A model for the combustion of oil/water emulsion droplets

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Abstract

The vaporization and combustion characteristics of an oil/water emulsion droplet are investigated by analyzing the multicomponent heat and mass transport processes in the gas phase and the gasification of an immiscible liquid mixture at the gas-liquid interface. Results substantiate and quantify the potential reductions in soot and NOx formation through water emulsification, and demonstrate that the embedded water micro-droplets can indeed be heated to the limit of superheat such that fragmentation of the emulsion droplet due to the internal pressure build-up can be achieved. It is further shown that the occurrence of this micro-explosive event is enhanced by increasing the ambient pressure, and that at 1 atmosphere the fuel's boiling point has to be at least as high as that of n-hexadecane in order to achieve micro-explosion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)29-38
Number of pages10
JournalCombustion science and technology
Volume17
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 1977
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Fuel Technology
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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