Flame Characteristics of Methyl Decanoate/Air Premixed Flames Added with Ammonia

A numerical study is conducted at atmospheric pressure to understand the effect of the addition of ammonia to premixed flames of methyl decanoate as a biofuel surrogate. A detailed chemical reaction mechanism applicable to the methyl decanoate/ammonia/air premixed flame is proposed and verified by comparison with the experimental results (flame speed and concentration distribution of major species) by other researchers. In the equivalence ratio range of 0.7 – 1.5, increasing the ammonia addition rate reduces the flame speed and maximum flame temperature. In particular, when the ammonia addition ratio exceeds 50%, the flame speed and maximum flame temperature decrease rapidly; this is related to the C/H ratio of the mixed fuel. Reducing the C/H ratio of the fuel lowers the concentration of carbon-containing products while increasing the concentration of H2O, a hydrogen-containing product. The NO emission index appears lower in rich conditions than in lean conditions based on an equivalence ratio of 1. © 2024 The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers.