Engineering Commons^™

The Formation Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons From The Pyrolysis Of Model 1-Alkene Fuels, Eva Christine Caspary

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

To understand the role of 1-alkenes and allylic radicals in the reaction pathways leading to the formation and growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), pyrolysis experiments have been performed with three 1-alkene fuels—propylene (CH₂=CH–CH₃), 1-butene (CH₂=CH–CH₂–CH₃), and 1-pentene (CH₂=CH–CH₂–CH₂–CH₃)—at temperatures of 600 – 1000 °C and a fixed residence time of 0.31 s. The experiments are carried out in an isothermal laminar-flow quartz-tube reactor. Analyses of the pyrolysis products by gas-chromatographic and high-pressure liquid-chromatographic techniques reveal that the three fuels differ in: 1) their conversion behavior, 2) the relative amounts of the major C₂ – C₄ species produced, and 3) …

Growth Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons During The Supercritical Pyrolysis Of N-Decane, Subramanian Venkateswaran Kalpathy

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In order to serve a dual role as a propellant and as a coolant, fuels in the pre-combustion environment of future high-speed aircraft will be exposed to temperatures and pressures of up to 700 °C and 130 atm—conditions that are supercritical for jet fuels. Under such conditions, fuel can undergo pyrolytic reactions leading to the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which are precursors to fuel-line solid deposits that can hinder safe operation of the aircraft. Therefore, to prevent solid deposit formation, it is extremely important to understand the PAH formation pathways in the supercritical fuel pyrolysis environment. To better …

An Experimental Investigation Of The Effects Of N-Decane On The Supercritical Pyrolysis Of Toluene, Catherine A. Grubb

LSU Master's Theses

Future and current high-speed jet aircraft will require their fuels to act as the primary coolants as well as propellants. Fuels will be exposed to severe temperatures and pressures in hypersonic aircraft, up to 700°C and 130 atm, respectively, conditions that are supercritical for most pure hydrocarbons. Under supercritical conditions, hydrocarbon fuels undergo pyrolytic reactions, which may lead to the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), known precursors to carbonaceous solid deposits. Such deposits may clog fuel lines and injection nozzles, hindering safe engine performance. Hence, it is important to understand the reactions that lead to the formation of PAH. …

An Experimental Investigation Of The Role Of Small Hydrocarbons And Combustion-Generated Nanoparticles On The Formation And Growth Reactions Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons During The Pyrolysis Of A Model-Fuel And Hydrocarbon Gases, Nimesh Bharat Poddar

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are an important class of environmental pollutants formed during fuel combustion or pyrolysis. Therefore, an experimental study has been undertaken to better understand the formation and growth pathways of PAH.

To investigate the efficacy of C₃ species as PAH growth agents in the context of solid fuels, pyrolysis experiments have been performed in an isothermal quartz flow reactor in the temperature range of 700–1000 °C and a fixed residence time of 0.3 s. Experiments are performed with the C₃ hydrocarbon, propyne; with catechol (ortho-dihydroxybenzene), a model-fuel representative of aromatic moieties in coal …

The Effects Of Inorganic Solids And Certain Gases On The Thermal Decomposition Of Catechol, Jerome Apilan Robles

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In order to investigate the effects of calcium carbonate and iron oxide on the thermal decomposition of solid fuels, we have constructed an isothermal flow reactor to perform experiments on the model compound catechol (ortho-dihydroxybenzene), a phenol-type compound representative of coal, wood and biomass. Calcium carbonate and iron oxide are inorganic components of coal and wood, which have demonstrated catalytic properties in thermal reactions and are commercially used to enhance the conversion of solid fuels. In this study, the effects of the inorganic solids on pyrolysis and combustion are conducted through identification and quantification of the products formed after subjecting …