Fuel reforming characteristics of an electrohydrodynamic atomization - Flow stabilized radical shower hybrid system

The fuel reforming characteristics of a hybrid system comprised of an electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) device and a ring type flow stabilized corona discharge radical shower (RCDRS) was experimentally investigated. The EHDA was a hollow tube electrode that was used to atomize the fuel flow through the tube. The RCDRS had 6 hollow tube electrodes with air flow through the tubes. Low dc voltage ignition-coil type power supplies were used to supply pulse high voltages to the EHDA and RCDRS electrodes, with the reactor body serving as the ground. The high voltage pulse discharge characteristics were measured using current and voltage probes, while a CCD camera was used to observe the morphology of the discharge and atomization. Experiments were conducted for EHDA maximum discharge voltages of 0 kV to -29 kV, a pulse repetition rate of 200 Hz, and a liquid fuel injection rate of 8 mL/min. For the RCDRS, the maximum discharge voltage was -25 kV, the pulse repletion rate was 200 Hz, and the injected air flow rate was 4.2 L/min per hollow electrode. Decane was used as the fuel. The gaseous by-products were measured by a combustion analyzer and FTIR and the liquid by-products were measured by GC-MS. The results showed evidence of cracking, oxidation and nitrogen reforming of the decane fuel.