Spray combustion of fast-pyrolysis bio-oils under engine-like conditions

In the EU funded SmartCHP project, biomass derived fast-pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO) is used to fuel modified stationary diesel engines for combined heat and power applications. In this study, the spray combustion characteristics of fast-pyrolysis bio-oil and FPBO/ethanol blends are experimentally inves...

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Main Authors: Yu Wang, Noud Maes, Michel Cuijpers, Bart Somers
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-10-01
Series:Energy Conversion and Management: X
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174523000892
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author Yu Wang
Noud Maes
Michel Cuijpers
Bart Somers
author_facet Yu Wang
Noud Maes
Michel Cuijpers
Bart Somers
author_sort Yu Wang
collection DOAJ
description In the EU funded SmartCHP project, biomass derived fast-pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO) is used to fuel modified stationary diesel engines for combined heat and power applications. In this study, the spray combustion characteristics of fast-pyrolysis bio-oil and FPBO/ethanol blends are experimentally investigated in a combustion research unit. Due to the special physicochemical properties of fast-pyrolysis bio-oil, major modifications are made to the combustion research unit to facilitate testing this fuel, including the installation of a high-temperature chamber and a heavy-fuel oil injection system. Experimental tests are carried out at a chamber wall temperature of 750 °C and an ambient pressure of 50 bar. The pressure-based heat release analysis is used to evaluate fuel ignition and combustion characteristics, while a high-speed imaging technique is adopted to visualize natural luminosity of spray flames through a borescope.Results show that fast-pyrolysis bio-oil has lower sooting tendency than diesel, and it significantly alleviates the fuel dribble phenomenon. At injection pressure of 300 bar, the poor atomization of fast-pyrolysis bio-oil leads to rather grainy-looking spray flame images, and nozzle orifices becoming clogged within couple of injections. The increase of injection pressure to 900 bar results in an obvious improvement of the atomization quality and nozzle durability for fast-pyrolysis bio-oil. Adding ethanol into fast-pyrolysis bio-oil could improve fuel atomization and further reduce the natural luminosity. The ignition delay of fast-pyrolysis bio-oil is slightly retarded by 10% ethanol addition, while it is advanced by 30% ethanol addition.
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spelling doaj.art-aefb1f9b781a4deb9cea8965d17c142c2023-08-12T04:34:47ZengElsevierEnergy Conversion and Management: X2590-17452023-10-0120100433Spray combustion of fast-pyrolysis bio-oils under engine-like conditionsYu Wang0Noud Maes1Michel Cuijpers2Bart Somers3Corresponding authors.; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the NetherlandsCorresponding authors.; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the NetherlandsDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the NetherlandsDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the NetherlandsIn the EU funded SmartCHP project, biomass derived fast-pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO) is used to fuel modified stationary diesel engines for combined heat and power applications. In this study, the spray combustion characteristics of fast-pyrolysis bio-oil and FPBO/ethanol blends are experimentally investigated in a combustion research unit. Due to the special physicochemical properties of fast-pyrolysis bio-oil, major modifications are made to the combustion research unit to facilitate testing this fuel, including the installation of a high-temperature chamber and a heavy-fuel oil injection system. Experimental tests are carried out at a chamber wall temperature of 750 °C and an ambient pressure of 50 bar. The pressure-based heat release analysis is used to evaluate fuel ignition and combustion characteristics, while a high-speed imaging technique is adopted to visualize natural luminosity of spray flames through a borescope.Results show that fast-pyrolysis bio-oil has lower sooting tendency than diesel, and it significantly alleviates the fuel dribble phenomenon. At injection pressure of 300 bar, the poor atomization of fast-pyrolysis bio-oil leads to rather grainy-looking spray flame images, and nozzle orifices becoming clogged within couple of injections. The increase of injection pressure to 900 bar results in an obvious improvement of the atomization quality and nozzle durability for fast-pyrolysis bio-oil. Adding ethanol into fast-pyrolysis bio-oil could improve fuel atomization and further reduce the natural luminosity. The ignition delay of fast-pyrolysis bio-oil is slightly retarded by 10% ethanol addition, while it is advanced by 30% ethanol addition.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174523000892Fast pyrolysis bio-oilSpray combustionHigh-speed imagingNatural luminosityCombustion research unitConstant-volume combustion chamber
spellingShingle Yu Wang
Noud Maes
Michel Cuijpers
Bart Somers
Spray combustion of fast-pyrolysis bio-oils under engine-like conditions
Energy Conversion and Management: X
Fast pyrolysis bio-oil
Spray combustion
High-speed imaging
Natural luminosity
Combustion research unit
Constant-volume combustion chamber
title Spray combustion of fast-pyrolysis bio-oils under engine-like conditions
title_full Spray combustion of fast-pyrolysis bio-oils under engine-like conditions
title_fullStr Spray combustion of fast-pyrolysis bio-oils under engine-like conditions
title_full_unstemmed Spray combustion of fast-pyrolysis bio-oils under engine-like conditions
title_short Spray combustion of fast-pyrolysis bio-oils under engine-like conditions
title_sort spray combustion of fast pyrolysis bio oils under engine like conditions
topic Fast pyrolysis bio-oil
Spray combustion
High-speed imaging
Natural luminosity
Combustion research unit
Constant-volume combustion chamber
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174523000892
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AT noudmaes spraycombustionoffastpyrolysisbiooilsunderenginelikeconditions
AT michelcuijpers spraycombustionoffastpyrolysisbiooilsunderenginelikeconditions
AT bartsomers spraycombustionoffastpyrolysisbiooilsunderenginelikeconditions