Combustion of aerosolized spherical aluminum powders and flakes in air

Combustion rates and completeness of aerosolized spherical aluminum powders and flakes are compared using constant volume explosion experiments. The comparison of particles and flake sizes was made based on their specific surface areas determined using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method and respective "BET diameters". It is observed that the rates of pressure rise and rates of flame propagation were higher for aluminum powders with BET diameters of about 2 to 5 um compared to aluminum flakes for which the BET diameters were under 1 um In agreement with the flame propagation rates, the overall completeness of combustion was also higher for aluminum powders compared to flakes. It is suggested that aerosolized flakes could be agglomerated in gas flows more than spherical particles causing their inferior combustion performance.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering - (M.S.)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Year

2004

Author dc:creator

• Eapen, Binu Zacharia

Contributors dc:contributor

• Edward L. Dreyzin
• Chao Zhu
• Boris Khusid

• Combustion
• Aerosolized sherical aluminum powders and flakes
• Mechanical Engineering

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/521

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.njit.edu:theses-1520