Combustion of gel fuels based on organic gellants

The phenomena involved in the combustion of non-metallized organic-gellant-based gelled fuels were investigated. The droplet combustion was photographed using a high-speed digital video camera. Experiments were conducted also with a number of control fuels that were prepared especially for simulating different phenomena occurring during combustion. The organic-gellant-based gel fuel droplet is characterized by a gellant layer formed on the droplet surface because of phase separation, resulting in bubbling and jetting. Phase separation is most likely the phenomenon that dominates the combustion process. The use of control fuels confirms that phase separation is not unique to gel fuels.