Numerical Modeling Capabilities for the Simulation of Toxic By-Products Formation in Combustion Processes

ABSTRACT

A collaborative research program has been initiated to study the emissions of a wide variety of chemical species from stationary combustion systems. These product species have been included in Clean Air act legislation and their emissions must be rigidly controlled, but there is a need for a much better understanding of the physical and chemical mechanisms that produce and consume them. We are using numerical modeling techniques to study the chemical reactions and fluid mechanical factors that occur in industrial burners. We are examining systems including perfectly-stirred and plug-flow reactors, and diffusion flames in these modeling studies to establish the major factors leading to emissions of these chemicals.

kEYWORDS:

• Air toxics
• perfectly stirred reactor
• opposed flow laminar diffusion flame
• refinery fuel gas
• methane
• nitrous oxides

Notes

∗ Corresponding author: William J. Pitz, L-298 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore, CA 94551 phone: [phone] fax: [phone] email: pitz@llnl. gov