Fuel 119 (2014) 5761

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Fuel
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/fuel

Short communication

Effect of aluminum nanoparticles on combustion characteristics

and pollutants emission of liquid fuels A numerical study
Mina Mehregan , Mohammad Moghiman
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

a r t i c l e

i n f o

Article history:
Received 25 June 2013
Received in revised form 6 November 2013
Accepted 7 November 2013
Available online 22 November 2013
Keywords:
Combustion
Flame temperature
Nanouid
Nanoparticles
Pollutant emission

a b s t r a c t
The combustion characteristics and pollutants emission of ethanol and n-decane liquid fuels with the
addition of aluminum nanoparticles have been numerically investigated. The results reveal that Al nanoparticles lead to a reduction of ame temperature of ethanol and decane fuels. Also the temperature peak
location will be shifted toward downstream. In addition, mass fraction of pollutants CO and NOx will be
decreased by adding nano-aluminum to these fuels. These ndings conrm that aluminum nanoparticles
improve combustion features of ethanol and decane fuels.
2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Nanouids, solutions containing a stable suspension of nanoparticles (e.g., metals, oxides, carbides, nitrides, or carbon nanotubes) with typical lengths of 1100 nm, have attracted great
interest recently [17]. Because of their enhanced thermal conductivity, nanouids can be used in energy-related systems. Murshed
et al. [8] provided a comprehensive review of nanouids applications in transportation, micromechanics and instrumentation,
heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) and medical
elds.
Because of high surface area, nanoscale energetic materials offer
high reactivity, shortened ignition delays and fast energy release
[9]. According to Jackson et al. [10], addition of aluminum nanoparticles could substantially decrease the ignition delay time of slurries of n-dodecane. Tyagi et al. [11] by using a simple hot-plate
experiment, found that nano-aluminum signicantly enhance the
ignition probability of diesel fuel. Beloni et al. [12] studied effects
of pure aluminum, mechanically alloyed Al0.7Li0.3 and nanocomposite 2B + Ti as nano additives on ame length, ame speed and
ame temperature of decane-based slurries. Comparing the burning characteristics of fuel droplets with nano- and micron-sized
aluminum particles, Gan and Qiao [13] showed that for the same
solid loading rate and the same surfactant concentration, the microexplosion behavior of the micron suspension occurred later than
Corresponding author. Tel.: +98 5118805091; fax: +98 5118763304.
E-mail address: mi_me200@stu-mail.um.ac.ir (M. Mehregan).
0016-2361/$ - see front matter 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2013.11.016

the nanosuspension with much stronger intensity. Solero [14] results revealed that addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles to diesel fuel
can improve the combustion features of the spray ame and giving
rise to lower CO emission levels.
These previous studies have revealed some ignition characteristics of fuels with the addition of nanoparticles. However the effect
of nanoparticles on combustion characteristics and pollutants
emission of fuels has been rarely investigated. The objective of this
paper is to numerically determine the combustion features of
ethanol and n-decane liquid fuels with the addition of Al
nanoparticles.
2. Description of physical model
The ow conguration investigated in this paper is based on a
non-premixed swirl-burner. Liquid fuel droplets are injected from
the center of a combustion chamber while hot air stream ows
around them. The ow has been considered to be two-dimensional
and axi-symmetric. Air ow temperature is higher than boilingpoint temperature of liquid fuel which causes quick evaporation
of droplets. The Re number is around 100, the swirl number is
set to 0.25 and air inlet axial velocity is 6 m/s. In Fig. 1, the computational domain and the employed boundary conditions are shown
together. In order to check grid independency of the results, three
grid meshes were tested. Fig. 2 presents the temporal evolution of
droplet mass obtained by employing these grid meshes. From this
gure, it is reasonable to select 100  36 grid nodes as a good compromise between accuracy and computational time.

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M. Mehregan, M. Moghiman / Fuel 119 (2014) 5761

Nomenclature
Cp
D
M
S
t
ui

constant-pressure specic heat (J/kg K)

droplet diameter (m)
molecular weight (g)
source term
time (s)
velocity component (m/s)

density (kg/m3)

Subscripts
nf
nanouid
0
initial
s
nanoparticle

Greek symbols
C
effective diffusion coefcient
/
nanoparticles volume fraction
U
diffusion parameter

Abbreviations
wt
weight ratio

3. Mathematical model
The governing equations for the gas phase are ReynoldsAveraged NavierStokes, energy and species concentration.
Turbulence stresses in gas phase equations are modeled by k-e
method, so two transport equations are also required for turbulent
kinetic energy and eddy dissipation rate. The set of governing
equations can be conveniently written in a general transport
equation form as follows [15]:

@
qU div qui U div fCU gradUg SU
@t

This generalized transport equation contains transient, convection, diffusion and source terms, respectively where the general
variable U may represent the mean value of any unknown variable
in the aforementioned governing equations. The parameters CU
and SU represent an effective diffusion coefcient of this general
variable and the source term respectively. It has to be noted that
in the near-wall region, a wall-function approach is used to bridge
the viscous sublayer. The gas phase governing equations are solved
using SPRINT code [16] which has been validated before against
experimental data.
The time-dependent Lagrangian momentum equations for liquid phase are solved numerically to determine velocity and position of droplets [17,18]. The mass conservation equation for liquid
phase is obtained using correction factor introduced by Nicos and
Dean [19]. Also by using the correlation reported by Faeth [20]
the heat transfer equation is obtained. ClausiusClapeyron equation of state [21] is employed to predict phase behaviors of system.
The effect of nanoparticles on liquid phase equations is modeled
by revising the thermo-physical properties according to following
equations [22,23] for density, molar mass and heat capacity.

qnf 1  /q /qs

M nf 1  /M /M s

qC p nf 1  /qC p /qs C q;s

where properties with subscript s are for nanoparticles while

without subscripts are for baseuid. The variable / in above equations represents nanoparticles volume fraction.
Inuence of Al nanoparticles on understudied fuels heat of
vaporization is obtained using published experimental data of
Gan and Qiao [24]. From their results, the difference between the
evaporation rate of nanouid and its base uid could be obtained
and then by employing the well known D2-law, nanouid enthalpy
of vaporization can be calculated.
For mathematical modeling of combustion phenomenon, twostep Magnussen model has been used and hence for each chemical
species, one transport equation must be solved. In addition, Zeldovich model has been employed to model thermal NOx emission in
the system.

Fig. 2. Temporal evolution of droplet mass for three computational grid meshes.

Fig. 1. Computational domain and employed boundary conditions.

M. Mehregan, M. Moghiman / Fuel 119 (2014) 5761

Fig. 3. Droplet size history of ethanol-based fuel.

4. Model validation
In this section the numerical model is validated against reported experimental data of Gan and Qiao [24].
The temporal evolution of non-dimensionalised droplet square
diameter for ethanol-based fuel obtained from this numerical
study is compared with experimental results in Fig. 3. From this
gure, it can be observed that present predictions are in good
agreement with the experimental data.
Fig. 4 presents comparison between the temporal evolution of
non-dimensionalised droplet square diameter of decane-based fuel
obtained from this study and experimental results. This gure reveals that present ndings are in accord with the experimental
data. It has to be noted that there was no available data for pure
decane in reported data of Gan and Qiao [24].
5. Results and discussion
5.1. Effect of Al nanopaticles on ethanol combustion features
5.1.1. Effect of Al nanopaticles on ethanol ame temperature
Fig. 5 demonstrates comparison between temperature distribution of ethanol and ethanol containing 2.5% wt Al along central axis

Fig. 4. Droplet size history of decane-based fuel.

59

Fig. 5. Centerline distribution of temperature along the combustor for ethanol in

contrast with ethanol + 2.5% Al.

of combustion chamber. It can be observed that aluminum nanoparticles decrease ethanol ame temperature and also shift the
maximum temperature location slightly toward downstream.
Referring to aluminum application history as an additive to propellants [9,13,25], we know that Al is a combustible material and after
droplets evaporation it burns within the chamber. In addition, we
know that Al ame helps to improve radiation [26]. Hence temperature reduction because of aluminum nanoparticles addition to
ethanol is expected. As well as, from Fig. 3 it can be seen that
nano-aluminum results in reduction of droplets evaporation rate.
Therefore, the ame zone and accordingly the temperature peak
location are shifted awhile toward downstream.
5.1.2. Effect of Al nanopaticles on pollutants emission in ethanol
combustion
In Fig. 6 percent reduction of pollutant CO emission due to 2.5%
Al presence in ethanol is illustrated. According to the literature,
aluminum nanoparticles lead to more complete combustion
[9,13]. Therefore the reduction of CO emission in ethanol combustion because of nano-aluminum is predictable.
Fig. 7 demonstrates percentage decrease of NOx emission
because of adding 2.5% Al to ethanol. According to Hanson and

Fig. 6. Centerline distribution of CO percentage decrease along the combustor

because of 2.5% Al addition to ethanol.

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M. Mehregan, M. Moghiman / Fuel 119 (2014) 5761

Fig. 7. Centerline distribution of NOx percentage decrease along the combustor

because of 2.5% Al addition to ethanol.

Fig. 9. Centerline distribution of CO percentage decrease along the combustor

because of 2.5% Al addition to decane.

Salimian empirical relations for Zeldovich model [27], NOx formation rate is primarily a function of mean temperature. Therefore
referring to previous section result, reduction of NOx emission because of Al nanoparticles addition is expected.
5.2. Effect of Al nanopaticles on n-decane combustion features
5.2.1. Effect of Al nanopaticles on n-decane ame temperature
In Fig. 8, temperature distribution along central axis of combustion chamber for decane is illustrated compared to decane + 2.5% wt Al. From this gure, adding nano-Al reduces decane
ame temperature and also shifts the maximum temperature location slightly toward downstream. As explained in Section 5.1.1, the
reduction of ame temperature due to aluminum presence in decane is predictable. In addition, referring to Fig. 4 aluminum nanoparticles lead to reduction of droplets vaporization rate. Hence,
the ame zone and accordingly the temperature peak location
are shifted a while toward downstream.
5.2.2. Effect of Al nanopaticles on pollutants emission in n-decane
combustion
Fig. 9 demonstrates percentage decrease of pollutant CO
emission because of adding 2.5% Al to decane. Since aluminum

Fig. 10. Centerline distribution of NOx percentage decrease along the combustor
because of 2.5% Al addition to decane.

nanoparticles result in more complete combustion [9,13], the

reduction of CO emission of decane is expected.
Fig. 10 presents percent reduction of NOx emission due to 2.5%
Al presence in decane. Referring to previous section result and also
due to the fact that in present study mean temperature has an
important effect on NOx formation [27], a reduction of NOx emission in decane combustion is predictable.
6. Conclusion

Fig. 8. Centerline distribution of temperature along the combustor for decane in

contrast with decane + 2.5% Al.

The combustion characteristics and pollutants emission of ethanol and n-decane liquid fuels with the addition of aluminum
nanoparticles were numerically investigated. The results reveal
that aluminum nanoparticles reduce understudied fuels ame
temperature when comparing with their base uids. As well as
the maximum temperature location is shifted slightly toward
downstream. In addition the presence of aluminum nanoparticles
in the decane and ethanol fuels contributes to lower CO and NOx
emission with respect to the pure fuels ame, conrming improvement of combustion features due to nanoparticles addition.

M. Mehregan, M. Moghiman / Fuel 119 (2014) 5761

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