CHAPTER IV. EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THERMAL-NO_X IN THE DROP-TUBE FURNACE

1. Objective

One of the aims of the present PhD thesis is to study the processes and extent in which fuel-N is converted to NO_X. Another objective is the possible effect that other fuel constituents may exert on emissions of oxides of nitrogen.

Three predominant processes for NO_X formation and emission are accepted (see chapter I):

1. From fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, known as thermal-NO_X
2. From transformation of the nitrogen contained in the fuel: fuel-NO_X
3. By reaction of hydrocarbon fragments with atmospheric nitrogen: prompt-NO_X

Since all emissions are indistinguishable if concurrent, it is essential to determine the amounts of NO_X formed in the thermal process in order to assess the quantities of NO_X that are formed and emitted from the nitrogen in the fuel.

Thermal-NO_X is formed solely from atmospheric nitrogen in a process that is strongly dependent upon flame temperature. A fuel with a low nitrogen content or no nitrogen at all would provide the adequate means of evaluating the formation of thermal-NO_X.

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