Mechanism of La2O3 as combustion improver in blast furnace coal injection

La2O3 is a combustion improver suitable for burning pulverized coal in blast furnace. La2O3 forms the active species La3＋（CO-）3 that weakens the bridge adhesion of carbon structural units and alters the lattice structures, thus reducing the activation energy of the pulverized coal and accelerating the burning process. Research shows that La2O3 can form the active species La3＋（CO-）3, which weakens the bridge adhesion of carbon structural units and alters the lattice structures of the fixed carbon, hence decreasing the activation energy of the pulverized coal and accelerating the burning process.

Design and Performance of an Improved Trapped Vortex Combustor

A trapped vortex combustor （TVC） has been a very promising novel concept for it offers improvements in lean blow out, altitude relight, operating range, as well as a potential to decrease NOx emissions compared to conventional combustors. The present paper discusses the improved designs of the new combustor over the prior ones of our research group, including that：a） the over-all dimensions, both axial and radial, are reduced to those of an actual aero-engine combustor; b） the air flow distribution is optimized, and especially 15% of the air is fed into the liner as cooling air; c） a straight-wall diffuser with divergence angle 9°is added. A series of experiments （cavity-fueled only, under atmospheric pressure） has been conducted to investigate the performance of the improved TVC. Experimental results show that at the inlet temperature of 523 K, the inlet pressure of 0.1 MPa, stable operation of the TVC test rig is observed for the Mach number 0.15-0.34, indicating good flame stability; the combustion efficiency obtained in this paper falls into the range of 60%-96%; as the total excess air ratio increases, the combustion efficiency decreases, while the increase of the inlet temperature is beneficial to high combustion efficiency; besides, the optimal Mach numbers for high combustion efficiency under different inlet conditions are confirmed. The outlet temperature profiles feature a bottom in the midheight of the exit. This paper demonstrates the feasibility for the TVC to be applied to a realistic aero-engine preliminarily and provides reference for TVC design.

The viability of using gasoline-integrated biodiesel-diesel mixtures in engines as a solution to greenhouse gas emissions:a review

The implementation of alternative fuels,such as biodiesel,in engines has been shown to be a feasible strategy to control greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions.The blending of biodiesel with diesel can reduce emissions of carbon monoxide(CO)and carbon dioxide and reduce soot formation.Nonetheless,biodiesel combustion comes with low thermal efficiency,elevated emissions of nitrogen oxides(NOx)and carbon deposition issues.Recently,the addition of gasoline to diesel-biodiesel blends has been proposed to compensate for the downsides of biodiesel combustion.In the current review,the viability of using this ternary fuel blend in engines is thoroughly reviewed.The review first assesses the environmental and health issues caused by conventional fuels,mitigation schemes to control GHG emissions and alternative fuels as a decarbonizing technology.The combustion and emissions characteristics of diesel-bio-diesel-gasoline mixtures are discussed in detail.Finally,the status,challenges and prospects of applying the alternative fuel mixture in engines are appraised.This work has revealed that the mixing of gasoline with diesel-biodiesel blends brings about elongated ignition delay,increased heat release rate and in-cylinder pressure at high loads.Additionally,by adding gasoline,the combustion duration is shortened and soot,CO and unburned hydrocarbon emissions are suppressed,while NOx emissions are slightly increased.Combustion stability is found to be partially disrupted in the presence of gasoline whereas fuel economy(at medium and high loads)is improved by the addition of gasoline.To support the wider deployment and commercialization of this fuelling strategy in the transportation sector,favourable legislation and/or fiscal incentives are needed in countries around the world.This would encourage researchers,fuel producers and engine manufacturers alike to solve challenges such as biodiesel feedstock costs,fuel quality,fuel storage management and engine warranty issues.