Experimental and numerical simulation study of oxycombustion of fast pyrolysis bio-oil from lignocellulosic biomass

- Bio-oil is produced through the fast pyrolysis of biomass.
- Increasing the bio-oil proportion, O2 concentration, and Vo shortened the flame.
- Volatile substances in the bio-oil were vaporized for combustion earlier.

Experimental measurements and numerical simulations were conducted to examine the effects of varying O2 concentrations, oxidant velocity (Vo) levels, and bio-oil proportions on the combustion characteristics of the bio-oil/kerosene mixtures. The results indicated that when the O2 concentration was 30% and the liquid fuel flow rate in the spray combustor was fixed, the flame associated with the spray combustion of pure kerosene decreased in length and increased in luminosity as Vo increased; moreover, the flame temperature increased. When Vo = 5.53 m/s, this phenomenon was more visible when the bio-oil was added to the kerosene. When the bio-oil proportion was 15% and Vo = 3.87 m/s, the flame luminosity increased; however, the flame luminosity decreased when Vo exceeded 3.87 m/s. When the O2 concentration reached 40%, the length, luminosity, and temperature of the flame increased; nevertheless, when Vo = 5.53 m/s, the flame temperature decreased. The effect of the bio-oil proportion was not apparent. Because the bio-oil contained more volatile substances and O2 than did the kerosene, the combustion efficiency of the bio-oil-fossil fuel mixtures varied according to the bio-oil proportion and O2 concentration.