Experimental assessment of a pressure swirl atomizer for ethanol operation on a small gas generator

Abstract

© 2017, The Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering.There has been an ever increasing demand for research into alternative and environmentally friendly fuels since the oil crisis in the 1970s. Nowadays, with increasing energy demands and tightening environmental constraints, the need for research into these alternative fuels is mandatory. The use of microturbines for distributed power generation is already a reality and presents some environmental and operational advantages. However, this kind of thermal machine is designed for operation using hydrocarbons. The difference of the physical–chemical properties between hydrocarbons and alcohols impacts strongly the characteristics of the spray and hence the performance of combustion. In this context, an investigation about the behavior of the atomization process for an atomizer designed for ethanol operation and feasibility is mandatory. This study is divided into two parts: the characterization of the atomizer and spray in a laboratory environment and the assessment for pollutant emissions and combustion efficiency determination. The designed atomizer was machined and the main atomizer and spray characteristics data were acquired and then assembled on a gas generator operating with hydrous ethanol.

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