Numerical study on laminar burning velocity of ammonia flame with methanol addition

The combustion characteristics of ammonia/methanol mixtures were investigated numerically in this study. Methanol has a dramatic promotive effect on the laminar burning velocity (LBV) of ammonia. Three mechanisms from literature and another four self-developed mechanisms constructed in this study were evaluated using the measured laminar burning velocities of ammonia/methanol mixtures from Wang et al. (Combust.Flame. 2021). Generally, none of the selected mechanisms can precisely predict the measured laminar burning velocities at all conditions. Aiming to develop a simplified and reliable mechanism for ammonia/methanol mixtures, the constructed mechanism utilized NUI Galway mechanism (Combust.Flame. 2016) as methanol sub-mechanism and the Otomo mechanism (Int. J. Hydrogen. Energy. 2018) as ammonia sub-mechanism was optimized and reduced. The reduced mechanism entitled ‘DNO-NH3’, can accurately reproduce the measured laminar burning velocities of ammonia/methanol mixtures under all conditions. A reaction path analysis of the ammonia/methanol mixtures based on the DNO-NH3 mechanism shows that methanol is not directly involved in ammonia oxidation, instead, the produced methyl radicals from methanol oxidization contribute to the dehydrogenation of ammonia. Besides, NO_x emission analysis demonstrates that 60% methanol addition results in the highest NO_x emissions. The most important reactions dominating the NO_x consumption and production are identified in this study.     

Experimental study on flame spread along fuel cylinders in high pressures

Flame spread over solid fuels in high‐pressure situations, such as nuclear containment shells during a pressurized period, has potential to result in catastrophic disaster, thus requiring further knowledge. This paper experimentally reveals the flame spread behaviors over fuel cylinders in high pressures. Polyethylene and polymethyl‐methacrylate cylinders with the diameter of 4.0 mm are used in this study. Ambient gas is air, and total pressures are varied from naturally normal pressure (100 kPa) to elevated pressure (500 kPa). Flame characteristics including flame appearance and flame size and burning rate and flame spread rate are investigated. Results show that in high pressure, the flame appearance is significantly affected. As the pressure increases, the blue flame disappeared, and the color of flame tip changes from luminous yellow to orange as well the orange part extends down towards the base of flame. The dimensionless flame height increases with pressure for pressure below 150 kPa and then decreases with pressure above that level. The burning rates show increasing trend with pressure and are proportional to P^0.6 and P^0.79 for polymethyl‐methacrylate and polyethylene, respectively. Besides, flame spread rates for polymethyl‐methacrylate and polyethylene both were found to be proportional to P^0.5.     

Assessing smoke toxicity of burning combustibles by four expressions for fractional effective dose

Toxicity of smoke generated in a fire is difficult to measure accurately. That is because gas sensors for measuring rapidly varying concentrations of toxic gases are not yet developed. Simple expressions are searched for quick measurement in assessing smoke toxicity practically. Four equations on calculating fractional effective dose (FED) related to toxic effluents were reported in the literature, each based on different assumptions. FED value was proposed to be calculated based on peak carbon monoxide concentration and peak carbon dioxide concentration, and transient carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and oxygen concentrations. The four values were compared in this article using literature data on toxic gases from different materials measured by (i) cone calorimeter; (ii) full-scale burning tests; and (iii) tunnel full-scale tests. Measured carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and oxygen concentrations by standard equipment of oxygen consumption calorimeters were used to calculate the four FED values. It is found that the values of FED based on peak carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide concentrations (denoted as FED₂) are similar to the average values of FED calculated from the updated equation in the literature using the oxygen consumption calorimeters. Putting the values of FED₂ in fire safety design guides is then recommended.     

350MW机组锅炉SCR脱硝系统优化

准东煤田是我国目前最大的整装煤田,但准东煤在锅炉燃烧过程中易发生结焦问题,一般掺烧高岭土缓解结焦。某燃用准东煤350 MW机组,锅炉燃煤掺烧高岭土后烟气携带灰尘颗粒及灰尘量增大,出现SCR脱硝系统烟道积灰严重和喷氨量明显偏大问题,同时在空气预热器形成硫酸氢氨堵塞,使机组不能长周期稳定运行。通过与国内同类型多台机组锅炉对比后发现,脱硝系统均存在易产生积灰的脱硝转向室、催化剂上方及空气预热器入口斜坡积灰状况等情况。针对存在的问题,通过建立改造前、后的模型计算分析,进行了导流板布置的优化设计、CFD流场分布、优化SCR系统导流板设计、声波与蒸汽吹灰器结合吹灰和氨注射栅格优化升级等工作,应用德图480风速仪实测风速试验,发现脱硝烟道原导流板设计不合理及施工安装偏差;原导流板水平段跨距大,支撑不足,造成导流板压塌变形,影响烟气流场分布;锅炉所烧煤质为高钠煤,为防止锅炉结焦掺烧高岭土后,增加了烟气飞灰颗粒及灰尘量,飞灰具有很大黏性,易沉积在烟道导流板及烟道壁面上。因此,提出对脱硝内部各处导流板进行优化改造,对脱硝系统烟道易产生积灰的部位增加声波吹灰器,对喷氨格栅喷嘴数量及氨空混合器升级,同时开展锅炉SCR脱硝喷氨热态优化调整试验工作。通过开展相关工作,SCR烟气系统的烟气流场相对标准偏差优化5%,相同负荷下液氨消耗量降低45%,彻底解决脱硝系统积灰和空气预热器堵塞问题,实现机组满负荷达标稳定运行。锅炉长期运行半年后停炉检查,发现前期脱硝系统烟道高达1 m的积灰部位彻底解决,催化剂表面干净无杂物,解决了脱硝系统积灰问题,同时配合提高空气预热器冷端综合温度的措施,彻底解决锅炉空气预热器堵塞问题。同时,经济效益显著,每年可以分别节约液氨费用70万元,节约风机电耗费用100万元,节约检修清理积灰及检修费用80万元,节约空气预热器冲洗治理费用20万元,综合节约费用270万元/a,达到预期效果实现机组长周期安全经济稳定运行。     

快烧金属光泽结晶釉的研究

以钠长石、钨酸、氧化锰、氧化铜为原料成功制备了装饰效果良好的低温快烧金属光泽结晶釉。并通过控制变量的方法,研究了釉中各组分及不同工艺因素对釉面效果的影响。并通过XRD等测试手段分析了釉中晶相的组成,并初步分析了釉面呈现金属光泽的机理。     

Self induced buoyant blow off in upward flame spread on thin solid fuels

Upward flame spread experiments were conducted on long thin composite fabric fuels made of 75% cotton and 25% fiberglass of various widths between 2 and 8.8 cm and lengths greater than 1.5 m. Symmetric ignition at the bottom edge of the fuel resulted in two sided upward flame growth initially. As flame grew to a critical length (15–30 cm depending on sample width) fluctuation or instability of the flame base was observed. For samples 5 cm or less in width, this instability lead to flame blow off on one side of the sample (can be either side in repeated tests). The remaining flame on the other side would quickly shrink in length and spread all the way to the end of the sample with a constant limiting length and steady spread rate. Flame blow off from the increased buoyancy induced air velocity (at the flame base) with increasing flame length is proposed as the mechanism for this interesting phenomenon. Experimental details and the proposed explanation, including sample width effect, are offered in the paper.     

Associations between indoor environment in residential buildings in wet and dry seasons and health of students in upper northern Thailand

We performed a repeated questionnaire study on home environment and health (six medical symptoms) in 1159 junior high school students (age 12.8 ± 0.7 years) in upper northern Thailand in wet and dry seasons. Data on outdoor temperature, relative humidity (RH), and air pollution were collected from nearest monitoring station. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated by multi-level logistic regression. Most common symptoms were rhinitis (62.5%), headache (49.8%), throat (42.8%), and ocular symptoms (42.5%). Ocular symptoms were more common at lower RH and rhinitis more common in dry season. Water leakage (28.2%), indoor mold (7.1%), mold odor (4.1%), and windowpane condensation (13.6%) were associated with all six symptoms (ORs: 1.3–3.5). Other risk factors included cat keeping, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), other odor than mold odor, gas cooking, and cooking with biomass fire. Biomass burning inside and outside the home for other reasons than cooking was associated with all six symptoms (ORs: 1.5–2.6). Associations between home environment exposure and rhinitis were stronger in wet season. In conclusion, dampness-related exposure, windowpane condensation, cat keeping, ETS, gas cooking, and biomass burning can impair adolescent health in upper northern Thailand. In subtropical areas, environmental health effects should be investigated in wet and dry seasons.