Numerical Simulation of Biogas Combustion by Using a Finite Volume Based-Multispecies Transport Model

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, we advocate the use of multispecies transport model coupled to global mechanisms instead of using detailed mechanisms, which are still not yet computational affordable for the majority of the research groups in Africa. The open-source sofware openFOAM® is used as the calculation platform. The obtained algorithm is validated by comparing its simulation results to the full Gas Research Institut (GRI)-3.0 mechanism-based simulations of Charest et al. (2014, “Numerical and Experimental Study of Soot Formation in Laminar Diffusion Flames Burning Simulated Biogas Fuels at Elevated Pressures,” Combust. Flame, 161, pp. 2678–2691) with quite satisfactory agreement for methane flames diluted with CO2. The new code is then used to investigate the axial flame temperature of locally produced biogases from pig slurry and cow dung respectively named BG L1, BG L2, BG B1, and BG B2. These biogases differ from each other in their composition. Methane proportion in the mixture ranges from 46% to 52%.