Award Abstract #0619585
MRI: Development of Combustion Vessel for the Study of Gas and Dispersed Liquid Phase at Elevated Pressure and Temperature

NSF Org:	CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems
Initial Amendment Date:	August 23, 2006
Latest Amendment Date:	August 23, 2006
Award Number:	0619585
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	William Wendell Schultz CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems ENG Directorate for Engineering
Start Date:	September 1, 2006
Expires:	August 31, 2009 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$1311011
Investigator(s):	Jeffrey Naber jnaber@mtu.edu (Principal Investigator) Daniel Crowl (Co-Principal Investigator) Carl Anderson (Co-Principal Investigator) Scott Post (Co-Principal Investigator) Franz Tanner (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	Michigan Technological University 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, MI 49931 906/487-1885
NSF Program(s):	MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION
Field Application(s):	0308000 Industrial Technology
Program Reference Code(s):	OTHR,0000
Program Element Code(s):	1189

ABSTRACT

Proposal No. CTS-0619585

Principal Investigator: J. D. Naber, Michigan Technological Institute

MRI: Development of Combustion Vessel for the Study of Gas and Dispersed Liquid Phase at Elevated Pressure and Temperature

This Major Research Instrumentation grant is for the construction of a pressure vessel with optical access and the primary subsystems and instrumentation as an integrated instrument. The vessel will be capable of withstanding the pressures and temperatures that occur in the majority of combustion applications. The instrument will be integrated into a laboratory at Michigan Technological University and used in research, undergraduate, and graduate studies with the principle investigators and a number of collaboration partners. The instrument will enable the gathering and analysis of high-quality data for the comprehensive study of transport phenomena and thermo-chemical processes including combustion above super-critical conditions of many liquid fuels. The principle investigators plan to study a wide array of important issues including: basic research in droplets and sprays, flammability and safety, spark-ignited and diesel fuel-air mixing and combustion, and bio- and alternative fuels. The centerpiece of the instrument is a highly configurable pressure vessel with both direct line-of-sight and orthogonal optical access. In addition, the instrument includes a manifold and container for creating custom premixed gases and high pressure direct injection systems for gases and liquids. Given the configurable design, the flexible controller, and extensive number of access ports of the pressure vessel, the instrument would be setup for multiple research and instructional purposes simultaneously. Data to be measured include pressure, temperature, gaseous concentrations, and surface and radiant heat flux. Optical methods will allow characterization of droplet, spray, vaporization, and soot. Studies will isolate individual phenomena such as vaporization without combustion, and as a part of entire complex processes as is the case in transient, vaporizing, and combusting sprays. The results will be important to many energy utilization and conversion applications including, gas turbines, internal combustion engines, and gaseous and liquid fueled combustors. In addition the data generated will facilitate the development and validation of models to improve the simulation of complex combustion processes. Education and research enabled by this instrument will add an important contribution across the College and University in achieving its strategic goals. These goals include improving education and graduate research and attracting a world class set of diverse faculty, researchers, and students. In addition, it will expand the number of engineers and scientists with expertise in these areas to solve important issues that face the nation and the world, such as energy, pollution, and global warming.

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