Effects Of Additives, Fuel Mixing, And Mechanically Induced Oscillations On Soot Formation

Soot is a component of particulate matter (PM) as a bi-product of the combustion process of carbon-based fuels. In this thesis a new optical diagnostic technique for temperature measurements is developed. The effects of soot formation as a cause of fuel additives such as oxygen as well as fuel mixtures of ethylene, ethanol, DME and ethane are evaluated experimentally. Additionally, a novel experimental setup, designed to study the effects mechanical oscillations have on soot formation and temperature, is described and presented alongside experimental results for ethylene flames.

Three distinct projects were completed as part of this thesis: (i) Various oxygenated flames and the effect of molecular and additive oxygen on soot formation was studied. (ii) A sudden decrease in soot concentration with oxygen addition was observed and this soot reversal effect due molecular oxygen addition was studied. (iii) A novel experimental setup was developed to study mechanically oscillating flame. Soot concentration and temperature were measured for various oscillation amplitudes and frequencies. The findings of this thesis show synergistic effects of soot production with oxygen addition and the effects of oscillations on soot formation.