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Effects of n-butanol blending on soot and NO formation in biodiesel/air co-flow diffusion flame

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  • Zheng, Shu
  • Lv, Zichen
  • Yang, Yu
  • Liu, Hao
  • Lu, Qiang

Abstract

Biodiesel can significantly reduce the emissions of soot and other pollutants. However, NOx emission from biodiesel combustion will increase significantly. N-butanol can reduce the flame temperature of biodiesel thus affecting NOx emission. The effects of soot and NO formation in the biodiesel/n-butanol co-flow diffusion flames with different blending ratios under the condition of carbon mass flow rate conservation were studied. The results showed that the n-butanol blending decreased the peak soot volume fraction (SVF) by 60.9 % and was mainly attributable to the decrease in Hydrogen Abstraction Carbon Addition (HACA) rates. The decrease of C2H2 concentration decreased the concentration of C3H3 and inhibited A1 formation. The decrease in benzo[a]styrene (BAPYR) concentration was caused by the decreases of C2H2 and A1 concentrations, through the reaction pathway A1/C7H7→INDENE→INDENYL→A2R5→A2R5-/A4→BAPYR. The OH and O2 oxidation processes were inhibited in the biodiesel/n-butanol flames due to the reduction of SVF through the soot condensation process. The concentration of NO decreased by 62.0 %, the decrease of H and OH radicals inhibited the formation of NO, while the decrease of O radicals inhibited the consumption of NO. Overall, the main reason for the decrease of soot concentration was the decrease of C2H2 concentration and the inhibition of HACA process. The reason of inhibiting NO was the promoting effect of H and OH free radicals on NO formation was greater than the inhibiting effect of O free radicals.

Suggested Citation

  • Zheng, Shu & Lv, Zichen & Yang, Yu & Liu, Hao & Lu, Qiang, 2025. "Effects of n-butanol blending on soot and NO formation in biodiesel/air co-flow diffusion flame," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:323:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225014847
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.135842
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