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Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering

Lectio Praecursoria, Kari Myöhänen Dec 2011

Lectio Praecursoria, Kari Myöhänen

Kari Myöhänen

Lectio praecursoria: Modelling of combustion and sorbent reactions in three-dimensional flow environment of a circulating fluidized bed furnace


Laminar Flame Speed Estimation From Experimental Data Using A Quasi-Dimensional Turbulent Flame Entrainment Combustion Simulation For Spark Ignition Engines, Akash Desai Dec 2011

Laminar Flame Speed Estimation From Experimental Data Using A Quasi-Dimensional Turbulent Flame Entrainment Combustion Simulation For Spark Ignition Engines, Akash Desai

All Theses

The goal of this research is to develop a thermodynamic simulation of spark-ignition engine combustion that uses a predictive burn-rate model. Previously done thermodynamic engine simulations in MATLAB are based on a specified burn rate model. Also, the effect of turbulence parameters on the rate of mass burn up is not considered. A predictive burn rate model is necessary to study the effect of different fuels on spark ignition engine combustion. The effect of laminar flame speed and turbulent intensity on combustion is difficult to assess experimental due to the difficulty in the measurement of these two variables. Thus, the …


Development Of Analytic Tools For Computational Flame Diagnostics, Mehrnaz Rouhi Youssefi Aug 2011

Development Of Analytic Tools For Computational Flame Diagnostics, Mehrnaz Rouhi Youssefi

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.


An Optical Analysis Of The Blowoff Behavior For Bluff Body-Stabilized Flames In Vitiated Flow, Trevor Jensen Aug 2011

An Optical Analysis Of The Blowoff Behavior For Bluff Body-Stabilized Flames In Vitiated Flow, Trevor Jensen

Master's Theses

In bluff body-stabilized flames, a variety of physical phenomena contribute to the flame destabilization as lean blowoff is approached. These effects include increased strain on the flame shear layers, decreased attenuation of Bénard-von Kármán vortex shedding, and the presence of thermoacoustic instabilities. Lean, bluff body-stabilized flames were studied in an enclosed rectangular-duct, turbulent combustion rig with a triangular flame holder under vitiated conditions with both symmetric and asymmetric fuel distributions. Air and fuel flows within the rig were characterized using a PIV system and a continuous emissions gas analyzer, respectively.

High-speed videos of these flames undergoing blowoff were taken to …


Effect Of Unsteady Combustion On The Stability Of Rocket Engines, Tina Morina Rice May 2011

Effect Of Unsteady Combustion On The Stability Of Rocket Engines, Tina Morina Rice

Doctoral Dissertations

Combustion instability is a problem that has plagued the development of rocket-propelled devices since their conception. It is characterized by the occurrence of high-frequency nonlinear gas oscillations inside the combustion chamber. This phenomenon degrades system performance and can result in damage to both structure and instrumentation.

The goal of this dissertation is to clarify the role of unsteady combustion in the combustor instability problem by providing the first quantified estimates of its effect upon the stability of liquid rocket engines. The combination of this research with a new system energy balance method, accounting for all dynamic interactions within a system, …


The Composition And Distribution Of Coal-Ash Deposits Under Reducing And Oxidizing Conditions From A Suite Of Eight Coals, David R. Brunner Apr 2011

The Composition And Distribution Of Coal-Ash Deposits Under Reducing And Oxidizing Conditions From A Suite Of Eight Coals, David R. Brunner

Theses and Dissertations

Eighteen elements, including: carbon, oxygen, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, potassium, calcium, titanium, chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, strontium, and barium were measured using a scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy from deposits. The deposits were collected by burning eight different coals in a 160 kWth, staged, down-fired, swirl-stabilized combustor. Both up-stream and down-stream deposits from an oxidizing region (equivalence ratio 0.86) and reducing region (equivalence ratio 1.15) were collected. Within the deposits, the particle size and morphology were studied. The average particle cross-sectional area from the up-stream deposits ranged from 10 - 75 µm2 and had a …


Ionization In Diesel Combustion: Mechanism, New Instrumentation And Engine Applications, Fadi Estefanous Jan 2011

Ionization In Diesel Combustion: Mechanism, New Instrumentation And Engine Applications, Fadi Estefanous

Wayne State University Dissertations

Diesel engines are known for their superior fuel economy and high power density. However they emit undesirable high levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and black particulate smoke (Soot). To reduce these emissions, close loop engine control strategies are required. Therefore, there is a need for an in-cylinder combustion sensor. The ion current sensor has been used for combustion sensing in gasoline engines for which ionization mechanisms have been developed. This is not the case in diesel engines.

In this dissertation, a new mechanism for ionization in diesel engines has been developed and experimentally validated. Moreover, a three dimensional model has …


Experimental And Numerical Investigation Of The Effect Of Fuel Composition On Flame Stability On A Gas Turbine Combustor, Gilberto Corona Jan 2011

Experimental And Numerical Investigation Of The Effect Of Fuel Composition On Flame Stability On A Gas Turbine Combustor, Gilberto Corona

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Gas turbines are used for power generation and aviation all over the world. Fossil fuels remain the main source of energy for the operation of gas turbines but the recent increase in environmental awareness has influenced government agencies to impose stringent limits on pollutant emissions from power generation plants. Pollutant emissions control is one of the major challenges for gas turbine designers. In this study, experimental methods and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technologies are used to study the problems that arise when coal derived fuels are used in Gas Turbine Combustors.

Gas turbine designers need both experimental data and combustion …


Opposing Effects Of Recirculated Gases During Cranking On Cold Start Of Diesel Engines, Rafik N. Rofail Jan 2011

Opposing Effects Of Recirculated Gases During Cranking On Cold Start Of Diesel Engines, Rafik N. Rofail

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

OPPOSING EFFECTS OF RECIRCULATED GASES DURING CRANKING ON COLD START OF DIESEL ENGINES

by

RAFIK ROFAIL

August 2011

Advisor: Dr. Naeim Henein

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Enhancing cold start of DI diesel engines is the motivation behind this study. A new control strategy is proposed to reduce the cranking period and the white smoke emissions. In the strategy, the gases leaving the cylinder during the cranking period are recycled back into the intake manifold using two different methods. In the first method the engine-out gases during cranking are recirculated into the intake manifold and their rate …


Design Of A Liquid Fuel Injector For Alternative Fuel Studies In An Atmospheric Model Gas Turbine Combustor, John Stevenson Jan 2011

Design Of A Liquid Fuel Injector For Alternative Fuel Studies In An Atmospheric Model Gas Turbine Combustor, John Stevenson

Honors Theses

A new liquid-fuel injector was designed for use in the atmospheric-pressure, model gas turbine combustor in Bucknell University’s Combustion Research Laboratory during alternative fuel testing. The current liquid-fuel injector requires a higher-than-desired pressure drop and volumetric flow rate to provide proper atomization of liquid fuels. An air-blast atomizer type of fuel injector was chosen and an experiment utilizing water as the working fluid was performed on a variable-geometry prototype. Visualization of the spray pattern was achieved through photography and the pressure drop was measured as a function of the required operating parameters. Experimental correlations were used to estimate droplet sizes …