Experimental Investigation of Flame Stability and Temperature Profiles in an LPG-Fuelled Combustion System for Industrial Hot Air Generation

Tiew  Por Xiong; Adam  Kasani; Shahrin Hisham  Amirnordin; Mohd Faizal Mohideen  Batcha; Amir  Khalid; Mzahar  Abd Jalal; Mohd Faizal  Tukimon; Makatar  Wae-hayee; Khairul Effendy  Ahmad Zainudin

Authors

Tiew Por Xiong Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Parit Raja, 86400, Malaysia
Adam Kasani Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Parit Raja, 86400, Malaysia
Shahrin Hisham Amirnordin Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Parit Raja, 86400, Malaysia
Mohd Faizal Mohideen Batcha Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Parit Raja, 86400, Malaysia
Amir Khalid Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Parit Raja, 86400, Malaysia
Mzahar Abd Jalal Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Parit Raja, 86400, Malaysia
Mohd Faizal Tukimon Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Parit Raja, 86400, Malaysia
Makatar Wae-hayee Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
Khairul Effendy Ahmad Zainudin Millennium Radius Sdn Bhd, B-3A-2, Setiawangsa Business Suite, Jalan Setiawangsa 11, Taman Setiawangsa, 54200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Keywords:

Air flow rate, Flame Stability, Hot Air Generation, LPG Combustion, Temperature Profile

Abstract

A combustion system is used to produce hot air for a variety of industrial and commercial purposes. This system works by burning a fuel source like natural gas, propane, or diesel in a controlled mixture of fuel and air inside a sealed chamber. However, achieving steady combustion has proven to be difficult since specific air pressure and flow rates are critical. The goal of this experiment was to investigate the combustor's combustion characteristics, particularly flame stability and temperature profile. Low air flow rates required 3 bar of air pressure to ensure flame stability, whereas greater flow rates were able to do so at 2 bar. Air flow rates of 30 l/min and above demonstrated stable flames at a 3 bar pressure. It was found that higher air flow rates were important for flame stability, as a fully opened valve sustained the flame for up to 15 minutes compared to only 4 minutes with a half-opened valve. The temperature profile showed decreased stability at lower air flow rates. Additionally, the maximum temperature of the combustor reached 235 ^oC, below the auto-ignition range of LPG between 410 ^oC to 580 ^oC. Therefore, this study highlights the critical role of air flow rate and pressure in maintaining flame stability and thermal consistency in combustion systems. These findings support efforts to optimize operating parameters of this combustor for improved efficiency, safety, and reliability in industrial applications.