EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF ATOMIZATION CHARACTERISTICS ONTHE COMBUSTION OF HEAVY OIL

The influence of the atomization characteristics on the combustion of heavy oil is investigated. Combustion tests are conducted in an experi mental furnace with a thermal input of 0.33 MW. The characteristics of the spray produced by a simplex pressure-swirl nozzle are known in de tail from a previous investigation in an atomization rig. Two cases ar e selected and tested under combusting conditions, while keeping const ant the remaining experimental parameters. Reported results include ex tensive measurements of the spatial distribution of the velocity field , temperature and species (O-2, CO, CO2, UHC and NOx) inside the flame , as well as the emission of pollutants in the flue gases. The differe nces in the spray lead to changes in the fuel vapor distribution insid e the flame. The consequences are important variations of the flame ch aracteristics and of the emission of gaseous and solid pollutants.