MORE | Spring 2019

Reduction in Soot Emission with Micro-Combustion

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This study aims to analyze the effect of temperature on critical sooting equivalence ratio, precursor formation, soot inception and growth. A propane/air mixture at atmospheric pressure with temperatures ranging from 750-1000℃ was investigated using a micro flow reactor of diameter 3.6mm, equivalence ratios of 1-5.5 and inlet flow rates of 10-300sccm. The gas species were analysed using a gas chromatograph. At 950-1000℃ thermal radiation from soot formation was observed. At 750-900℃, no soot formation was observed despite operating beyond critical equivalence ratio. This has a lot of potential in terms of soot mitigation at lower temperatures in automotive as well as commercial applications.

Student researcher

Abdul Hannan Khalid

Aerospace engineering

Hometown: TEMPE, Arizona, United States

Graduation date: Spring 2019