Experimental and numerical study of a novel biofuel: 2-Butyltetrahydrofuran

A novel lignocellulosic biofuel 2-butyltetrahydrofuran (2-BTHF) is investigated experimentally and numerically in the present study. Laminar burning velocities were measured in a combustion vessel. Ignition delay times were experimentally determined in a rapid compression machine and in a shock tube at high pressures covering a wide temperature range. A detailed chemical kinetic mechanism is proposed to describe the oxidation of 2-BTHF at both low and high temperatures. It is demonstrated that the model gives satisfactory results for the various experimental configurations. For a better understanding of the oxidation kinetics, the chemical model is further used to elucidate the reaction pathways of 2-BTHF. A comparison of its ignition behavior with other C8 hydrocarbons is further presented and the impact of the tetrahydrofuranic ring on the fuel ignition characteristics is highlighted and analyzed.