An Evalution of Emissions from Laminar,Underventilated Hydrocarbon Diffusion Flames

Condensed phase and gas phase combustion emmisions were monitored from an enclosed, axi-symmetric natural gas/toluene flame with gas chromagraphy/mass spectrometry, on-line mass spectrometry,and tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy. The system was operated at global equivalence ratios (GER) from fuel-lean to fuel-rich. Toluene concentrations were monitored with the mass spectrometer,and used for determination of destruction and removal effiency (DRE) as a function of GER. The condensed phase data indicated that increases in the emissions of toxic compounds,such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons,coincided with decreases in DRE.Products of incomplete combustion,carbon monoxide,methane,and acetylene was measured with tunnable diode laser absorption spectroscopy and nthe results indicate that acetylene was a sensitive surrogate for both DRE and tixic emissions from the combustor.