Identifier

etd-07032013-013835

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Improving the combustion efficiency of fuels in combustion devices has become imperative in the face of the diminishing rate of the discovery of new energy sources and an ever increasing demand for energy. While there are other ways of improving combustion efficiency, this study investigated the effect of electric field on the combustion of fuel droplets. In order to model the physics of the problem, a mass transfer evaporation model, heat transfer evaporation model and a simple burning droplet model were considered and their result compared to existing result from literature. A burning rate constant of 1.380mm2/s, 14.910mm2/s and 0.612mm2/s was observed for these models respectively compared to 0.597mm2/s, in literature. With the application of an electric field of 4.5kV/cm, it was found theoretically that there was an increment in the burning rate constant from 0.612mm2/s to 0.724mm2/s i.e. an 18.3% increment in the burning rate constant. However, the new burning rate constant reported was a deviation from published experimental result. Varying ambient conditions, assumption of a constant droplet surface temperature are some factors that may have contributed to this disparity. The effect of different electrode configuration on the combustion of fuel was also investigated. Different electrode configurations were modeled and their electric field simulated. Plane, convergent, divergent, cylindrical, elliptical and spherical electrode configurations were studied. The resulting ionic wind for the various configurations at a given electric potential was obtained. The elliptical configuration showed the strongest electric field for a given electric potential. However this did not translate directly into the largest ionic wind velocity magnitude, showing that the ionic wind velocity is not only dependent on the electric field strength but also on the aerodynamic (geometrical) configuration of the electrodes.

Date

2013

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Secure the entire work for patent and/or proprietary purposes for a period of one year. Student has submitted appropriate documentation which states: During this period the copyright owner also agrees not to exercise her/his ownership rights, including public use in works, without prior authorization from LSU. At the end of the one year period, either we or LSU may request an automatic extension for one additional year. At the end of the one year secure period (or its extension, if such is requested), the work will be released for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Charalampopoulos, Tryfon

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.2443

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