The Effect of Alcohol Compounds on Droplet Combustion Characteristics of Unsaturated Fatty Acid of Linoleic Acid

Abstract

Alcohol compounds have become a popular choice as additives for improving the performance of biodiesel. However, given the complexity of biodiesel, which is composed of various components of vegetable oil, it requires intensive research to fully understand its behavior. This study aims to investigate the impact of alcohol compounds on the droplet combustion characteristics of linoleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid. Four alcohol compounds, namely methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol, were utilized to evaluate their effects on the combustion properties of the fuel mixtures. The droplet combustion characteristics were observed under normal atmospheric pressure and temperature conditions, with the fuel mixture consisting of 80 % linoleic acid and 20 % alcohol compounds. Our findings indicate that the addition of alcohol compounds to linoleic acid significantly reduced the ignition delay time, although the droplet lifetime was slightly increased. Moreover, it was observed that alcohols with shorter carbon chains had a greater impact on reducing the ignition delay time. Additionally, the results demonstrated that the alcohol compounds could accelerate the rate of increasing combustion temperature, reduce soot formation, and shorten the duration of soot formation. Furthermore, it was found that alcohol with a short carbon chain had a more pronounced effect on the overall combustion characteristics of linoleic acid. Overall, our study sheds light on the effects of alcohol compounds on the droplet combustion characteristics of linoleic acid, providing valuable insights for the optimization of biodiesel performance. HIGHLIGHTS Alcohol has a significant impact on the properties of unsaturated fatty acids, specifically on factors such as ignition delay time, droplet lifetime, temperature, flame dimension, and soot production The addition of alcohol as an additive, results in a reduction in soot generation and a shorter duration of soot formation The length of the carbon chain in the alcohol additive plays a crucial role in the combustion properties of linoleic acid. Alcohols with shorter carbon chains have a greater impact on the overall combustion properties GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT