Resumo

UTRIA S, Khriscia; GONZALEZ B, Freddy  e  TOLEDO T, Mario. Combustion of rich ethane-air mixtures in inert porous media. Ingeniare. Rev. chil. ing. [online]. 2013, vol.21, n.1, pp.159-166. ISSN 0718-3305.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-33052013000100014.

This research develops the theoretical and experimental analysis of ethane-air combustion in inert porous media (IPM) to evaluate hydrogen and syngas production. Temperature profiles, flame propagation rates and major combustion products such as hydrogen (H₂) and carbon monoxide (CO), through gas chromatography, are analysed at a range of equivalence ratios between 1.0 and 2.5, with two different alumina sphere diameters composing the porous media. Combustion of ethane-air mixture in IPM is simulated numerically using the PREMIX program with two reaction mechanisms, such as GRI-MECH 1.2 and GRI-MECH 3.0. GRI-MECH 3.0 numerical results predict correctly experimental results for a porous media with 3.5 mm alumina spheres along the range of equivalence ratio. The maximum generation of hydrogen H₂ and CO, are 14.3% and 18%, respectively. The conversion rate of ethane in H₂ (61.3%) and CO (81%) shows the potential of this fuel as a synthesis gas generator.

Palavras-chave : Combustion; ethane; inert porous media; reaction mechanism; numerical simulation; hydrogen.