Behavior of Flame Propagation in Biogas Spark Ignited Premix Combustion with Carbon Dioxide Inhibitor

Abstract

Biogas is a mixture of gases which commonly consists of methane (up to 50%) and other inhibitor gases which are dominated by carbon dioxide (up to 50%). Biogas is produced naturally by the decomposition of organic materials such as vegetation or animal manure in the absence of oxygen and it also contributes less greenhouse gases which may lead to global warming or climate change. The presence of carbon dioxide (CO2) in biogas is presumed to have some effects on biogas flame propagation characteristics. This study focuses on the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) as the biggest inhibitor composition in biogas on flame propagation speed as the important flame propagation characteristic in spark ignited premix combustion. Propagating flames are employed to measure the flame propagation speed as a function of the mixture composition. This parameter was measured using a transparent tube fuel chamber with dimensions of 60 mm inner diameter and 300 mm height based on DIN 51649 standards and recorded by high speed digital photographic technique. The characteristic of biogas-oxygen flames were studied at stoichiometric, room temperature and atmospheric condition from 0% to 50% CO2 biogas inhibitor composition increased by 10% for each experiment. The results showed that the carbon dioxide decreases flame propagation speed of biogas. These indicated that carbon dioxide reduced reaction rate of biogas premixed combustion.