Numerical Study on Soot Formation of Methyl Methacrylate Pool Flames with Coflow Air

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a polymer, and it finds its application in construction, transportation and domestic sectors. However, it is flammable. The combustion and soot characteristics of this polymer can be better understood by studying its monomer methyl methacrylate (MMA) that forms as a dispersed layer at the PMMA surface when heated to 250–300 °C. MMA is prone to produce soot. The effect coflow air towards mitigation of soot is analysed numerically considering MMA pool combustion. A parametric study is carried out with 30 mm pool diameter and 3 mm ullage for different amounts of coflow air (50, 100 and 150% theoretical air). Mass loss rate is observed to be almost the same for all the cases. However, the soot ratio is more for the reference case without coflow air, and it decreases for 50 and 100% theoretical air cases. The soot ratio increases when the coflow air increases from 100 to 150% theoretical air. The reasons for these trends are explained with the help of temperature, soot volume fraction, soot precursor, soot oxidation rate and OH contours.