부산대학교 도서관

The present article reports the combustion and emission characteristics of different monocyclic and polycyclic aromatics in a distributed combustion regime. Fuel blends based on five different aromatics, namely, ethylbenzene, α-methylstyrene, tetralin, indene, and methylnaphthalene, are investigated in a lab-scale distributed combustor at a thermal input of 30 kW, and the results are compared with commercial kerosene fuel. The fuel blends include a mixture of a base fuel, n-decane, and single added aromatics. The combustor is also numerically modeled using a chemical-equilibrium-based nonpremixed droplet combustion model for both monocyclic and polycyclic aromatic blended fuels. It is observed that the proper selection of aromatics in base fuel significantly affects the combustor performance. Fuel blends based on monocyclic aromatics lead to an increased level of dilution and, consequently, a more uniform thermal field. Better spray characteristics of monocyclic aromatic fuel blends in comparison to kerosene and polycyclic aromatics result in reduced levels of gaseous and acoustic emissions. This helps create a more favorable environment for the formation of lower pollutant emissions. Unburned hydrocarbon emissions approach zero levels for ethylbenzene and α-methylstyrene fuel blends. It is observed that both the aromatic type and its overall content are responsible for particulate matter (PM) emissions. A wise selection of a novel aromatic-based fuel blend results in relatively lower PM emission levels in comparison to kerosene. Monocyclic aromatic-based fuel blends have an aromatic content similar to kerosene, and they produce relatively lower PM emissions. It is observed that through a wise selection of aromatic compounds and their concentration, both the objectives of future gas turbines, i.e., performance in terms of seal swell and lower gaseous emissions, can be achieved fastidiously.