Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MetalFuel (Towards a full multi-scale understanding of zero-carbon metal fuel combustion)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-04-01 bis 2023-09-30
The primary aim is to study individual metal particle combustion under different conditions. This involves employing various experimental techniques to monitor the burning particles in real-time. A newly designed single particle burner is used to ignite and observe particles via optical diagnostics. The focus is on understanding ignition temperatures, combustion time, and particle temperature history under varying air temperatures. Additionally, the study involves investigating the interaction between particles during combustion. This numerical part of this workpackage aims to construct detailed combustion models for single particles. The developed models involve a comprehensive description of the surrounding flow, temperature, and chemical composition. The development of these models is an iterative process, incorporating experimental data and molecular dynamics simulations to enhance accuracy. Future steps include investigating the chemical composition within the particles in more detail.
WP2: Planar (1D) Metal Fuel Flames
The experimental work in this workpackage involves exploring metal fuel flames using a V-shaped flame burner due to the identified limitations of the initial Heat Flux Burner (HFB). Preliminary results show good flame stabilization and burning velocity measurements. Ongoing development includes optical diagnostic systems to study parameters like flame structure and particle flow during combustion. The numerical efforts concentrate on developing and validating 1D flamelet models. These models help predict flame structures and assess the impact of different iron oxides on flame temperature and behavior.
WP3: Full 3D Metal Fuel Flames
A 3D iron particle jet flame in hot co-flow was designed for studying MILD metal dust flames. Methods for measuring particle temperature history were developed and verified. These achievements will be combined to measure the flame temperature field of a 3D iron flame. The numerical aspects involve developing and validating software to analyze iron aerosol combustors. The software has been applied to various burner simulations, aiming to address discrepancies between experimental and simulation results. This will improve the understanding of radiative heat transfer effects in burning iron aerosols, aiding in the development of more accurate models for large-scale simulations.
Overall, the project delves deeply into understanding metal particle combustion and metal fuel flames, combining experimental observations with sophisticated numerical models to gain comprehensive insights into the process.
The introduction of the ICONIC concept within the MetalFuel program, leveraging the recirculation of hot flue gases, cooling, and re-mixing with fresh iron powder and air, represents a pioneering approach. Securing an ERC Proof of Concept to explore this concept further underlines the groundbreaking nature of this innovation. Besides that, the application of MD simulations to investigate the interactions between partly burnt iron particles and O2 molecules stands as a significant advancement. Collaborating with experts from Imperial College London in this field demonstrates a novel and successful step. This integration of MD simulations with a single iron particle combustion model has significantly improved agreement with experimental data, shedding light on the significance of internal iron particle structure during combustion and the previously underestimated impact of surface chemisorption on iron oxidation rates. Finally, I recognize the importance of material science and metallurgy in advancing the concept of metal energy carriers which signifies a progressive step. Collaborations with renowned institutions and the hiring of experts demonstrate a concerted effort to elevate the technology readiness level (TRL) of the MetalFuel program.