Hydroxyl and Nitric Oxide Distribution in Waste Rice Bran Biofuel-Octanol Flames

Two-dimensional (2-D) visualization of hydroxyl (OH) radical in combustion of biofuel made of waste rice bran oil (called W) mixed with octanol (called O) at different mixture ratios were examined in a laboratory scale facility using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) diagnostics. Rice bran oil has a composition similar to that of peanut oil, with 38% monounsaturated, 37% polyunsaturated, and 25% saturated fatty acids. The ratio of this biofuel to octanol fuel examined was W90/O10, W75/O25, and W60/O40. The chemical species generated from within the combustion zone were analyzed from the spontaneous emission spectra of the flame in the ultraviolet to visible (Uv-Vis) range. The spatial distribution of Nitric Oxide (NO) and OH, denoted as OH*, were identified from the spectra. Two-dimensional (2-D) distributions of flame temperature were obtained using a thermal video camera. The experimental results showed the temperatures to range from 600 °C to 1400 °C. The highest temperature was obtained using W60/O40 waste/octanol fuel mixture. A practical burner commonly used in Indonesia, called semawar, that have a built-in preheating system was used for the combustion of biofuels.