Mixture Temperature-Controlled Combustion of Various Conventional and Renewable Fuels

Abstract

Mixture Temperature-Controlled (MTC) combustion is a novel combustion concept for steady-operating applications, such as gas turbines, boilers, and furnaces. Compared to lean premixed burners, it offers significantly lower NO X emission. For reference, standard jet fuel (JP-8) and diesel fuel (EN590:2017) were used. In order to reduce fossil fuel consumption, alternative fuels can be used as a substitute. Currently, coconut and palm biodiesels were evaluated. Besides the NO and CO emissions, the chemiluminescent signal was also evaluated. Through the MTC combustion mode, the NO X emission was found to be below 20 ppm, while the CO emission was not affected. It was concluded that this favorable operation mode is easier to achieve with fuels having higher volatility. The combustion power and the air-to-fuel equivalence ratio were 13.3 kW and 1.25. The atomizing air gauge pressure and the combustion air preheating temperature were varied in the range of 0.3- 0.9 bar and 100-350 °C. Finally, the effect of fuel properties on the combustion mode, pollutant emissions, and flame shapes are discussed.