Flash Boiling Combustion Performance of Ethanol Fuel in Controlled Reaction Environment

\nThe utilization of alternative fuels such as alcohols and ethers has received substantial attention for the purpose of carbon neutralization and replacing traditional fossil fuels. However, the combustion of pure alternative fuels, for instance, pure ethanol, is relatively more challenging due to its lower volatility and heat released. This research aims to study the combustion of pure ethanol fuel (E100) in a constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC) with optical access. Flash boiling atomization via elevating the fuel temperature is adopted to improve fuel atomization and consequential combustions. Various diagnostics methods, such as high-speed color imaging, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) techniques are used to investigate the combustion characteristics of the sub-cooled and flash boiling combustion. It is shown that flash boiling combustion can effectively suppress the formation of soot aggregates by both eliminating pool fires and reducing the occurrence of rich pockets during premixed combustions.\n