formation will then be measured. The test compounds will be added in small enough amounts that the flame structure will be left unaffected, so any changes in soot and its precursors can be attributed to the direct chemical effect of the additive. A large range of additives will be tested, encompassing the full variety of hydrocarbons found in conventional and alternative fuels.