Course code: wb4405

Course name: Fuel Conversion

This concerns a Course

ECTS credit points: 3

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology

Section of Thermal Power Engineering

Lecturer(s): Jong, dr. ir. W. de

Tel.:  015 - 27 89476

Catalog data:

Combustion, gasification, coal, oil, gases, alternative solid fuels, reserves, combustion calculations, flame stability, ignition aspects, flame front, flameless combustion, large scale boilers, emission control, advanced gas-solid separation techniques, measurement techniques, modeling aspects of basic thermochemical reactors.

Course year:

MSc 1^st year

Course language:

English

In case of Dutch: Please contact the lecturer about an English alternative, whenever needed.

Semester:

1A

Hours per week:

4

Other hours:

0

Assessment:

Written exam

Assessment period:

1A / August

(see academic calendar)

Prerequisites (course codes):

wb1220, wb1321

Follow up (course codes):

wb4422

Detailed description of topics:

Fossil fuels are still the most important energy sources for heat and power generation and this situation will remain so for the next decades. The fundamentals of (large) flames, applied in energy conversion systems, are dealt with in this lecture series. Mixing in free and enclosed turbulent jet flames due to eddy diffusivity and molecular diffusion together with form the basis for industrial flames. The combustion rate of different fuels and ignition mechanisms are dealt with. Here, the flame stabilisation mechanism plays an important role, being bluff body or flame rotation stabilisation or a combination. Also, the fuel preparation mode is important. Coals have to be milled and liquid fuels must be atomised. Preheating of fuel and air are significant aspects of thermochemical fuel conversion processes. Some fuel characteristics, such as the volatile content in coals determine the reaction behaviour. The environmentally harmful emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) depends on process temperatures, pressure, fuel composition and the mixing characteristics of air and fuel. This topic is dealt with in the important subject "emission control". Several different boiler types are applied in industry and power production. The main types are briefly discussed including operational aspects in this lecture series. Alternative fuels and processes for a sustainable future power and heat generation are dealt with in the topic "biomass for energy production". The emission constraints for these special fuels are treated here. Basic and advanced measurement techniques applied in e.g. furnaces, boilers and stacks are addressed as a separate topic as well. Finally, modelling of basic reactors, which are applied in heat and power producing systems, is discussed.

Course material:

• An Introduction to Combustion - concepts and applications, second edition Stephen R. Turns, McGraw-Hill International editions, ISBN 0-07-235044-X (book bound with disk)
• Handouts (available on blackboard)

References from literature:

• Coal : typology, physics, chemistry, constitution / by D. W. van Krevelen. - 3., completely rev. ed.. - Amsterdam : Elsevier, 1993. - XXI, 979 S. : Ill., graph. Darst.; (engl.) ISBN 0-444-89586-8

Remarks assessment, entry requirements, etc.:

Sign up for the course via blackboard

Learning goals:

Gaining knowledge of fundamentals with respect to thermochemical energy conversion processes, like combustion and gasification

Computer use:

some exercises

Laboratory project(s):

-

Design content:

Consruction aspects of burners/reactors for different fuels with application in furnaces and boilers.

Percentage of design:  25%