Theory
It is convenient to split the combustion process into three distinct zones, namely a preheat zone, the true reaction zone and a recombination zone. With the majority of hydrocarbons, in the preheat zone, degradation occurs and the fuel fragments leaving the zone will generally comprise mainly lower hydrocarbons, olefins and hydrogen. In the initial stages of the reaction zone the radical concentration will be very high and oxidation will proceed mainly to CO and OH. The mechanism by which CO is then converted into CO2 during combustion has been the subject of controversy for many years. However, it is believed that the nature of the species in the true reaction region is critical for the oxidation. In this region many species are competing for the available atomic oxygen, including CO, OH, NO, and SO2. Compared with many transient species present in the initial stages of a flame, the concentration of CO, NO, and SO2 is large. CO and OH will readily react with oxygen radicals to form CO2 and H2O and the oxidation of these can be complete in the initial stages of the flame. If the initiation of reaction occurs near the beginning of the reaction zone, this will allow the OH and CO species greater time to react with the available oxygen radicals. This will ensure that the duration of time spent by the species within the reaction zone is increased and therefore greater completion of the combustion reaction occurs.
From this theory it will be appreciated that if an additive can be formulated which shortens the ignition delay of fuel, in turn initiates early reaction, allowing greater time for CO and OH to react completely. CO and OH, however compete with SO2 and NO for the available atomic oxygen in the true reaction region. Therefore formulation of the fuel should be such that it will initiate early kinetic reaction and subsequently in a controlled manner allow greater time for CO and OH radicals to combine with atomic oxygen and help to obtain complete combustion.
Additone, being a mixture of hydrocarbons increases the operating efficiency of combustion systems by shortening the kinetic ignition delay of fuels and thereby improving the combustion characteristics of a system in which the given fuel is burned. This improvement in the combustion process results in reduced emissions of harmful pollutants, increased fuel economy, reduced corrosive effects on the system and reduced noise and roughness in the case of internal combustion systems.
It is convenient to split the combustion process into three distinct zones, namely a preheat zone, the true reaction zone and a recombination zone. With the majority of hydrocarbons, in the preheat zone, degradation occurs and the fuel fragments leaving the zone will generally comprise mainly lower hydrocarbons, olefins and hydrogen. In the initial stages of the reaction zone the radical concentration will be very high and oxidation will proceed mainly to CO and OH. The mechanism by which CO is then converted into CO2 during combustion has been the subject of controversy for many years. However, it is believed that the nature of the species in the true reaction region is critical for the oxidation. In this region many species are competing for the available atomic oxygen, including CO, OH, NO, and SO2. Compared with many transient species present in the initial stages of a flame, the concentration of CO, NO, and SO2 is large. CO and OH will readily react with oxygen radicals to form CO2 and H2O and the oxidation of these can be complete in the initial stages of the flame. If the initiation of reaction occurs near the beginning of the reaction zone, this will allow the OH and CO species greater time to react with the available oxygen radicals. This will ensure that the duration of time spent by the species within the reaction zone is increased and therefore greater completion of the combustion reaction occurs.
From this theory it will be appreciated that if an additive can be formulated which shortens the ignition delay of fuel, in turn initiates early reaction, allowing greater time for CO and OH to react completely. CO and OH, however compete with SO2 and NO for the available atomic oxygen in the true reaction region. Therefore formulation of the fuel should be such that it will initiate early kinetic reaction and subsequently in a controlled manner allow greater time for CO and OH radicals to combine with atomic oxygen and help to obtain complete combustion.
Additone, being a mixture of hydrocarbons increases the operating efficiency of combustion systems by shortening the kinetic ignition delay of fuels and thereby improving the combustion characteristics of a system in which the given fuel is burned. This improvement in the combustion process results in reduced emissions of harmful pollutants, increased fuel economy, reduced corrosive effects on the system and reduced noise and roughness in the case of internal combustion systems.