3:30pm-4:30pm (refreshments at 3:15pm)
Bechtel Collaboratory in the Discovery Learning Center (DLC)
University of Colorado at Boulder
In previous studies, a relationship has been observed between increasing ethanol content in gasoline and increased particulate matter (PM) emissions from direct injection spark ignition engines. The fundamental cause of the PM increase seen for moderate ethanol concentrations (15-50 vol%) is not well understood. As a result, existing PM indices such as PMI may not be indicative of measured PM emissions for oxygenated biofuel blends. Ethanol features a higher heat of vaporization (HOV) than gasoline and also influences vaporization by altering the liquid and vapor composition throughout the vaporization process. A droplet vaporization model was developed to explore ethanol’s effect on the evaporation of aromatic compounds known to be PM precursors. The evolving droplet composition is modeled as a distillation process, with non-ideal interactions between oxygenates and hydrocarbons accounted for using UNIFAC group contribution theory. Detailed hydrocarbon analysis was applied to fuel samples, and used as input for the initial droplet composition. The droplet can be modeled in terms of energy transfer, which in turn provides the transient mass transfer, droplet temperature, and droplet diameter. Model predictions suggest that non-ideal vapor-liquid equilibrium along with an increase in HOV can alter the droplet composition evolution. Results predict that the presence of ethanol causes enrichment of the higher boiling fractions (T90+) in the aromatic components as well as lengthens the droplet lifetime. A simulation of the evaporation process in a transient engine cylinder environment predicts a decrease in mixing time of the heaviest fractions of the fuel prior to spark initiation, possibly explaining observations linking ethanol to PM. Preliminary data exploring the role of vaporization on soot formation in flames is also presented.
The seminar is held at the Discovery Learning Center (DLC) at the University of Colorado. Parking is free with a permit, which is provided at the seminar. The location for parking is shown in the map below.
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