Flame characteristics of glycerol/methanol blends in a swirl-stabilised gas turbine burner

Finding alternative value-added usage for glycerol is imperative as existing uses are inadequate due to the vast excesses of generated mainly a result increased biodiesel production. This paper explores mid-term, cost-efficient, technically viable utilisation in power generation applications and exposes nature its combustion. Blended with methanol avoid heat loss fuel coking problems associated preheating, was combusted model swirl-stabilised gas turbine burner utilising standard pressure-swirl injector atomisation. Stable flames resulting from tested blends – 70/30 50/50 combinations methanol/glycerol by volume were achieved over an equivalence ratio (ER) range between 0.29 0.51. The upper lower limits stable operating ER case accompanied significant flame lift-off nozzle exit orifice phenomenon that not pronounced case. Also, temporal variation CH* species integral intensity suggested reduction fluctuation release rate, hence better stability, both blends. Overall, showed greater stability compared based on chemiluminescence data spectral analysis means fast Fourier transform.