Fuel最新文献

{"title":"Systematic evaluation of gasifiers driven by the high-enthalpy plasma supply","authors":"Vadim A. Kuznetsov ,&nbsp;Martin Gräbner ,&nbsp;Ronny Schimpke. ,&nbsp;Dirk Uhrlandt ,&nbsp;Andreas Richter","doi":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138538","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138538","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study overviews gasifiers driven by thermal and microwave plasma which primarily produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Industrially available plasma generation methods are described. Analysis of plasma gasification systems revealed eight distinct designs and their features. Counter current systems matured to industrial scale (up to 7000 kg/h of municipal solid waste), though tar cracking is not forced by plasma integration. The cold gas efficiency (∼61%) is similar to the autothermal industrial systems. Cross current systems reached technology readiness levels of 4–5 (up to 60 kg/h) but require long-term testing for stationary state balancing. In co-current downdraft systems wood and low-ash, plastic-rich municipal solid waste were processed (&lt;110 kg/h). The drawback is that plasma temperature is limited by ash melting. A horizontal co-current design was proven at feeding rates of 400 kg/h in a 12 months’ run on municipal solid waste with slagging ash discharge, whereas cold gas efficiencies of ∼ 53% were reached that are comparable to conventional gasifiers. Entrained flow designs require good plasma-feedstock mixing, which is hard to ensure at throughputs far below 90 kg/h of coal. Arc and microwave discharge integrated solutions suffer from the feeding-caused instabilities of the discharge and require high energy consumption (&gt;10 kWh/kg). The furnace-like designs, which have a throughput of up to 437 kg/h, also suffer from arc instabilities resulting in energy consumptions of &gt; 4 kWh/kg due to a poor energy distribution. A counter current design was determined to be the most mature one, while horizontal co-current designs promise better performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":325,"journal":{"name":"Fuel","volume":"417 ","pages":"Article 138538"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electrode reactions in molten carbonate fuel cells: A review","authors":"Yifan Jia,&nbsp;Liangjuan Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138337","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138337","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs), an important type of high-temperature fuel cell, have received much more attention due to their high efficiency and fuel flexibility. However, the problems of component stability, electrode reaction efficiency, and electrolyte loss associated with high-temperature operation have become key factors limiting their lifetime. This review summarizes the research progress on the electrode reactions of MCFCs from the aspects of materials and electrochemical mechanisms. The molten carbonate electrolytes are modified with alkaline-earth metal carbonates to improve their interfacial wetting with electrodes and high-temperature stability. The anodic reaction is the fuel oxidation reaction, such as H₂, C, and CO. The cathodic reaction is the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which is more complicated than that of anodic reaction since more intermediate species are involved during the reaction. For anodic reaction mechanisms, the synergistic roles of hydrogen adsorption–oxidation, and <span><math><mrow><msup><mi>OH</mi><mo>-</mo></msup></mrow></math></span> participation pathways are systematically discussed, together with the influence of temperature, pressure, gas composition, and anode microstructure. For cathodic reaction mechanisms, the peroxide, superoxide, percarbonate and peroxodicarbonate pathways are analyzed, with emphasis on the identification of active oxygen species (<span><math><mrow><msubsup><mi>O</mi><mn>2</mn><mrow><mn>2</mn><mo>-</mo></mrow></msubsup></mrow></math></span>, <span><math><mrow><msubsup><mi>O</mi><mn>2</mn><mrow><mo>-</mo></mrow></msubsup></mrow></math></span>, <span><math><mrow><msubsup><mi>CO</mi><mn>4</mn><mrow><mn>2</mn><mo>-</mo></mrow></msubsup></mrow></math></span> and C₂<span><math><mrow><msubsup><mi>O</mi><mn>6</mn><mrow><mn>2</mn><mo>-</mo></mrow></msubsup></mrow></math></span>) and their dependence on electrolyte composition, P_CO₂/P_O2 ratio, and cathode microstructure. Furthermore, future research orientations on the MCFC electrode reactions and MCFC technology are proposed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":325,"journal":{"name":"Fuel","volume":"417 ","pages":"Article 138337"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spray and combustion characteristics under ultra-high-ambient density: a comparison of fuels and number of injections","authors":"Bassam S. Aljohani ,&nbsp;Jianguo Du ,&nbsp;Hao Wu ,&nbsp;Moez Ben Houidi ,&nbsp;William L. Roberts","doi":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138635","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138635","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>While Spray and combustion characteristics have been extensively characterized at low ambient densities (14.8–22.8 kg/m³), limited understanding exists under ultra-high ambient density (∼50 kg/m³) representative of high-pressure or supercritical combustion conditions, particularly with multiple injection strategies. This knowledge gap arises from experimental challenges in controlling extreme thermodynamic conditions. The present study investigates the spray and combustion characteristics of real fuels and their surrogates operated with single, double, triple, and quadruple injection strategies under ultra-high ambient density conditions. This work is motivated by recent advances in isobaric combustion, where maintaining constant pressure combustion through multiple injections has shown improved efficiency over conventional diesel combustion. A high-pressure constant-volume combustion chamber (CVCC) capable of achieving pressures up to 300 bar was employed to reproduce engine-relevant isobaric combustion conditions. The study focused on achieving vessel pressure of 150 bar with ambient temperature of 1000 K, corresponding to ultra-high ambient bulk density of 50 kg/m³. A high-speed chemiluminescence imaging is employed to analyze the combustion characteristics, examining parameters such as ignition delay time (IDT), mixing period, flame natural luminosity (NL), rate of heat release (ROHR), and flame lift-off lengths (FLOL). Conventional gasoline and diesel were used alongside fuel surrogates, iso-octane and n-heptane, to emulate the behavior of real fuels. The findings indicate that the variations in IDTs among the tested fuels are negligible, whereas increasing the number of injections significantly prolongs the mixing period, nearly doubling from single to quadruple injections. The maximum FLOL decreases by over 20%, indicating earlier flame stabilization under multiple-injection operation. Diesel exhibited the longest effective combustion duration, exceeding other fuels by approximately 0.25 ms across all injection strategies, indicating diffusion-controlled combustion. Among the surrogates, n-heptane showed strong ROHR sensitivity to injection phasing under multiple injections, reflecting its pronounced low-temperature chemistry. Comparisons between real and surrogate fuels revealed that simplified surrogates cannot fully reproduce the ROHR and soot-formation behavior of real fuels under multiple injection strategies. Overall, this work provides insight into the fundamental understanding of multiple-injection combustion at high pressures and underscores the need for complementary numerical simulations to further elucidate the complex mechanisms governing high-pressure combustion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":325,"journal":{"name":"Fuel","volume":"417 ","pages":"Article 138635"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Graphene derivative based electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction of water splitting processes","authors":"Gökçe Güner Karaali,&nbsp;İbrahim Kaba,&nbsp;Atıf Koca","doi":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138579","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138579","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydrogen technologies are expected to replace fossil fuels, which currently meet a large portion of our energy needs. In this context, research on efficient hydrogen production is rapidly advancing, and water splitting methods are emerging as an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative. Extensive research is available in the literature on electrocatalysts designed to minimize energy consumption and maximize process efficiency. The exceptionally superior properties of graphene derivatives, such as high surface area, conductivity, structural flexibility, and thermal and mechanical properties, have led to their widespread use in hydrogen production processes from water electrolysis. Furthermore, numerous studies have been published in the literature on electrocatalysts whose performance is enhanced by methods such as doping and metal integration, thanks to graphene’s modifiable chemical structure. Derivatives can be presented as graphene-based electrocatalysts, heteroatom-doped metal-free graphene electrocatalysts, precious metal-free transition metal graphene electrocatalysts, and precious metal graphene electrocatalysts. Our review reveals through a critical literature review that electrocatalysts produced from graphene derivatives in recent years may offer effective solutions to challenges such as low stability and high overpotentials in hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) and may also be important for future research aiming to increase efficiency and reduce costs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":325,"journal":{"name":"Fuel","volume":"416 ","pages":"Article 138579"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146075903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Laminar burning velocity of dimethyl ether flames under lean oxygen-enriched conditions: A comparative study with ethanol regarding the isomer effect","authors":"Xinlu Han ,&nbsp;Huizhen Li ,&nbsp;Ye Yuan ,&nbsp;Zihe Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138553","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138553","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dimethyl ether (DME), a renewable biofuel, is a potential alternative to conventional engine fuels. However, fundamental flame propagation characteristics such as laminar burning velocity remain lacking in the literature under the very-lean conditions, hindering comprehensive understanding for advanced combustion design, despite the low-pollutant and high-efficiency potential of lean-burn engines. In the present study, laminar burning velocity of unconventionally-lean DME flames was measured at 298 K and 1 atm using the heat flux method. The experimental conditions cover equivalence ratio as low as 0.3 that have never been reported before, which was achieved through oxygen enrichment strategy. The measured data, including uncertainties in burning velocity, equivalence ratio, and oxygen ratio, were compared against six widely used detailed kinetic models. All models reproduced the DME data trends well, with quantitative deviations less than twice the experimental uncertainty in average. The DME laminar burning velocities were compared to those of its isomer, ethanol (C₂H₅OH), revealing their difference increases with both O₂ enrichment ratio and equivalence ratio. Using the NUIG1.3 model and the model by Han (which both reproduced ethanol flames within twice the experimental uncertainty), systematic analysis quantified isomer effects through thermodynamic, transport, and kinetic differences. Each difference contributes synergistically to amplified burning velocity disparities, especially low fuel mole fractions in unconventionally-lean, low-O₂-enriched unburnt mixtures limit thermodynamic and transport contributions. Extending this analysis to other isomers leads to a hypothesis, i.e., the <span><math><mrow><msub><mi>S</mi><mi>L</mi></msub></mrow></math></span> differences among different isomers under unconventionally-lean, low-O₂-enriched conditions may be estimated simply from the differences in their bond dissociation energies. Due to the lack of corresponding experimental data, a first-step evaluation was carried out through simulations using the NUIG1.3 model. If the hypothesis can be proved by future measurements, it can benefit ultra-lean applications including uncharacterized isomers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":325,"journal":{"name":"Fuel","volume":"416 ","pages":"Article 138553"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Condensable particulate matter adsorptively removed by metal-modified activated carbon from simulated and coal combustion flue gas","authors":"Yue Zou ,&nbsp;Xiaowei Liu ,&nbsp;Xiangli Liu ,&nbsp;Aoyang Zhang ,&nbsp;Zijian Zhou ,&nbsp;Minghou Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138495","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138495","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Condensable particulate matter (CPM) emitted from coal-fired power plants presents increasing environmental and health risks due to its high content of semi-volatile organic compounds. Among them, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), a representative phthalate ester and endocrine-disrupting chemical, is frequently identified as a dominant organic constituent in CPM but is poorly removed by conventional air pollution control devices.</div><div>In this study, a metal-modified activated carbon adsorbent was developed and evaluated for its efficiency in removal of CPM. The adsorption performance and mechanism of the material for DBP were investigated under simulated flue gas conditions, followed by validation of its CPM and DBP removal effectiveness through laboratory-scale coal combustion experiments. Among tested materials, Fe³⁺-impregnated activated carbon (5%Fe-AC) demonstrated the highest removal efficiency. Mechanistic analysis indicated that Fe³⁺ promotes the formation of coordination complexes with DBP, significantly enhancing physicochemical adsorption and resulting in a 77.6% improvement in removal efficiency. Under simulated conditions, 5%Fe-AC achieved 74.85% DBP removal, while in combustion tests it removed 30.52% of DBP, 37.00% of total organics, and 42.26% of total CPM mass. This work provides a targeted supported strategy for the removal of CPM and its hazardous organics, offering insights into the development of efficient adsorbents for air pollution control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":325,"journal":{"name":"Fuel","volume":"416 ","pages":"Article 138495"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146075837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Key three-material system in alkaline water electrolysis for hydrogen production: Systematic review and future outlook","authors":"Zhimeng Zhao ,&nbsp;Hexu Sun ,&nbsp;Jianhui Li ,&nbsp;Zhanying Sun ,&nbsp;Yingjun Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138509","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138509","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alkaline Water Electrolysis (AWE) has become the mainstream technology for current green hydrogen production due to its high technical maturity, low equipment cost, and scale advantage. However, it still faces challenges such as bottlenecks in key material performance, insufficient adaptability to dynamic operating conditions, and resource dependence. Thus, there is an urgent need to promote efficiency improvement and cost reduction through material innovation. Although AWE technology has developed relatively maturely, existing review literatures lack considerations on the systematic synergistic optimization of AWE materials. To address this issue, this paper systematically reviews the action mechanisms and material properties of various hydrogen production materials from three core dimensions: electrodes (catalysts), membranes, and electrolytes. It conducts an in-depth analysis of the optimization mechanisms of material properties and proposes targeted optimization strategies. Meanwhile, it clarifies the key challenges and future development directions faced by various materials, and lists the directions for engineering optimization. Aiming to help readers gain a comprehensive understanding of electrolysis systems, broaden research ideas, and provide theoretical support and technical route guidance for constructing high-efficiency electrolysis systems with material synergistic optimization. Among them, carbon-based composite materials with excellent structural designability, self-healing membranes with a unique dynamic self-healing design, and hydrogen production via seawater electrolysis with significant cost-effectiveness and deep coupling with renewable energy all show great application potential in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":325,"journal":{"name":"Fuel","volume":"416 ","pages":"Article 138509"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146075902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Secondary fractal evolution mechanism of coal seam fractures and seepage under mechanical cavitation disturbance: Implications for CBM extraction","authors":"Cunyang Lu ,&nbsp;Haifeng Wang ,&nbsp;Pingdingqi Tuo ,&nbsp;Xinghua Zhang ,&nbsp;Jiale Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138494","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138494","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mechanical cavitation technology (MCT) can effectively enhance the production of coalbed methane (CBM). However, quantitative descriptions of reservoir fracture evolution and CBM migration patterns following MCT remain scarce. By integrating N₂ adsorption, DEM simulation, and fractal theory, this study quantified the secondary fractal evolution patterns of fractures and permeability responses in CBM reservoirs under the MCT. Adsorption experiments indicate that after coal fragmentation, the surface roughness of pores increases, whereas structural heterogeneity decreases. A stress‒damage model incorporating equivalent plastic softening, coupled with the DEM, reveals four successive fracturing stages: (I) circular slow growth, (II) elliptical rapid growth, (III) X-shaped extension, and (IV) compaction‒fracture cycles. The temporal evolution of fractures can be quantified via the ‘fracture gradient dimension’ as follows: formation stage − activation stage − stabilization stage, with the synchronous expansion of permeability enhancement zones within coal seams. The spatial evolution of fractures follows a secondary fractal sequence: activation zone − formation zone − stabilization zone, with concurrent enhancement of coal seam permeability. Coupled spatiotemporal fractal mechanisms enable coal seams to achieve both maximum CBM production efficiency and economic benefits when they reach the FESS &amp; FESZ states. Field trials have demonstrated that MCT can enhance coalbed permeability by two orders of magnitude and increase CBM production efficiency by 2.5 times. By integrating fractal theory with discrete element modelling, the evolution of fracture fields under cavitation disturbances has been measured and quantified. This provides a universal framework for optimizing MCT parameters and establishes a theoretical foundation for efficient CBM extraction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":325,"journal":{"name":"Fuel","volume":"416 ","pages":"Article 138494"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146075839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating free radical chain reaction kinetics into crude oil In situ combustion modeling: a novel approach for ignition mechanism characterization","authors":"Alexandra S. Ushakova ,&nbsp;Nikolay N. Mikhailov ,&nbsp;Mohammed A. Khelkhal ,&nbsp;Alexey V. Vakhin","doi":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138518","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138518","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study introduces a novel integrated approach to modeling crude oil <em>in situ</em> combustion by incorporating free radical chain reaction kinetics to address the critical limitation of conventional models: their inability to accurately predict ignition behavior. Current Arrhenius-based models fail to capture the transient ignition phase, a critical element for field implementation safety and efficiency. We developed a hybrid modeling framework combining conventional combustion kinetics with chain reaction mechanisms for the initial oxidation stages (150-250°C). The methodology was validated using pressurized differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC) experiments at 5 MPa with heating rates of 2-10°C/min on light and middle crude oils, combined with SARA compositional analysis. Two-reaction and four-reaction Arrhenius schemes were systematically evaluated and matched to experimental data. The chain reaction approach achieved 14% relative error in predicting low-temperature oxidation heat release, representing more than 50% improvement over conventional models (30% error). This physics-based framework enables accurate ignition timing prediction − a critical capability previously unattainable through traditional hydrodynamic modeling. The validated methodology demonstrates broad applicability across different crude oil types and provides a practical pathway for integrating advanced kinetic mechanisms into commercial reservoir simulators for enhanced <em>in situ</em> combustion project design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":325,"journal":{"name":"Fuel","volume":"416 ","pages":"Article 138518"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A numerical investigation of coupled geometric effects on methane-air deflagration dynamics","authors":"Jingui Wang ,&nbsp;Jianhao Wei ,&nbsp;Chensheng Lin ,&nbsp;Junan Wu ,&nbsp;Su Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138541","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fuel.2026.138541","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Obstacle-driven flame acceleration in confined methane–air deflagrations poses a persistent hazard to industrial and utility corridors. Internal geometry-shape, blockage ratio (BR), and thickness-regulates turbulence–flame coupling, yet their combined influence remains incompletely resolved. This study employs a validated large-eddy simulation (LES) framework with adaptive mesh refinement and a partially premixed combustion model to examine these interactions in a two-dimensional straight duct. The matrix sweeps rectangular, elliptical, and triangular obstacles across BR = 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, while thickness (10, 20, 30 mm) is varied at BR = 0.3 to isolate thickness effects under comparable confinement, yielding 15 total cases (five cases per obstacle shape). Under the present conditions, BR appears to be the dominant accelerator: increasing BR from 0.3 to 0.7 raises the maximum pressure-rise rate, (d<em>P</em>/d<em>t</em>)_max, by as much as 637% in this dataset. A second trend emerges at low BR, hereafter referred to as a thickness-stabilization effect. Increasing thickness from 10 to 30 mm consistently lowers the assessed hazard; in the rectangular configuration, (d<em>P</em>/d<em>t</em>)_max decreases by approximately 74%. Flow-field diagnostics offer a coherent explanation. Thin plates generate highly unstable shear layers that roll up almost immediately, promote fine-scale wrinkling, and accelerate the front. With added thickness, the obstacle behaves in a splitter-plate-like manner: the onset of shear-layer roll-up is delayed, the near wake is stabilized, and shedding organizes into more coherent vortical patterns-behavior that is consistent with slower propagation. Shape continues to organize the wake and flame brush. Rectangular obstacles tend to fragment the front and bias it toward asymmetry, whereas elliptical profiles support smoother, more continuous propagation under otherwise similar conditions. Taken together, the results suggest that obstacle geometry maps systematically onto deflagration dynamics and may inform evidence-based guidance for passive safety design in confined infrastructure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":325,"journal":{"name":"Fuel","volume":"416 ","pages":"Article 138541"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}