Combustion and fuels

Teacher(s)

Papalexandris Miltiadis;

Language

English

Prerequisites

It is expected that the students have mastered the basics of thermodynamics, as covered in the courses LMECA1855 or  LPHYS1343, as well as the basics of fluid mechanics, as covered in the courses LMECA1321 or LPHY1213.

Main themes

Origins, nature, and conditioning of fuels. Mass and energy balance laws of combustion. Physical chemistry and chemical kinetics of combustion: reacting schemes and phenomenology of the modes of combustion. Fuel combustion technologies: conception and design of combustion heat transfer equipment.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	With respect to the reference  AA of the programme of studies "Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering", this course contributes to the development and acquisition of the following skills AA1.1, AA1.2, AA1.3 AA2.3, AA2.4, AA2.5 AA3.1, AA3.3 AA4.1, AA4.2, AA4.3, AA4.4 AA5.2, AA5.4, AA5.5 AA6.1, AA6.4 Specific learning outcomes of the course More specifically, by the end of the course, the student will be able i) to apply the main concepts of the thermo-chemistry of combustion to the evaluation of the quality of combustion in energy systems, including thermal engines. ii) to perform calculations of combustion equipment and associated heat-transfer devices. iii) to understand the environmental aspects of fossil fuel combustion.

Content

1.Energetic study of fuels and their use.
Origins and formation of fuels.
Conditioning and specification of fuels. Global mass and energy balance laws in combustion. Control and diagnostic techniques.
2. Thermochemistry of combustion.
Chemical kinetics of combustion. Chain-branching mechanisms. Explosivity and flammability limits, flame temperature. Chemical reaction rates. Pollutant formation. Measurement techniques.
 3. Combustion and heat transfer technologies.
 Laminar premixed flames. Introduction to turbulent flows. Turbulent premixed flames and their applications. Use of heat generated by combustion.
The balance laws of mass and of energy and the physico-chemical calculations are the objects of exercises and laboratory experiments. In these experiments emphasis is placed upon the phenomenology of combustion, control methods and diagnostics and upon operating methods.

Teaching methods

• Course lectures
• Session of exercises
• Laboratory: Operation of a domestic natural-gas boiler and analysis of its combustion efficiency.
• Lectures in the classroom with physical presence

Evaluation methods

• i) Exam. The exam consists of exercises. It is written with open books and notes
• ii) laboratory report. The laboratory is jointly performed by groups of 2 or 3 students. The members of each group are also jointly prepare the laboratory report. There is one grade per report, i.e. the students of each group receive the same grade. The participation in the lab and the preparation of the report is compulsory.
• The grade on the written exam counts for 75% of the overall grade. The grade  on the laboratory report counts for 25% of the overall grade.   Overall = 0.75 exam + 0.25 lab report.
• The grade on the lab report also counts in the August session.
• We maintain the right to ask a student for an oral exam in case of technical problems or suspicion of fraude.

Online resources

https://moodle.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=819

Bibliography

• M.V. Papalexandris, Combustion and Fuels, Presses Universitaires de Louvain, 2020. Mandatory. Available at DUC, Grand-Rue 2/14, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
• S.R. Turns, Introduction to Combustion, Mc Graw Hill, 2000. Recommended
• K.K. Kuo, Principles of Combustion, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2005. Recommended

Teaching materials

• Instructions for the laboratory and user's manual of the experimental facility (in English and French), available on the moodle site of the course.
• Laboratory project, available on the moodle site of the course.

Faculty or entity

MECA