A Comprehensive Modeling Study of Soot Formation from Different Fuels

The aim of this work is to couple a general and detailed kinetic model of gas phase combustion chemistry of several fuels [1] with a soot kinetic model in order to describe the different stages of formation of soot particles in fuel-rich conditions. The extensive study of the sub-system of acetylene pyrolysis in the most severe conditions, as well as the recently revised high temperature reactions of benzene [2], lay the basis for a deeper understanding of the formation of heavy Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and soot. The critical and detailed kinetic analysis in a wide range of conditions, such as pyrolysis and combustion conditions, and with different fuels, from acetylene to aromatics, permits from one side to verify and discuss the general kinetic model reliability and, from the other side, suggests actual limitations and possible extensions useful to improve its predictive ability.