A common strategy to reduce the consumption of petroleum-based liquid fuels such as gasoline and diesel is to dilute the fuel with a biofuel (e.g., ethanol). This study present results of experiments using the configuration of an isolated droplet to study the combustion dynamics of an alternative biofuel additive—iso-butanol (IB)—mixed with an 87 octane gasoline and burning under conditions where gas transport is determined entirely by fuel evaporation in order to promote spherical symmetry in the burning process. This configuration is amenable to detailed numerical modeling. IB's impact on the burn rate, flame structure, and sooting dynamics are presented. Simulations are also included for a model IB blend with heptane to show IB's influence on greenhouse gas (e.g., CO2) emissions and formation of soot precursor species (e.g., acetylene). A kinetic mechanism is employed in the simulations consisting of 7400 reactions and properties that depend on concentration and temperature. Eight gasoline/IB mixtures were examined experimentally. Burning was performed under STP conditions. Droplets with initial diameters between 0.55 and 0.65 mm were fixed in position with two intersecting 14 micrometer SiC fibers and ignited by spark discharge. The burning histories were recorded by digital video cameras and quantitative data were extracted using image analysis software. The presence of IB is experimentally found to reduce the formation of particulate matter while burning was slowed as the IB concentration was increased. Experimental results are also compared gasoline/IB mixtures to a pump E10 (Octane 87 gasoline) for an IB concentration with equivalent oxygen content. The implications of IB addition to gasoline on combustion are discussed. Simulations of the model system show increasing CO2 production but reduced acetylene formation which illustrate the trade-offs of adding IB to gasoline.

Combustion dynamics of iso-butanol blended with gasoline

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

[Author Benefits](https://scimeetings.acs.org/?utm_source=pubs_content_marketing&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=0320_MCF_NPI_Launch_Spring_Homepage&ref=pubs_content_marketing)

[How to use SciMeetings](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMeetings-ACSSpring2020-HowToGuide_M3020-Final.pdf)

[Frequently Asked Questions](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMtng_ACSNMSp2020_FAQ_M3120_Final.pdf)

ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.