Droplet Combustion Behaviors of Liquid Fuel Doped With Carbon Dots

A. S. M. Sazzad Parveg; Albert Ratner

doi:10.1115/IMECE2024-145698

Abstract Nanofuels, incorporating sub-micron particles to enhance combustion and reduce emissions, hold promise in various industries. While metal-nanoparticle-based nanofuels offer benefits, concerns over environmental and health impacts drive exploration of safer alternatives such as carbon nanoparticles. Carbon dots (CDs), with their nanoscale dimensions and biocompatibility, emerge as potential candidates for improving combustion efficiency, particularly in liquid fuels. This study investigates the combustion characteristics of liquid fuel doped with gel-like carbon dots (G-CDs) at the droplet scale to understand their impact on combustion behavior. n-Dodecane is chosen as the representative liquid fuel due to its resemblance to real-life multicomponent fuels, allowing for the isolation of the impact of multicomponent fuels and accurate assessment of G-CDs’ role. Sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) is selected as the surfactant for effectively dispersing G-CDs into the liquid phase. Nanofuels with G-CDs concentrations ranging from 0.01% to 1.00% are prepared for droplet combustion experiments. Additionally, droplet combustion dynamics of Dodecane with surfactants at concentrations of 0.05%, 0.50%, and 2.50% w/w are examined to understand surfactant effects on combustion. Experimental setups utilize suspended isolated single droplets for detailed examination under normal gravity and standard atmospheric conditions (∼25°C, 1 atm). Key droplet combustion characteristics analyzed include combustion rate, pre-ignition time, and droplet dynamics. Findings reveal that surfactant concentrations up to 0.50% w/w minimally affect base fuel combustion dynamics. At higher concentrations (2.50% w/w), pre-ignition time increases by approximately 9.00%, indicating a threshold for surfactant influence. G-CDs show significant enhancements in combustion dynamics at concentrations ≤ 0.10% w/w, with combustion rate augmentations ranging from 4.00% to 16.00%, and improvements in pre-ignition time ranging from 7.00% to 10.00%. The highest enhancement in combustion rate, observed at 0.10% w/w G-CDs concentration, reaches 16.46%, while a decrease of about 5.63% is noted at 1.00% w/w G-CDs concentration. Pre-ignition time experiences its highest decrease of approximately 10.19% at 0.10% w/w G-CDs concentration, contrasting with a 9.63% increase at 1.00% w/w G-CDs concentration. These findings suggest concentration-dependent effects of G-CDs on liquid fuel combustion behavior. In conclusion, this study provides insights into the combustion dynamics of liquid fuels doped with G-CDs, highlighting their potential as additives for enhancing combustion efficiency and reducing emissions in liquid fuel systems.

Droplet Combustion Behaviors of Liquid Fuel Doped With Carbon Dots

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