EMISSION CHARACTERISTICS OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS COMBUSTION IN A PREMIXED SWIRL BURNER

Abstract

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is widely used as a fuel in domestic and industrial heating appliances throughout the world because its combustion products are relatively clean. However, due to its direct association with people, its combustion pollutants are of great concern. To this end, a study was carried out to investigate the effects of swirl intensity and equivalence ratio on emission produced during combustion of liquefied petroleum gas under fuel-lean conditions in a premixed swirl burner. Experiments were carried out using liquefied petroleum gas whose composition is 75% butane, 25% propane and air as charge. Tests were done for vane angles between 35 and 60o in steps of 5o. Employing EGA4 gas Analyzer in measuring NOx and COx emission level, it is shown that emission levels were strongly influenced by swirl intensity and equivalence ratio that strongly decrease pollutant emissions. Between equivalence ratio of 0.65 and 0.90, NOx emission of less than 5ppm and CO emission of less than 60ppm were achieved. Result also showed that at temperature ranges between 927oC and 1012oC, NOx and CO emission generated from combustion of LPG were low.