Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies

The objective of this research is to characterize the atomization and combustion behavior of bio-oil.  Combustion tests of bio-oil have proven its potential for use in furnaces and boilers which are designed for fuel oils, however, there has been little research thus far which examines the atomization and reaction environment in these applications using non-intrusive, in-situ measurement diagnostics.  This project will analyze bio-oil sprays and combustion for domestic-scale heating applications by employing laser diagnostic techniques.  This research will provide insight into combustor designs and fuel properties that may improve bio-oil combustion efficiency and reduce emissions.

Figure 1.  Bio-oil atomization test chamber

Atomization and combustion tests are being performed with domestic-scale flow rates in the range of 0.5 to 2 gal/hr.  Laser imaging techniques, including Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Phase Doppler Particle Analysis (PDPA), Laser Induced Incandescence (LII), and Planer Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF), are being used to analyze spray and combustion behavior.  These methods allow for the characterization of droplet velocities, droplet distributions, droplet number densities, chemical species concentrations, soot concentrations, and temperatures.  By characterizing the distributions of these values throughout the reaction environment, much will be learned about the physical and chemical causes of pollutant emissions and combustion inefficiencies.  Such information can be used to suggest modifications for combustor designs and improvements in the physical and chemical properties for bio-oils which are produced for combustion applications.

Figure 2. PIV results of spray at 0.5 gal/hr

“Characterization of Bio-Crude Oil Atomization and Combustion” D. Wissmiller, T. Meyer, and R. C. Brown.  Poster Presentation. Biobased Industry Outlook Conference in Ames, IA.  November 2007.