MIE of Liquid Mists

Cp a = specific heat of air at constant pressure AT jj = temperature rise for stoichiometric combustion D = surface average particle diameter Pa = air density Pf = fuel density p = equivalence ratio B = mass transfer number 

The mass transfer number B represents the ratio of the energy available for vaporization to the energy required for vaporization, and may be thought of as a driving force for mass transfer. It can be expressed as 

The stoichiometric flame temperature ( Tg ) is used to characterize the burning gas surrounding the droplets because combustion naturally predominates at a distance where the fastest burning mixture is produced. This mixture approximates to the stoichiometric composition. The selection of the droplet surface temperature BP is discussed below. The enthalpy change for vaporization AH is given by 

The dimensionless parameter B increases with volatility and typically lies between 1.2 and about 8 as shown in the following table [64]  

Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuei Mass Transfer Number B 

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Fuels such as diesel and kerosene readily absorb hydrocarbon vapors, the total uptake and absorption rate depending on both chemical and physical factors. If a soluble test gas is introduced above a charged test oil the concentration of flammable test gas therefore decreases with time. Liquid mist and spray produced by charged liquid increase the absorption rate relative to a quiescent liquid surface. As discussed in A-5-4, absorption could lead to an underestimation of test gas MIE near the liquid surface unless the rate of test gas introduction is sufficiently high to offset the rate of removal. Table 3-8.1.2 shows solubilities of a selection of gases in a mineral-based transformer oil at ambient temperature and pressure [200]. 

When a liquid is dispersed into droplets the surface area is increased, which enhances the rates of heat and mass transfer. For a particular liquid dispersed at constant concentration in air the MIE varies with approximately the cube of surface average droplet diameter, hence the MIE decreases by a factor of about 8 when the surface average diameter D is halved (A-5-1.4.4). Ease of ignition is greatly enhanced for finely divided mists with D less than about 20 /rm, whose MIE approaches that of the vapor. Below 10 /rm a high flash point liquid mist (tetrahydronaphthalene) was found to behave like vapor while above about 40/rm the droplets tended to burn individually [ 142]. Since liquid mists must partially evaporate and mix with air before they ignite, the ease with which a liquid evaporates also affects MIE (Eigure 5-1.4.4). 

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