Auto-ignition kinetics of biomass derived alternative fuels for advanced combustion

Autoignition delay times have been determined for promising biofuel candidates, n-butanol and butyl formate, over wide temperature and pressure ranges. The results indicate for n-butanol a strong pressure dependence on the ignition delays where a typical NTC (negative temperature coefficient) type behavior is observed as pressures are increased. These experimentally determined ignition delays and results from other research facilities are used to validate a detailed kinetic for n-butanol combustion. Secondly, this work reports promising high pressure ignition characteristics, including NTC type behavior, for butyl formate combustion at low and intermediate temperatures.