Does Butanol = Gasoline?
This surprising question originates from experiments which show that under certain conditions the answer is a qualified "yes". Yet, these two fuels are ostensibly very different: most prominently, gasoline produces a lot of particulate matter (or soot) as it burns, while butanol (a biofuel) does not produce soot under standard atmospheric pressure conditions. Still, some aspects of their combustion performance show a remarkable similarity. This project will examine the performance of a range of biofuels from the perspective of droplet combustion to determine the extent to which they may replicate the performance of a real fuel.
The research will include using unique facilities aboard the orbiting International Space Station (ISS), and at Cornell, that create conditions whereby droplets can burn without the influence of convection to promote spherical symmetry which is an ideal configuration to model. The photos below show representative images of the droplet burning process.
The project is open to undergraduate and M.Eng students with interests in carrying out experimentally-based research.
Recent related publication:
Y.C. Liu, A.J. Savas, C.T. Avedisian, "The Spherically Symmetric Droplet Burning Characteristics of Jet-A and Biofuels Derived from Camelina and Tallow," Fuel, 108, 824-832 (2013).
For more information please contact Prof. C.T. Avedisian
cta2@cornell.edu mailto:cta2@cornell.edu
607-155-5105