Methanol as a Soot Reducer in a Turbulent Swirling Burner

Abstract

The combined effect of using methanol as a fuel additive together with a prototype multifuel injector has been evaluated with regard to soot formation in a tubular laboratory burner with a turbulent swirl stabilized diffusion flame. Kerosene, ERBS fuel, and Blending Stock with approximately 14, 12.8, and 10.3 weight percent of hydrogen, respectively, were characterized in terms of soot loading at the axial positions Z/D = 2.5 and 4.0 and normalized radius r/R = ± 0.67. Mixtures of ERBS fuel and Blending Stock with 15 and 7.5 weight percent of methanol were also characterized in the same way. Measurements with the plain fuels showed a drastic reduction in soot formation, on the order to 150-fold decrease, due to the new injector design. Further reductions by a factor of 2 and 1.5 were accomplished with mixtures of 15 and 7.5 weight percent of methanol, respectively.