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Title: DRIVER-GAS TAILORING FOR TEST-TIME EXTENSION USING UNCONVENTIONAL DRIVER MIXTURES.
Creator: Amadio, Anthony, Petersen, Eric, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: To study combustion chemistry at low temperatures in a shock tube, it is of great importance to increase experimental test times, and this can be done by tailoring the interface between the driver and driven gases. Using unconventional driver-gas tailoring with the assistance of tailoring curves, shock-tube test times were increased from 1 to 15 ms for reflected-shock temperatures below 1000 K. Provided in this thesis is the introduction of tailoring curves, produced from a 1-D perfect gas...
Show moreTo study combustion chemistry at low temperatures in a shock tube, it is of great importance to increase experimental test times, and this can be done by tailoring the interface between the driver and driven gases. Using unconventional driver-gas tailoring with the assistance of tailoring curves, shock-tube test times were increased from 1 to 15 ms for reflected-shock temperatures below 1000 K. Provided in this thesis is the introduction of tailoring curves, produced from a 1-D perfect gas model for a wide range of driver gases and the production and demonstration of successful driver mixtures containing helium combined with either propane or carbon dioxide. The He/CO2 and He/C3H8 driver mixtures provide a unique way to produce a tailored interface and, hence, longer test times, when facility modification is not an option. The tailoring curves can be used to guide future applications of this technique to other configurations. Nonreacting validation experiments using driver mixtures identified from the tailoring curves were performed over a range of reflected-shock temperatures from approximately 800 to 1400 K, and some examples of ignition-time experiments that could not have otherwise been performed are presented.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0001318, ucf:47027
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001318

Title: CHARACTERIZATION OF A HYDROGEN-BASED SYNTHETIC FUEL IN A SHOCK TUBE.
Creator: Flaherty, Troy, Kassab, Alain, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Shock-tube experiments were performed with syngas mixtures near atmospheric pressure with varying equivalence ratios behind reflected shock waves. Pressure and hydroxyl radical (OH*) emission traces were recorded and used to calculate ignition delay time for a single mixture at equivalence ratios of 0.4, 0.7, 1.0, and 2.0 over a range of temperatures from 913 – 1803 K. The syngas mixture was tested at full concentration as well as with 98% dilution in Argon. The full concentration...
Show moreShock-tube experiments were performed with syngas mixtures near atmospheric pressure with varying equivalence ratios behind reflected shock waves. Pressure and hydroxyl radical (OH*) emission traces were recorded and used to calculate ignition delay time for a single mixture at equivalence ratios of 0.4, 0.7, 1.0, and 2.0 over a range of temperatures from 913 – 1803 K. The syngas mixture was tested at full concentration as well as with 98% dilution in Argon. The full concentration mixtures were used to compare ignition delay time measurements with the theoretical calculations obtained through the use of chemical kinetics modeling using the Davis et al. mechanism. The dilute mixtures were used to study the OH* emission profiles compared to those of the kinetics model. The model was in poor agreement with the experimental data especially at lower temperatures with an ignition delay difference of more than an order of magnitude. These ignition delay time data supplement the few existing data and are in relative agreement. The species profile comparison of OH* compared to the model also showed poor agreement, with the worst agreement at the highest temperatures. While the disagreements with ignition delay time and profile comparisons cannot be explained at this time, the data presented support other findings. The data provide additional information towards understanding this disagreement relative to syngas mixtures despite the relatively well known kinetics of the primary constituents Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002552, ucf:47657
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002552

Title: AN OPTIMIZED KINETICS MODEL FOR OH CHEMILUMINESCENCE AT HIGH TEMPERATURES AND ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURES.
Creator: Hall, Joel, Petersen, Eric, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Chemiluminescence from the OH(A-X) transition near 307 nm is a commonly used diagnostic in combustion applications such as flame chemistry, shock-tube experiments, and reacting-flow visualization. Measurements of the chemiluminescent intensity provide a simple, cost-effective, non-intrusive look at the combustion environment. The presence of the ultra-violet emission is often used as an indicator of the flame zone in practical combustion systems, and its intensity may be correlated to the...
Show moreChemiluminescence from the OH(A-X) transition near 307 nm is a commonly used diagnostic in combustion applications such as flame chemistry, shock-tube experiments, and reacting-flow visualization. Measurements of the chemiluminescent intensity provide a simple, cost-effective, non-intrusive look at the combustion environment. The presence of the ultra-violet emission is often used as an indicator of the flame zone in practical combustion systems, and its intensity may be correlated to the temperature distribution or other parameters of interest. While absolute measurements of the ground-state OH(X) concentrations are well-defined, there is no elementary relation between emission from the electronically excited state (OH*) and its absolute concentration. Thus, to enable quantitative emission measurements, a kinetics model has been assembled and optimized to predict OH* formation and quenching at combustion conditions. Shock-tube experiments were conducted in mixtures of H2/O2/Ar, CH4/O2/Ar and CH4/H2/O2/Ar with high levels of argon dilution (> 98%). Elementary reactions to model OH*, along with initial estimates of their rate coefficients, were taken from the literature. The important formation steps follow. CH + O2 = OH* + CO (R0) H + O + M = OH* + M (R1) H + OH + OH = OH* + H2O (R2) Sensitivity analyses were performed to design experiments at conditions most sensitive to the formation reactions. A fitting routine was developed to express the key rate parameters as a function of a single rate, k1 at the reference temperature (1490 K). With all rates so expressed, H2/CH4 mixtures were designed to uniquely determine the value of k1 at the reference temperature, from which the remaining rate parameters were calculated. Quenching rates were fixed at their literature values. Comparisons to predictions of previously available models show marked improvement relative to the new shock-tube data. An approach for using this work in the calibration of further measurements is outlined taking examples from a recent ethane oxidation study. The new model qualitatively matches the experimental data over the range of conditions studied and provides quantitative results applicable to real combustion environments, containing higher-order hydrocarbon fuels and lower levels of dilution in air.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000888, ucf:46642
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000888

Title: SHOCK-TUBE INVESTIGATION OF IGNITION DELAY TIMES OF BLENDS OF METHANE AND ETHANE WITH OXYGEN.
Creator: Walker, Brian, Petersen, Eric, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The combustion behavior of methane and ethane is important to the study of natural gas and other alternative fuels that are comprised primarily of these two basic hydrocarbons. Understanding the transition from methane-dominated ignition kinetics to ethane-dominated kinetics for increasing levels of ethane is also of fundamental interest toward the understanding of hydrocarbon chemical kinetics. Much research has been conducted on the two fuels individually, but experimental data of the...
Show moreThe combustion behavior of methane and ethane is important to the study of natural gas and other alternative fuels that are comprised primarily of these two basic hydrocarbons. Understanding the transition from methane-dominated ignition kinetics to ethane-dominated kinetics for increasing levels of ethane is also of fundamental interest toward the understanding of hydrocarbon chemical kinetics. Much research has been conducted on the two fuels individually, but experimental data of the combustion of blends of methane and ethane is limited to ratios that recreate typical natural gas compositions (up to ~20% ethane molar concentration). The goal of this study was to provide a comprehensive data set of ignition delay times of the combustion of blends of methane and ethane at near atmospheric pressure. A group of ten diluted CH4/C2H6/O2/Ar mixtures of varying concentrations, fuel blend ratios, and equivalence ratios (0.5 and 1.0) were studied over the temperature range 1223 to 2248 K and over the pressure range 0.65 to 1.42 atm using a new shock tube at the University of Central Florida Gas Dynamics Laboratory. Mixtures were diluted with either 75 or 98% argon by volume. The fuel blend ratio was varied between 100% CH4 and 100% C2H6. Reaction progress was monitored by observing chemiluminescence emission from CH* at 431 nm and the pressure. Experimental data were compared against three detailed chemical kinetics mechanisms. Model predictions of CH* emission profiles and derived ignition delay times were plotted against the experimental data. The models agree well with the experimental data for mixtures with low levels of ethane, up to 25% molar concentration, but show increasing error as the relative ethane fuel concentration increases. The predictions of the separate models also diverge from each other with increasing relative ethane fuel concentration. Therefore, the data set obtained from the present work provides valuable information for the future improvement of chemical kinetics models for ethane combustion.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001956, ucf:47442
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001956

Title: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE AUTOIGNITION OF POWER GENERATION GAS TURBINE FUEL BLENDS USING A DESIGN OF EXPERIMENTS APPROACH.
Creator: de Vries, Jaap, Petersen, Eric, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Natural gas has grown in popularity as a fuel for power generation gas turbines. However, changes in fuel composition are a topic of concern since fuel variability can have a great impact on the reliability and performance of the burner design. In particular, autoignition of the premixed fuel and air prior to entering the main burner is a potential concern when using exotic fuel blends. To obtain much-needed data in this area, autoignition experiments for a wide range of likely fuel blends...
Show moreNatural gas has grown in popularity as a fuel for power generation gas turbines. However, changes in fuel composition are a topic of concern since fuel variability can have a great impact on the reliability and performance of the burner design. In particular, autoignition of the premixed fuel and air prior to entering the main burner is a potential concern when using exotic fuel blends. To obtain much-needed data in this area, autoignition experiments for a wide range of likely fuel blends containing CH4 mixed with combinations of C2H6, C3H8, C4H10, C5H12, and H2 were performed in a high-pressure shock tube. However, testing every possible fuel blend combination and interaction was not feasible within a reasonable time and cost. Therefore, to predict the surface response over the complete mixture domain, a special experimental design was developed to significantly reduce the amount of 'trials' needed from 243 to only 41 using the Box-Behnkin factorial design methodology. Kinetics modeling was used to obtain numerical results for this matrix of fuel blends, setting the conditions at a temperature of 800 K and pressure of 17 atm. A further and successful attempt was made to reduce the 41-test matrix to a 21-test matrix. This was done using special mixture experimental techniques. The kinetics model was used to compare the smaller matrix to the expected results of the larger one. The new 21-test matrix produced a numerical correlation that agreed well with the results from the 41-test matrix, indicating that the smaller matrix would provide the same statistical information as the larger one with acceptable precision. iii After the experimental matrix was developed using the design of experiments approach, the physical experiments were performed in the shock tube. Long test times were created by "tailoring" the shock tube using a novel driver gas mixture, obtaining test times of 10 millisecond or more, which made experiments at low temperatures possible. Large discrepancies were found between the predicted results by numerical models and the actual experimental results. The main conclusion from the experiments is that the methane-based mixtures in this study enter a regime with a negative temperature coefficient when plotted in Arhennius form. This means that these mixtures are far more likely to ignite under conditions frequently encountered in a premixer, potentially creating hazardous situations. The experimental results were correlated as a function of the different species. It was found that the effect of higher-order hydrocarbon addition to methane is not as profound as seen at higher temperatures (>1100 K). However, the ignition delay time could still be reduced by a factor two or more. It is therefore evident that potential autoignition could occur within the premixer, given the conditions as stated in this study.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000817, ucf:46684
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000817

Title: IGNITION STUDIES OF DIISOPROPYL KETONE, A SECOND-GENERATION BIOFUEL.
Creator: Pryor, Owen, Vasu, Subith, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This thesis focuses on ignition of diisopropyl ketone (DIPK), a new biofuel candidate that is produced by endophytic conversion. The ignition delay times behind reflected shockwaves were modeled in a high-pressure shock tube. The ignition delay times were compared to other biofuels and gasoline surrogates. Parametric studies of the ignition delay experiments were performed between 1-10 atm and 900 -1200K. An OH optical sensor was developed in conjunction for the ignition delay experiments....
Show moreThis thesis focuses on ignition of diisopropyl ketone (DIPK), a new biofuel candidate that is produced by endophytic conversion. The ignition delay times behind reflected shockwaves were modeled in a high-pressure shock tube. The ignition delay times were compared to other biofuels and gasoline surrogates. Parametric studies of the ignition delay experiments were performed between 1-10 atm and 900 -1200K. An OH optical sensor was developed in conjunction for the ignition delay experiments. The OH optical sensor uses a microwave discharge lamp to generate light at 308 nm that will then be shined through the combustion reaction. Using Beer-Lambert law the concentration of OH can be obtained during ignition and oxidation of hydrocarbon fuels in a shock tube. DIPK ignition delay time experiments are planned in two shock tubes (located at UCF and UF) to provide ignition and OH time-histories data for model validation.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004635, ucf:45253
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004635

Title: A study of organo-phosphorous simulants thermal destruction using shock tube/laser diagnostics techniques and chemical kinetics modeling.
Creator: Neupane, Sneha, Vasu Sumathi, Subith, Kassab, Alain, Chow, Louis, Peale, Robert, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: High-fidelity chemical kinetic models are critical in predictive modeling during design and optimization of next generation energy systems. Shock tube provides an ideal tool to investigate high-temperature chemical kinetics. Non-intrusive laser absorption diagnostics provide in-situ measurements of quantitative, time-resolved species concentration data in this complex chemically reacting system. In this work, shock tube and laser absorption spectroscopy were utilized to measure species...
Show moreHigh-fidelity chemical kinetic models are critical in predictive modeling during design and optimization of next generation energy systems. Shock tube provides an ideal tool to investigate high-temperature chemical kinetics. Non-intrusive laser absorption diagnostics provide in-situ measurements of quantitative, time-resolved species concentration data in this complex chemically reacting system. In this work, shock tube and laser absorption spectroscopy were utilized to measure species concentration time-histories during pyrolysis and oxidation of organo-phosphorous compounds (OPCs). The experiments data obtained were used as benchmark to develop an improved kinetic model of OPCs combustion. Interest in combustion chemistry of OPCs is associated to their use as fire suppressants and as chemical weapons. Pyrolysis and oxidation of OPCs were carried out behind reflected shock wave and laser absorption spectroscopy utilizing quantum cascade laser at mid-IR wavelength region was used to measure time resolved intermediate CO concentration produced during the process. Utilizing the experiments data, an improved chemical kinetic model for combustion of an OPC (-) Triethyl Phosphate (TEP) was developed. Various steps taken to develop the improved model include: calculation of thermochemical properties; updating hydrocarbon kinetics; calculation of reaction rates and addition of alternative TEP decomposition pathways. The prediction of TEP combustion, in terms intermediate CO concentration yield during its pyrolysis and oxidation, made by the improved model is in much better agreement with the experiments. Such an accurate kinetic model is critical in predicting the effectiveness of OPCs as flame retardants when used as dopants in hydrocarbon fuels; and in devising counter weapon of mass destruction strategies to destroy chemical weapons.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007691, ucf:52444
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007691

Title: Investigation of oxy-fuel combustion behind reflected shockwaves.
Creator: Pryor, Owen, Vasu Sumathi, Subith, Kapat, Jayanta, Kassab, Alain, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Supercritical carbon dioxide has brought about new questions on the chemical kinetics of several small hydrocarbon fuels and the effects of carbon dioxide as the primary diluent on the different fuels. This report presents work on the ignition delay times and several species time-histories of methane, ethylene and syngas over a range of conditions. All experiments were conducted behind reflected shock waves using two different shock tubes. The ignition delay times were measured using a GaP...
Show moreSupercritical carbon dioxide has brought about new questions on the chemical kinetics of several small hydrocarbon fuels and the effects of carbon dioxide as the primary diluent on the different fuels. This report presents work on the ignition delay times and several species time-histories of methane, ethylene and syngas over a range of conditions. All experiments were conducted behind reflected shock waves using two different shock tubes. The ignition delay times were measured using a GaP photodetector to measure the emission of light. The species time-histories were measured using single laser spectroscopy. The effect of CO2 as a diluent on the fluid dynamics of the system were also examined using high-speed camera images. It was determined that the ignition delay times and fuel time-histories were able to be accurately predicted by mechanisms in the literature for pressures up to 30 atm but the literature mechanisms were unable to predict the carbon monoxide time-histories beyond qualitative trends for the various fuels. It was also determined that the carbon monoxide had a string effect on the fluid dynamics of the experiments resulting in a significantly smaller chemical reaction zone. Experiments were also performed to examine the effects of water as a diluent with a ratio up to 66% of the total diluent on the ignition delay times. Using the experimental data, a global kinetic mechanism was created for methane and syngas to predict the ignition delay times and the carbon monoxide time-histories for pressures up to 300 atm.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007236, ucf:52216
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007236

Title: Combustion of 1,3-Butadiene behind Reflected Shocks.
Creator: Lopez, Joseph, Vasu Sumathi, Subith, Orlovskaya, Nina, Kassab, Alain, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The chemical kinetics of 1,3-butadiene (1,3-C4H6) are important because 1,3-butadiene is a major intermediate during the combustion of real fuels. However, there is only limited information on the chemical kinetics of 1,3-butadiene combustion, which has applications in several combustion schemes that are currently being developed, including spark-assisted homogeneous charge compression ignition and fuel reformate exhaust gas recirculation.In the present work, the ignition delay times of 1,3...
Show moreThe chemical kinetics of 1,3-butadiene (1,3-C4H6) are important because 1,3-butadiene is a major intermediate during the combustion of real fuels. However, there is only limited information on the chemical kinetics of 1,3-butadiene combustion, which has applications in several combustion schemes that are currently being developed, including spark-assisted homogeneous charge compression ignition and fuel reformate exhaust gas recirculation.In the present work, the ignition delay times of 1,3-butadiene mixtures has been investigated using pressure data. Oxidation of 1,3-butadiene/oxygen mixtures diluted in argon or nitrogen at equivalence ratios (?) of 0.3 behind reflected shock waves has been studied at temperatures ranging from 1100 to 1300K and at pressures ranging from 1 to 2atm. Reaction progress was monitored by recording concentration time-histories of 1,3-butadiene and OH* radical at a location 2cm from the end wall of a 13.4m long shock tube with an inner diameter of 14cm. 1,3-Butadiene concentration time-histories were measured by absorption spectroscopy at 10.5?m from the P14 line of a tunable CO2 gas laser. OH* production was measured by recording emission around 306.5nm with a pre-amplified gallium phosphide detector and a bandpass filter. Ignition delay times were also determined from the OH* concentration time-histories. The measured concentration time-histories and ignition delay times were compared with two chemical kinetics models. The measured time-histories and ignition delay times provide targets for the refinement of chemical kinetic models at the studied conditions.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006618, ucf:51276
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006618

Title: High Temperature Shock Tube Ignition Studies of CO2 Diluted Mixtures.
Creator: Pryor, Owen, Vasu Sumathi, Subith, Kapat, Jayanta, Kassab, Alain, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Energy demand is expected to grow by 20% over the next 10 years. In order to account for this increase in energy consumption new and novel combustion techniques are required to mitigate the effects of pollution and fossil fuel dependency. Oxy-fuel combustion in supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) cycles can increase plant efficiencies up to 52% and reduce pollutants such as NOX and CO2 by 99%. Supercritical engine cycles have demonstrated electricity costs of $121/MWh, which is competitive in...
Show moreEnergy demand is expected to grow by 20% over the next 10 years. In order to account for this increase in energy consumption new and novel combustion techniques are required to mitigate the effects of pollution and fossil fuel dependency. Oxy-fuel combustion in supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) cycles can increase plant efficiencies up to 52% and reduce pollutants such as NOX and CO2 by 99%. Supercritical engine cycles have demonstrated electricity costs of $121/MWh, which is competitive in comparison to conventional coal ($95.60/MWh) and natural gas power plants ($128.4/MWe). This increase in efficiency is mainly driven by the near-liquid density of the working fluid (sCO2), in the super critical regime, before entering the turbine for energy extraction of the high pressure and high density sCO2 gas. In addition, supercritical CO2 engine cycles produce near-zero air emissions since CO2, a product of combustion, is the working fluid of the system which can be regenerated to the combustor. The predictive accuracy and lack of combustion models in highly CO2 diluted mixtures and at high pressures is one the major limitations to achieving optimum design of super critical engine combustors. Also, most natural gas mechanisms and validation experiments have been conducted at low pressures (typically less than 40 atm) and not in CO2 diluted environment. Thus experimental data is important for the development of modern combustion systems from work focusing on supercritical carbon dioxide cycles to rotational detonation engines. This thesis presents the design of the shock tube and two optical diagnostic techniques for measuring ignition delay times and species time histories using a shock tube in CO2 diluted mixtures.Experimental data for ignition delay times and species time-histories (CH4) were obtained in mixtures diluted with CO2. Experiments were performed behind reflected shockwaves from temperatures of 1200 to 2000 K for pressures ranging from 1 to 11 atm. Ignition times were obtained from emission and laser absorption measurements. Current experimental data were compared with the predictions of detailed chemical kinetic models (available from literature) that will allow for accurate design and modeling of combustion systems.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006165, ucf:51141
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006165

Title: NUMERICAL MODELING OF THE SHOCK TUBE FLOW FIELDS BEFORE ANDDURING IGNITION DELAY TIME EXPERIMENTS AT PRACTICAL CONDITIONS.
Creator: lamnaouer, mouna, Kassab, Alain, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: An axi-symmetric shock-tube model has been developed to simulate the shock-wave propagation and reflection in both non-reactive and reactive flows. Simulations were performed for the full shock-tube geometry of the high-pressure shock tube facility at Texas A&M University. Computations were carried out in the CFD solver FLUENT based on the finite volume approach and the AUSM+ flux differencing scheme. Adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) algorithm was applied to the time-dependent flow fields to...
Show moreAn axi-symmetric shock-tube model has been developed to simulate the shock-wave propagation and reflection in both non-reactive and reactive flows. Simulations were performed for the full shock-tube geometry of the high-pressure shock tube facility at Texas A&M University. Computations were carried out in the CFD solver FLUENT based on the finite volume approach and the AUSM+ flux differencing scheme. Adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) algorithm was applied to the time-dependent flow fields to accurately capture and resolve the shock and contact discontinuities as well as the very fine scales associated with the viscous and reactive effects. A conjugate heat transfer model has been incorporated which enhanced the credibility of the simulations. The multi-dimensional, time-dependent numerical simulations resolved all of the relevant scales, ranging from the size of the system to the reaction zone scale. The robustness of the numerical model and the accuracy of the simulations were assessed through validation with the analytical ideal shock-tube theory and experimental data. The numerical method is first applied to the problem of axi-symmetric inviscid flow then viscous effects are incorporated through viscous modeling. The non-idealities in the shock tube have been investigated and quantified, notably the non-ideal transient behavior in the shock tube nozzle section, heat transfer effects from the hot gas to the shock tube side walls, the reflected shock/boundary layer interactions or what is known as bifurcation, and the contact surface/bifurcation interaction resulting into driver gas contamination. The non-reactive model is shown to be capable of accurately simulating the shock and expansion wave propagations and reflections as well as the flow non-uniformities behind the reflected shock wave. Both the inviscid and the viscous non-reactive models provided a baseline for the combustion model iii which involves elementary chemical reactions and requires the coupling of the chemistry with the flow fields adding to the complexity of the problem and thereby requiring tremendous computational resources. Combustion modeling focuses on the ignition process behind the reflected shock wave in undiluted and diluted Hydrogen test gas mixtures. Accurate representation of the Shock Ã‚Â–tube reactive flow fields is more likely to be achieved by the means of the LES model in conjunction with the EDC model. The shock-tube CFD model developed herein provides valuable information to the interpretation of the shock-tube experimental data and to the understanding of the impact the facility-dependent non-idealities can have on the ignition delay time measurements.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003011, ucf:48366
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003011

Title: WALL HEAT TRANSFER EFFECTS IN THE ENDWALL REGION BEHIND A REFLECTED SHOCK WAVE AT LONG TEST TIMES.
Creator: Frazier, Corey, Petersen, Eric, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Shock-tube experiments are typically performed at high temperatures (>1200K) due to test-time constraints. These test times are usually ~1 ms in duration and the source of this short, test-time constraint is loss of temperature due to heat transfer. At short test times, there is very little appreciable heat transfer between the hot gas and the cold walls of the shock tube and a high test temperature can be maintained. However, some experiments are using lower temperatures (approx. 800K) to...
Show moreShock-tube experiments are typically performed at high temperatures (>1200K) due to test-time constraints. These test times are usually ~1 ms in duration and the source of this short, test-time constraint is loss of temperature due to heat transfer. At short test times, there is very little appreciable heat transfer between the hot gas and the cold walls of the shock tube and a high test temperature can be maintained. However, some experiments are using lower temperatures (approx. 800K) to achieve ignition and require much longer test times (up to 15 ms) to fully study the chemical kinetics and combustion chemistry of a reaction in a shock-tube experiment. Using mathematical models, analysis was performed studying the effects of temperature, pressure, shock-tube inner diameter, and test-port location at various test times (from 1 – 20 ms) on temperature maintenance. Three models, each more complex than the previous, were used to simulate test conditions in the endwall region behind the reflected shock wave with Ar and N2 as bath gases. Temperature profile, thermal BL thickness, and other parametric results are presented herein. It was observed that higher temperatures and lower pressures contributed to a thicker thermal boundary layer, as did shrinking inner diameter. Thus it was found that a test case such as 800K and 50 atm in a 16.2-cm-diameter shock tube in Argon maintained thermal integrity much better than other cases – pronounced by a thermal boundary layer < 1 mm thick and an average temperature > 799.9 K from 1–20 ms.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001593, ucf:47162
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001593

Title: A STUDY OF SYNGAS OXIDATION AT HIGH PRESSURES AND LOW TEMPERATURES.
Creator: Kalitan, Danielle, Petersen, Eric, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Ignition and oxidation characteristics of CO/H2, H2/O2 and CO/H2/CH4/CO2/Ar fuel blends in air were studied using both experimental and computer simulation methods. Shock-tube experiments were conducted behind reflected shock waves at intermediate temperatures (825
Show moreIgnition and oxidation characteristics of CO/H2, H2/O2 and CO/H2/CH4/CO2/Ar fuel blends in air were studied using both experimental and computer simulation methods. Shock-tube experiments were conducted behind reflected shock waves at intermediate temperatures (825 < T < 1400 K) for a wide range of pressures (1 < P < 45 atm). Results of this study provide the first undiluted fuel-air ignition delay time experiments to cover such a wide range of syngas mixture compositions over the stated temperature range. Emission in the form of chemiluminescence from the hydroxyl radical (OH*) transition near 307 nm and the pressure behind the reflected shock wave were used to monitor reaction progress from which ignition delay times were determined. In addition to the experimental analysis, chemical kinetics calculations were completed to compare several chemical kinetics mechanisms to the new experimental results. Overall, the models were in good agreement with the shock-tube data, especially at higher temperatures and lower pressures, yet there were some differences between the models at higher pressures and the lowest temperatures, in some cases by as much as a factor of five. In order to discern additional information from the chemical kinetics mechanisms regarding their response to a wide range of experimental conditions, ignition delay time and reaction rate sensitivity analyses were completed at higher and lower temperatures and higher and lower pressures. These two sensitivity analyses allow for the identification of the key reactions responsible for ignition. The results of the sensitivity analysis indicate that the ignition-enhancing reaction H + O2 = O + OH and hydrogen oxidation kinetics in general were most important regardless of mixture composition, temperature or pressure. However, lower-temperature, higher-pressure ignition delay time results indicate additional influence from HO2- and CO- containing reactions, particularly the well-known H + O + M = HO2 + M reaction and also the CO + O + M = CO2 + M and CO + HO2 = CO2 + OH reactions. Differences in the rates of the CO-related reactions are shown to be the cause of some of the discrepancies amongst the various models at elevated pressures. However, the deviation between the models and the experimental data at the lowest temperatures could not be entirely explained by discrepancies in the current rates of the reactions contained within the mechanisms. Additional calculations were therefore performed to gain further understanding regarding the opposing ignition behavior for calculated and measured ignition delay time results. Impurities, friction induced ionization, static charge accumulation, boundary layer effects, wall reaction effects, and revised chemical kinetics were all considered to be possible mechanisms for the model and measured data disparity. For the case of wall-reaction effects, additional shock-tube experiments were conducted. For the remaining effects listed above, only detailed calculations were conducted. Results from this preliminary anomaly study are at this time inconclusive, but likely avenues for future study were identified. Additional kinetics calculations showed that the large difference between the experimental data and the chemical kinetics models predictions at low temperatures can be explained by at least one missing reaction relevant to low-temperature and high-pressure experimental conditions involving the formation of H2O2, although further study beyond the scope of this thesis is required to prove this hypothesis both theoretically and experimentally.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001862, ucf:47414
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001862

Title: METHANE AND DIMETHYL ETHER OXIDATION AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURE.
Creator: Zinner, Christopher, Basu, Saptarshi, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Autoignition and oxidation of two Methane (CH4) and Dimethyl Ether (CH3OCH3 or DME) mixtures in air were studied in shock tubes over a wide range of equivalence ratios at elevated temperatures and pressures. These experiments were conducted in the reflected shock region with pressures ranging from 0.8 to 35.7 atmospheres, temperatures ranging from 913 to 1650 K, and equivalence ratios of 2.0, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.3. Ignition delay times were obtained from shock-tube endwall pressure traces for...
Show moreAutoignition and oxidation of two Methane (CH4) and Dimethyl Ether (CH3OCH3 or DME) mixtures in air were studied in shock tubes over a wide range of equivalence ratios at elevated temperatures and pressures. These experiments were conducted in the reflected shock region with pressures ranging from 0.8 to 35.7 atmospheres, temperatures ranging from 913 to 1650 K, and equivalence ratios of 2.0, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.3. Ignition delay times were obtained from shock-tube endwall pressure traces for fuel mixtures of CH4/CH3OCH3 in ratios of 80/20 percent volume and 60/40 percent volume, respectively. Close examination of the data revealed that energy release from the mixture is occurring in the time between the arrival of the incident shock wave and the ignition event. An adjustment scheme for temperature and pressure was devised to account for this energy release and its effect on the ignition of the mixture. Two separate ignition delay correlations were developed for these pressure- and temperature-adjusted data. These correlations estimate ignition delay from known temperature, pressure, and species mole fractions of methane, dimethyl ether, and air (0.21 O2 + 0.79 N2). The first correlation was developed for ignition delay occurring at temperatures greater than or equal to 1175 K and pressures ranging from 0.8 to 35.3 atm. The second correlation was developed for ignition delay occurring at temperatures less than or equal to 1175 K and pressures ranging from 18.5 to 40.0 atm. Overall good agreement was found to exist between the two correlations and the data of these experiments. Findings of these experiments also include that with pressures at or below ten atm, increased concentrations of dimethyl ether will consistently produce faster ignition times. At pressures greater than ten atmospheres it is possible for fuel rich mixtures with lower concentrations of dimethyl ether to give the fastest ignition times. This work represents the most thorough shock tube investigation for oxidation of methane with high concentration levels of dimethyl ether at gas turbine engine relevant temperatures and pressures. The findings of this study should serve as a validation for detailed chemical kinetics mechanisms.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002096, ucf:47539
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002096

Title: Ignition Studies of Oxy-Syngas/CO2 Mixtures Using Shock Tube for Cleaner Combustion Engines.
Creator: Barak, Samuel, Vasu Sumathi, Subith, Kapat, Jayanta, Ahmed, Kareem, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In this study, syngas combustion was investigated behind reflected shock waves in order to gain insight into the behavior of ignition delay times and effects of the CO2 dilution. Pressure and light emissions time-histories measurements were taken at a 2 cm axial location away from the end wall. High-speed visualization of the experiments from the end wall was also conducted. Oxy-syngas mixtures that were tested in the shock tube were diluted with CO2 fractions ranging from 60% - 85% by volume...
Show moreIn this study, syngas combustion was investigated behind reflected shock waves in order to gain insight into the behavior of ignition delay times and effects of the CO2 dilution. Pressure and light emissions time-histories measurements were taken at a 2 cm axial location away from the end wall. High-speed visualization of the experiments from the end wall was also conducted. Oxy-syngas mixtures that were tested in the shock tube were diluted with CO2 fractions ranging from 60% - 85% by volume. A 10% fuel concentration was consistently used throughout the experiments. This study looked at the effects of changing the equivalence ratios (?), between 0.33, 0.5, and 1.0 as well as changing the fuel ratio (?), hydrogen to carbon monoxide, from 0.25, 1.0 and 4.0. The study was performed at 1.61-1.77 atm and a temperature range of 1006-1162K. The high-speed imaging was performed through a quartz end wall with a Phantom V710 camera operated at 67,065 frames per second. From the experiments, when increasing the equivalence ratio, it resulted in a longer ignition delay time. In addition, when increasing the fuel ratio, a lower ignition delay time was observed. These trends are generally expected with this combustion reaction system. The high-speed imaging showed non-homogeneous combustion in the system, however, most of the light emissions were outside the visible light range where the camera is designed for. The results were compared to predictions of two combustion chemical kinetic mechanisms: GRI v3.0 and AramcoMech v2.0 mechanisms. In general, both mechanisms did not accurately predict the experimental data. The results showed that current models are inaccurate in predicting CO2 diluted environments for syngas combustion.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0006974, ucf:52909
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006974

Title: Shock Tube Investigations of Novel Combustion Environments Towards a Carbon-Neutral Future.
Creator: Barak, Samuel, Vasu Sumathi, Subith, Kapat, Jayanta, Ahmed, Kareem, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) cycles are being investigated for the future of power generation. These cycles will contribute to a carbon-neutral future to combat the effects of climate change. These direct-fired closed cycles will produce power without adding significant pollutants to the atmosphere. For these cycles to be efficient, they will need to operate at significantly higher pressures (e.g., 300 atm for Allam Cycle) than existing systems (typically less than 40 atm). There is...
Show moreSupercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) cycles are being investigated for the future of power generation. These cycles will contribute to a carbon-neutral future to combat the effects of climate change. These direct-fired closed cycles will produce power without adding significant pollutants to the atmosphere. For these cycles to be efficient, they will need to operate at significantly higher pressures (e.g., 300 atm for Allam Cycle) than existing systems (typically less than 40 atm). There is limited knowledge on combustion at these pressures or at the high dilution of carbon dioxide. Nominal fuel choices for gas turbines include natural gas and syngas (mixture of CO and H2). Shock tubes study these problems in order to understand the fundamentals and solve various challenges. Shock tube experiments have been studied by the author in the sCO2 regime for various fuels including natural gas, methane and syngas. Using the shock tube to take measurements, pressure and light emissions time-histories measurements were taken at a 2-cm axial location away from the end wall. Experiments for syngas at lower pressure utilized high-speed imaging through the end wall to investigate the effects of bifurcation. It was found that carbon dioxide created unique interactions with the shock tube compared to tradition bath gasses such as argon. The experimental results were compared to predictions from leading chemical kinetic mechanisms. In general, mechanisms can predict the experimental data for methane and other hydrocarbon fuels; however, the models overpredict for syngas mixtures. Reaction pathway analysis was evaluated to determine where the models need improvements. A new shock tube has been designed and built to operate up to 1000 atm pressures for future high-pressure experiments. Details of this new facility are included in this work. The experiments in this work are necessary for mechanism development to design an efficient combustor operate these cycles.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007781, ucf:52359
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007781

shock tube (8)	+ -
combustion (6)	+ -
chemical kinetics (4)	+ -
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bifurcation (2)	+ -
carbon dioxide (2)	+ -
gas turbine (2)	+ -
high pressure (2)	+ -
ignition delay time (2)	+ -
methane (2)	+ -
power generation (2)	+ -
supercritical carbon dioxide (2)	+ -
supercritical co2 (2)	+ -
syngas (2)	+ -
1 (1)	+ -
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Biofuels (1)	+ -
CFD Modeling (1)	+ -
Chemical Kinetics (1)	+ -
Conjugate Heat Transfer modeling (1)	+ -
Diisopropyl Ketone (1)	+ -
Ketones (1)	+ -
Laser Diagnostics (1)	+ -
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ETD Collection (15)	+ -
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University of Central Florida (16)	+ -
Kassab, Alain (6)	+ -
Petersen, Eric (6)	+ -
Vasu Sumathi, Subith (6)	+ -
Kapat, Jayanta (4)	+ -

Pryor, Owen (3)	+ -
Ahmed, Kareem (2)	+ -
Barak, Samuel (2)	+ -
Amadio, Anthony (1)	+ -
Basu, Saptarshi (1)	+ -
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Flaherty, Troy (1)	+ -
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Hall, Joel (1)	+ -
Kalitan, Danielle (1)	+ -
Lopez, Joseph (1)	+ -
Neupane, Sneha (1)	+ -
Orlovskaya, Nina (1)	+ -
Peale, Robert (1)	+ -
Vasu, Subith (1)	+ -
Walker, Brian (1)	+ -
Zinner, Christopher (1)	+ -
de Vries, Jaap (1)	+ -
lamnaouer, mouna (1)	+ -

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