Oxy-Fuel Combustion: Laboratory and Pilot Scale Experiments

Prof. Steven F. Son,

Purdue University

Abstract:

With the public focused on environment-friendly abundant energy sources, cleaner coal power generation is thought by some to hold much promise.  Oxy-fuel combustion produces a more concentrated carbon dioxide product stream that could be more easily sequestered.  Research currently being done at Purdue University focuses on coal combustion and its various heat transfer properties, especially radiative properties.  Spectral intensity measurements and inferred temperature profile are being obtained in a laboratory setting as well as on an industrial pilot scale boiler.  The industrial experiments utilize a boiler retrofitted for oxy-fuel which operates at a temperature of over 3000 degrees Kelvin.  Due to such high temperatures, temperature profiles of the flame are inferred by a process called inverse radiation interpretation.  Laboratory-scale studies are also being performed to characterize the radiative properties and flame speed while varying the coal type, particle size and oxygen content.   Two different laboratory experiments allow examination of oxy-coal combustion.  A two-phase Bunsen burner, as well as in a dust cloud configuration is considered.  We will report here laminar flame speeds, spectroscopic measurements and inferred temperature profiles in different flame configurations and conditions.   We contrast the results from laboratory and pilot scale experiments.  A brief overview of other coal research at Purdue will also be presented.

Biosketch:

Steve Son, professor of mechanical engineering, arrived at Purdue University in the fall of 2006. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Upon graduating he accepted the J. Robert Oppenheimer Fellowship at Los Alamos. Prior to Purdue University he was a Project Leader and Technical Staff Member at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico leading a world-recognized research effort.

His research is primarily in the field of combustion with an emphasis on energetic materials, nanoenergetics, microenergetics, heterogeneous combustion, reactive materials, combustion synthesis, advanced propellants, explosive blast loading, and explosives safety. His work includes experimental and theoretical studies. He is currently an associate editor of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Journal of Propulsion and Power.

Son’s research activities are primarily focused on multiphase combustion phenomenon, however using unique facilities available at Purdue’s Zucrow Laboratories Son’s research group has also begun small scale explosive blast loading studies to understand and mitigate blast injury.

Most importantly, I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with great mentors, collaborators, and students.