An Advanced Multi-Sectional Method for Particulate Matter Modeling in Flames

An advanced multi-sectional approach for modeling the gas-to-particle process in flames is presented. It follows the chemical evolution and the internal structure of particles formed in flames, fully coupled with the main pyrolysis and oxidation of the fuel. The multi-sectional method is included in a detailed mechanism of hydrocarbon pyrolysis and oxidation which considers the detailed formation of important gaseous species such as acetylene, benzene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); the lumped molecular growth of aromatics and particle inception; and the lumped particle growth and oxidation. The complete model is tested without any adjustments to the scheme on premixed and nonpremixed flames of various hydrocarbons at atmospheric pressure. Predictions are compared with experimental data on gas-phase species concentrations, particle volume fractions, H/C and sizes in laminar premixed and in co-flowing nonpremixed flames.