Combustion of Bio-oil and Heavy Fuel Oil

The use of combustion parameters to predict what happens to fuel during burning and its effect on living systems is important. This work is directed towards understanding the fundamental chemistry of soot generated from burning biomass-pyrolysis liquid fuels and its mechanism of formation. In this study, fuels such as eugenol, anisole, furfural and some hydrocarbon fuels are subjected to combustion using a wick burner which allowed the burning rate, smoke point and emission factor to be investigated. Reaction zone analysis of flames by direct photography and by using optical filters for further investigation of C2* and CH* species, was conducted. Additionally, detailed characterization of the soot generated was performed, and comparisons were made with soot from petroleum products and from biomass combustion system. The key aim was to generate experimental data and to capture detailed information regarding sooting tendencies with a view to utilize the information which would eventually allow the formation of a comprehensive bio-oil combustion model. This could provide accurate predictions of the combustion characteristics and pollutant formation. Studies are reported on the significant role of high temperature pyrolysis products in soot formation and acquiring further mechanistic insight. This work has been extended to consider heavy petroleum fuel oils (residual oil) during combustion and the effect of composition on combustion products and on the effect on health and the global environment. Heavy fuel oil, such as Bunker C and vacuum residue, are commonly used as fuel for industrial boilers, power generation, and as transport fuels in, for example, in large marine engines. The combustion of these fuels gives rise to carbonaceous particulate emissions including fine soot (Black Carbon or BC) which, along with associated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH): The structure and thermal reactions of petroleum asphaltene have been studied by analytical pyrolysis. Additionally, related combustion characteristics of the asphaltene extracted from bio-oil have been investigated by pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed the difference between bio-asphaltene and the petroleum asphaltene and the different tendency to form smoke. They also showed the presence of markers for the bio-asphaltene structure.