Experimental Research on the Flame Temperature of n-Butanol–Diesel Fuel Blends in Atmospheric Conditions

Abstract

One kind of renewable and clean fuel is n-butanol, called the second-generation biofuel. Recently, it has attracted more and more interests from energy researchers and many oil companies. Almost all related research focus on the effects of the addition of n-butanol on engine performance, combustion and emission characteristics. However, there are no previous works which can fully explain the puzzle of NOX emission increases. Because flame temperature has a great effect on NOX formation, the effects of n-butanol ratio in n-butanol-diesel fuel blends on flame temperature under open-air environment have been analyzed. The results show that as the n-butanol ratio increased in the blends, flame temperature of different layers, relative mean value of the flame temperature, the number and corresponding area of high temperature points, relative fuel consumption rate and constant pressure adiabatic flame temperature all increased. This is primarily attributable to higher oxygen content and the lower viscosity of n-butanol compared with diesel fuel.