Effect of Dimethyl Ether as an Additive to Liquefied Petroleum Gas Flame in SiC–Al2O3-Based Porous Inert Burner

To establish the applicability of dimethyl ether (DME-CH3OCH3) as an alternative fuel additive to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG: 48% n-C4H10, 25% i-C4H10, 23% C3H10, 4% C2H6) for enhancing combustion and reducing hazardous emissions, in this article, the flame behavior of LPG–air mixture blended with DME is studied within a highly conducting and radiating porous inert burner (PIB) under excess enthalpy combustion conditions. The experiments are performed in a two-section PIB comprising a silicon carbide (SiC) matrix and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) balls. The numerical model for solving the species continuity equation, energy balance equations for gas and solid phases, and the mass conservation equation is compared to the experimental data from the present work. New filtration velocity data are found for the stable combustion of LPG–DME–air mixtures inside the PIB. The effect of various DME volume fractions in the LPG–DME blends on temperature distribution, radical pool concentration, CO emission, reaction zone ...