Simulation of the ignition of liquid fuel with a local source of heating under conditions of fuel burnout

The processes of heat and mass transfer with phase transitions and chemical reactions in the ignition of liquid fuel by a local source of heating, a hot metal particle, under conditions of fuel burnout are studied. The influence of liquid fuel burnout on the ignition characteristics is analyzed, and the results of investigation of the extent of influence of this factor for solid and liquid condensed materials under conditions of local heating are compared.     

Numerical investigation of pulverized coal particle group combustion using tabulated chemistry

The ignition and combustion of coal particle groups are investigated numerically in a laminar flow reactor. The Flamelet Generated Manifold method is extended to account for the complex mixture of gases being released during devolatilization, which is calculated with a competing two-step model. A second mixture fraction is introduced to include the mixing with the second methane fuel stream. The interactions of the gas phase with particles are modeled within a fully coupled Euler-Lagrange framework. To investigate the influence of particle groups on ignition and combustion, successively increasing densities of particle streams have been analyzed. The ignition delay time is increased significantly by higher particle densities. This delay is validated successfully with the available measurements. Moreover, the shape of the volatile flame was found to be strongly influenced by the particle number density inside the flame. A transition from spherical flames around single particles to a conical flame around the particle cloud could be found in numerical results as well as in experiments. As the primary mechanism for the substantial ignition delay and the formation of the flame, the increased heat transfer from the gas-phase to the particle group, resulting in lower gas-phase temperatures, was identified.     

Synthesizing aluminum particles towards controlling electrostatic discharge ignition sensitivity

Aluminum particles were synthesized with shell thicknesses ranging from 2.7 to 8.3 nm and a constant diameter of 95 nm. These fuel particles were combined with molybdenum trioxide particles and the electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitivity of the mixture was measured. Results show ignition delay increased as the alumina shell thickness increased. These results correlated with electrical resistivity measurements of the mixture which increased with alumina concentration. A model was developed using COMSOL for ignition of a single Al particle. The ignition delay in the model was consistent with the experimental results suggesting that the primary ESD ignition mechanism is joule heating.     

The influence of radiative-convective heat transfer on ignition of the drops of coal-water fuel

Simulation results are presented for thermal treatment and ignition of coal-water fuel drops under conditions of radiative-convective heating. The data demonstrate reasonbble compliance between theory and experiment for the integral parameter of ignition process — the delay time of ignition. The radiative component of heat transfer is significant for parameters and conditions of ignition. The increase in the fuel particle size makes this influence bigger. Prognostic potential was evaluated for differnet models of radiative heat tarnsfer. The delay time of ignition obtained from radiative heat transfer model “grey wall” is in good agreement with experimental data. Meanwhile, the method based on radiation diffusion approximation gives the simulation data for delay time much higher than experimental data. It is confirmed that while the process of inflammation of a coal-water particle, the key impotance belongs not to fuel-oxidizer reactions, but rather to a chain of heat treatment events, such as radiative-convective heating, water evaporation, and thermal decomposition of fuel.     

Ignition conditions and characteristics for high-porosity condensed materials subjected to local conductive heating

An experimental study of the ignition conditions (limiting heat source temperature) and characteristics (delay time) for high-porosity condensed materials under local conductive heating is reported. The study has been carried out on dry pine needles, a typical high-porosity combustible forest material. The dependence of the ignition delay for the material on the initial temperature of the heat source—a single cylindrical particle preheated to a high temperature—has been elucidated. A hypothesis concerning the mechanism of ignition of high-porosity condensed materials under local conductive heating has been formulated: the effect of high open porosity on the intensity of heat and mass transfer in the boundary layer of the material in the induction period has been substantiated.     

Analyzing the characteristic times of physical-chemical processes running at ignition of a liquid condensed substance under local heating

The ranges of times of heat and mass transfer processes, phase transitions, formation of a reactive vapor-gas mixture, and abruptly exponential acceleration of oxidation at ignition of a liquid condensed substance by a typical source with a limited heat content, that is, by a small hot metal particle, are found. Results of the performed numerical and experimental investigations are used to find the limiting values of the main parameters (temperature, sizes) of a local energy source, which are sufficient for ignition of a typical liquid fuel.     

On the scale of “simultaneous” influence of several “hot” particles on the conditions of heat and mass transfer at ignition of liquid condensed substance

Processes of heat and mass transfer at igniting a film of a typical liquid burning substance—kerosene—by several small-size hot particles are investigated numerically. Characteristics of ignition by several particles are compared with similar parameters in a system of single hot particle-liquid fuel film-air. It is found out that a value of the interparticle distance affects characteristics of the process. Three possible regimes of ignition in a system of two hot particles-liquid fuel film-air, depending on the distance between the heat sources, are revealed.     

Effect of the shape of an organic water–coal fuel particle on the condition and characteristics of its ignition in a hot air flow

The results of experimental studies of the effect of the shape of an organic water–coal fuel (OCWF) particle on its ignition delay time and the time of its complete burnout in a hot air flow are reported. Three most common shapes of real particles, such as spherical, ellipsoidal, and irregular-polyhedron-like, are considered. It is shown that the shortest ignition delay time and the time of complete burnout correspond to polyhedron- shaped OCWF particles. Conditions are identified under which this factor significantly influences the ignition characteristics. The experiments were carried out at initial particle sizes (averaged maximum values) of 0.5–5 mm and temperatures and velocities of the oxidant flow of 600–900 K and 0.5–5 m/s, respectively. The main components of the studied fuels were coal processing wastes and waste motor, turbine, and transformer oils.     

Influence of the degree of coal metamorphism on characteristics and conditions of ignition of coal-water fuel drops

The results of theoretical studies of the processes of ignition of water-coal fuel droplets based on brown coal, semi-anthracite, anthracite, long-flame and fat coal under the conditions corresponding to the combustion spaces of typical modern boilers are presented. The influence of the degree of metamorphism (structural-molecular transformation of organic matter of coal) and concentration of the organic component of the base fuel (coal) on the conditions of ignition of water-coal fuel particles is analyzed. It is determined that the type and grade of coal have a significant impact on the dynamics of fuel ignition. It was shown that in the case of ignition of coal-water fuel made of mineral coal, the ignition of particles based on semi-anthracite and anthracite is the fastest (by 20%), and ignition of coal-water fuels of fat coal is the slowest. The latter is explained by the lower heat capacity and thermal effect of pyrolysis of this fuel, as well as the relatively high heat conductivity of anthracite coal as compared to fat coal. It has been determined that drops of coal-water fuel made of brown coal ignite substantially (2 times) faster than drops prepared from coal of coal-water particles. This is due to the high content of volatiles in the composition of brown coal.Comparative analysis of the main characteristics of the process: ignition delay times (t_ign) obtained by mathematical modeling and experiments showed a satisfactory agreement between the theoretical and experimental values of t_ign.     

Numerical simulation of the ignition of liquid fuel with a limited-energy source under turbulent flow conditions

The ignition of a typical liquid fuel with a limited-energy source, a small metal particle heated to high temperature is numerically simulated with consideration given to the possible turbulization of the fuel vapor flow. The dependences of the integral ignition characteristics on the key parameters of the local heat source are established. The integral ignition characteristics, as well as the fields of fuel vapor concentrations and velocities predicted by models accounting for the laminar and turbulent modes of the vapor-oxidizer mixture flow are compared.     

A numerical simulation of transient ignition and ignition limit of a composite solid by a localised radiant source

An unsteady three-dimensional numerical model has been formulated, coded, and solved to study ignition and flame development over a composite solid fuel sample upon heating by a localised radiant beam in a buoyant atmosphere. The model consists of an unsteady gas phase and an unsteady solid phase. The gas phase formulation consists of full Navier-Stokes equations for the conservation of mass, momentum, energy, and species. A one-step, second-order overall Arrhenius reaction is adopted. Gas radiation is included by solving the radiation transfer equation. For the solid phase formulation, the energy (heat conduction) equation is employed to solve the transient solid temperature. A first-order in-depth solid pyrolysis relation between the solid fuel density and the local solid temperature is assumed. Numerical simulations provide time-and-space resolved details of the ignition transient and flame development and the existence of two types of ignition modes: one with reaction kernel initiated on the surface and the other with ignition kernel initiated in the gas phase. Other primary outputs of the computation are the minimum ignition energy (Joule) for the solid as a function of the external heating rate (Watt). Both the critical heat input for ignition and the optimal ignition energy are identified. Other parameters that were varied over the simulations include: sample thickness, ignition heat source spatial shape factor, and gravity level.     

Ignition of a vapor-gas mixture by a moving small-size source

A theoretical analysis of the ignition of a liquid fuel vapor-air mixture by a moving small source of heating was performed. A gas-phase model of the ignition with consideration given to heat transfer, liquid fuel evaporation, diffusion and convective motion of fuel vapor in the oxidizer medium, crystallization of the heating source, kinetics of the vaporization and ignition processes, temperature dependence of the thermophysical characteristics of the interacting substances, and character of motion of the heating source in the vapor-gas mixture was developed. The values of the ignition delay time τ _d , the main characteristic of the process, were determined. It was established how τ _d depends on the initial temperature, heating source sizes, velocity and trajectory of the heating source, and ambient air temperature.     

Heat and mass transfer at ignition of solid condensed substance with relatively low calorific power by a local energy source

Macroscopic laws of heat and mass transfer at gas-phase ignition of solid condensed substance with relatively low calorific power by a typical local energy source, namely, a small hot metal particle shaped as a parallelepiped, are investigated. The proposed model takes into account a group of interrelated processes of heat and mass transfer with thermal decomposition and chemical reaction in the interaction of solid and a source with limited energy content. The influence of the heat content of a local energy source on the characteristics of the process is analyzed.     

Effect of the shape of a particle heated to a high temperature on the gas-phase ignition of a liquid film

The process of gas-phase ignition of a liquid fuel film with incandescent small metal particles in the form of a parallelepiped, disk, or hemisphere was numerically simulated. The magnitude of influence of the particle shape on the delay time of ignition of a liquid fuel was determined. The range of parameters of the particle at which the effect of its shape on the ignition delay time is unimportant was established.     

Numerical estimation of the influence of natural convection in liquid on the conditions of ignition by a local heat source

Peculiarities of natural convection in a liquid condensed substance at ignition by a typical local energy source, that is, a small hot metal particle, are numerically investigated. The proposed model takes into account the whole complex of the main processes of heat and mass transfer with phase transitions, chemical reaction, and hydrodynamic processes during interaction between a liquid substance and a source with a limited energy capacity. The influence of convective streams in liquid during the ignition delay time on the process characteristics is analyzed.     

The influence of radiation heat exchange on characteristics of liquid fuel ignition by a heated metal particle

A complex of interrelated heat-mass transfer processes at gas-phase ignition of a typical liquid fuel by a hot metal particle immersed partially into a liquid is investigated numerically. The scale of influence of the radiation heat exchange at particle—liquid fuel and particle—gas—vapor mixture interfaces is found. Conditions under which the impact of this factor can be neglected are determined.     

Ignition of dimethyl ether/air mixtures by hot particles: Impact of low temperature chemical reactions

Understanding and characterizing ignition of flammable mixtures by hot particles is important for assessing and reducing the risk of accidental ignition and explosion in industry and aviation. Recently, many studies have been conducted for ignition of gaseous mixtures by hot particles. However, the effects of low-temperature chemistry (LTC) on ignition by hot particles received little attention. LTC plays an important role in the ignition of most hydrocarbon fuels and may induce cool flames. The present study aims to numerically assess the effects of LTC on ignition by the hot particles. We consider the transient ignition processes induced by a hot spherical particle in quiescent and flowing stoichiometric dimethyl ether/air mixtures. 1D and 2D simulations, respectively, are conducted for the ignition process by hot-particles in quiescent and flowing mixtures. A detailed kinetic model including both LTC and high-temperature chemistry (HTC) is used in simulations. The results exhibit a premixed cool flame to be first initiated by the hot particle. Then a double-flame structure with both premixed cool and hot flames is observed at certain conditions. At zero or low inlet flow velocities, the hot flame catches up and merges with the leading cool flame. At high inlet flow velocities, the hot flame cannot be initiated due to the short residence time and large convective loss of heat and radicals. Comparing the results with and without considering LTC confirms that LTC accelerates substantially ignition via HTC in a certain range of hot particle temperatures. The mechanism of ignition promotion by LTC is interpreted by analyzing the radical pool produced by the LTC and HTC surrounding the hot particle. Moreover, the influence of inlet flow velocity on ignition by hot particles is assessed. Non-monotonic change of ignition delay time with flow velocity is observed and discussed.     

Effect of fuel ratio of coal on the turbulent flame speed of ammonia/coal particle cloud co-combustion at atmospheric pressure

This study aims to clarify the effect of fuel ratio of coal on the turbulent flame speed of ammonia/coal particle cloud co-combustion at atmospheric pressure under various turbulence intensities. High-fuel-ratio coals are not usually used in coal-fired thermal power plants because of their low flame stability. The expectation is that ammonia as a hydrogen-energy carrier would improve the ignition capability of coal particles in co-combustion. Experiments on spherical turbulent flame propagation of co-combustion were conducted for various coal types under various turbulence intensities, using the unique experimental apparatus developed for the co-combustion. Experimental results show that the flame speed of co-combustion with a low equivalence ratio of ammonia/oxidizer mixture for bituminous coal case was found to be three times faster than that of pure coal combustion and two times faster than that of pure ammonia combustion. On the other hand, the flame speed of co-combustion for the highest-fuel-ratio coal case is lower than that of the pure ammonia combustion case, although the flame propagation can be sustained due to the ammonia mixing. To explain the difference of tendencies depending on the fuel ratio of coal, a flame propagation mechanism of ammonia/coal particle cloud co-combustion was proposed. Two positive effects are the increases of local equivalence ratio and the increases of radiation heat flux, which increases the flame speed. In opposite, a negative effect is the heat sink effect that decreases the flame speed. The two positive effects on the flame speed of co-combustion overwhelm a negative effect for bituminous coal case, while the negative effect overcomes both positive effects for the highest-fuel-ratio coal case. The findings of the study can contribute to the reduction of solid fuel costs when the ammonia is introduced as CO₂ free energy carrier and can improve the energy security through the utilization of high-fuel-ratio coals.     

Evolution of temperature of a droplet of liquid composite fuel interacting with heated airflow

The macroscopic patterns of a temperature change at the center of a droplet of three-component (coal, water, petroleum) composite liquid fuel (CLF) were studied using a low-inertia thermoelectric converter and system of high-speed (up to 10⁵ frames per second) video recording during the induction period at different heating intensity by the air flow with variable parameters: temperature of 670?870 K and motion velocity of 1?4 m/s. The studies were carried out for two groups of CLF compositions: fuel based on brown coal and coal cleaning rejects (filter cake). To assess the effect of liquid combustible component of CLF on characteristics of the ignition process, the corresponding composition of two-component coal-water fuel (CWF) was studied. The stages of inert heating of CLF and CWF droplets with characteristic size corresponding to radius of 0.75?1.5 mm, evaporation of moisture and liquid oil (for CLF), thermal decomposition of the organic part of coal, gas mixture ignition, and carbon burnout were identified. Regularities of changes in the temperature of CLF and CWF droplets at each of identified stages were identified for the cooccurrence of phase transitions and chemical reactions. Comparative analysis of the times of ignition delay and complete combustion of the droplets of examined fuel compositions was performed with varying droplet dimensions, temperatures, and oxidant flow velocity.     

流化床内单个颗粒传热特性的模拟

单个颗粒的传热过程对于燃煤流化床锅炉中煤的着火和随后的燃烧过程具有重要的影响。本文建立了一个基于Euler-Lagrange方法的数学模型对其进行了数值研究。该模型对流体相的运动和传热规律以Euler。方法描述,对固体颗粒相则以近年来发展起来的离散单元方法(DEM)在颗粒层次上进行描述。研究结果表明颗粒与床层之间有很高的传热系数。另外,对单个颗粒温度变化过程的模拟研究表明,颗粒经过较短的时间便能接近床层的温度,且不同颗粒具有类似的温度变化特性。