Oxidation of PRFs and ethanol/iso-octane mixtures in a flow reactor and the implication for their octane blending

Abstract

This paper studies the oxidation of n-heptane, iso-octane, ethanol and their mixtures in a pressurized flow reactor, with a focus on the potential relation between the fuels oxidation reactivity and their octane ratings. The flow reactor experiments are conducted at 550-900?K, 10?bar and an equivalence ratio of 0.058. Carbon monoxide is measured as an indicator of the global reactivity. Evident low temperature oxidation and negative temperature coefficient (NTC) behaviors are observed for n-heptane and iso-octane over a similar temperature window (600-800?K). Ethanol, on the other hand, shows negligible reactivity up to 800?K but produces a substantial amount of CO above 850?K indicating sig..