Autoignition Behavior of an Ethanol-Methylcellulose Gel Droplet in a Hot Environment

Donggi Lee, Jonghan Won, Seung Wook Baek and Hyemin Kim
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Donggi Lee: Department of Aerospace Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Korea
Jonghan Won: Department of Aerospace Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Korea
Seung Wook Baek: Department of Aerospace Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Korea
Hyemin Kim: Department of Aeronautical & Mechanical Design Engineering, Korea National University of Transportation, Daehak-ro 50, Chungju City 27469, Korea

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 8, 1-11

Abstract: Autoignition of an ethanol-based gel droplet was experimentally investigated by adding 10 wt % of methylcellulose as gellant to liquid ethanol. Experimental studies of the ignition behavior of the gel droplet were found to be quite rare. The initial droplet diameter was 1.17 ± 0.23 mm. The gel droplet was suspended on a K-type thermocouple and its evaporation, ignition and combustion characteristics were evaluated and compared with pure ethanol at an ambient temperature of 600, 700, and 800 °C under atmospheric pressure conditions. The gel droplet exhibited swelling and vapor jetting phenomena. Before ignition, a linear decrease in droplet diameter followed by a sudden increase was repeatedly observed, which was caused by evaporation and swelling processes, respectively. Major droplet swelling was detected just before the onset of ignition at all temperatures. But no further swelling was detected after ignition. For the gel droplet, the ignition delay accounted for 93% of the droplet lifetime at 600 °C, and 88% at 700 °C, but only 31% at 800 °C. Its average burning rate was also evaluated for all temperatures. At 800 °C, the gellant layer no longer exerts any influence on the combustion of the gel droplet.

Keywords: autoignition; combustion; droplet; ethanol; gel propellant (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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