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Melissa L. Holtmeyer, Richard L. Axelbaum
Washington University in St. Louis
Richard L. Axelbaum
Abstract
Gaseous flame studies of non-premixed diffusion flames in one-g and micro-g conditions provide insight and motivation for application of findings to coal combustion. Fuel dilution and oxygen enhancement techniques were applied to diffusion flames resulting in stronger flames more resistant to extinction. Fuel dilution through exhaust gas recirculation simulation and oxygen enhancement are applied to coal combustion. Air-fired cases were compared to 30 vol.% O2/70 vol.% CO2 oxy-coal combustion cases experimentally and numerically. The effects of oxy-coal combustion on NO emissions were observed experimentally. A 20% reduction in NO emissions was seen and compares well with available literature. Numerical models show that the oxy-coal condition is a more stable flame when comparing temperature and volatile concentration profiles. CO2 exhaust gas concentration of 85 vol.% was observed with the oxy-coal case, compared to 17 vol.% for the air-fired case. This result is important for efficient and cost effective carbon capture and sequestration techniques.
Melissa Holtmeyer is from Washington, MO. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis under the direction of Dr. Richard Axelbaum. She completed her Master of Science with a specialization in Fluid Thermal Science and Bachelor of Science, both in Mechanical Engineering, also at Washington University in St. Louis. Her current research interests include computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling of coal systems, including oxy-coal and biomass co-firing scenarios. As well as studying abroad in China, to research renewable energy distributed power generation. She has been honored at the 2008 Central States Combustion Institute Meeting as the Outstanding Student Presenter. She aspires to do energy-related research at either a national lab or in academia.
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