Subproject B04 Olzmann

A chemically reacting system in the gas phase, in particular at higher temperatures, consists of a large number of so-called elementary chemical steps, which, in their entity, form the chemical reaction mechanism. For any reasonable modeling of such a system, an adequate reaction mechanism has to be set up and provided with kinetic and thermodynamic data for its elementary chemical steps. These data, including their temperature and pressure dependence, are often unknown or known with only insufficient accuracy. The subproject B04 aims at the determination of such data and the development of reliable reaction mechanisms or important parts of them (submechanisms). The two major reaction systems relevant for the CRC/Transregio are considered namely, the combustion of selected alternative fuels and the thermolysis/hydrolysis of urea.

Chemical mechanisms are to be developed for both the combustion of selected alternative fuels, including the formation of pollutants, and the thermal decomposition/hydrolysis of urea, including the formation of unwanted by-products. The most influential elementary steps in these reaction systems are to be identified, and their kinetic and thermodynamic parameters are to be determined. Sufficiently large ranges of temperature and pressure have to be considered with particular emphasis on conditions typically occurring near walls of the corresponding technical devices namely, engine cylinders for fuel oxidation and the exhaust tract for urea condensation reactions.

In the thermolysis/hydrolysis of urea under conditions of the exhaust tract, non-radical, homogeneous reaction pathways were shown to be unimportant. According to the results of our quantum chemical calculations, homogeneous water catalysis may play a role in the formation of unwanted urea-condensation products, but further investigations are needed. Kinetic data of key reactions in the combustion of different alternative fuels (dimethoxymethane, 2,5-dimethylfuran) were experimentally determined. For investigations in the temperature range between 600 and 900 K, a heated flow reactor was set up that can be used to study both urea derivatives and alternative fuels.

Experimental Methods

The experimental studies in the temperature range T = 300−600 K at pressures between 0.1 and 100 bar are performed in slow-flow reactors with laser flash-photolysis for radical production and laser-induced fluorescence for time-resolved radical detection. At temperatures above 900 K and pressures ranging from 0.5 to 5 bar, shock tubes with time-resolved optical and mass-spectrometric detection methods are used. Moreover, a universal heated flow reactor with molecular beam sampling and mass-spectrometric detection, covering the temperature range from 600 to 900 K at pressures up to 1 bar was set up during the first work period.

Theoretical Methods

For the prediction and/or theoretical analysis of rate coefficients for selected elementary chemical steps, statistical rate theory with molecular data obtained from quantum chemical calculations is used. Canonical transition state theory or master equations for thermal and chemical activation with energy-specific rate coefficients from RRKM theory or the Statistical Adiabatic Channel Model allow for a reliable description/extrapolation of the temperature and pressure dependence of the observable rate coefficients.

The characterization of chemical reaction pathways in the thermolysis/hydrolysis of urea and urea-derived compounds will be continued with additional emphasis on heterogeneous steps. The investigation of alternative fuels will be extended to the mechanisms and the elementary chemical steps occurring in the combustion of methyl formate and dimethyl carbonate.

The main goal of this subproject is the experimental and theoretical determination of kinetic parameters for implementation into chemical reaction mechanisms. The subsequent mechanism reduction necessary for computational fluid dynamics modeling is accomplished in subprojects B07 (exhaust tract) and B06 (internal combustion engine). From these two subprojects, information about the sensitivity of the process parameters with respect to the provided kinetic data is given back to B04. The reduced mechanisms will be used in C03 and C05. The kinetic models for urea thermolysis/hydrolysis are developed in close collaboration with subprojects B05 and C04. Possible effects of walls and sampling devices in shock-tube experiments are characterized in collaboration with B02.

• Bertótiné Abai, A., Zengel, D., Janzer, C., Maier, L., Grunwaldt, J.-D., Olzmann, M., Deutschmann, O.: Effect of NO2 on gas-phase reactions in lean NOx /NH3 /O2 /H2O mixtures at conditions relevant for exhaust gas aftertreatment. Presented at the Automotive Technical Papers, 10.4271/2021-01-5005, 2021.
• Lamoureux, N., Desgroux, P., Olzmann, M., Friedrichs, G.: The story of NCN as a key species in prompt-NO formation. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 10.1016/j.pecs.2021.100940, 2021.
• Golka, L., Gratzfeld, D., Weber, I., Olzmann, M.: Temperature- and pressure-dependent kinetics of the competing C–O bond fission reactions of dimethoxymethane. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 10.1039/D0CP00136H, 2020.
• Gratzfeld, D., Heitkämper, J., Debailleul, J., Olzmann, M.: On the influence of water on urea condensation reactions: a theoretical study. Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie, 10.1515/zpch-2020-1658, 2020.
• Whelan, C.A., Eble, J., Mir, Z.S., Blitz, M.A., Seakins, P.W., Olzmann, M., Stone, D.: Kinetics of the reactions of hydroxyl radicals with furan and its alkylated derivatives 2-methyl furan and 2,5-dimethyl furan. J. Phys. Chem. A, 10.1021/acs.jpca.0c06321, 2020.
• Bänsch, C., Olzmann, M.: Reaction of dimethoxymethane with hydroxyl radicals: An experimental kinetic study at temperatures above 296 K and pressures of 2, 5, and 10 bar. Chemical Physics Letters, 10.1016/j.cplett.2019.01.053, 2019.
• Golka, L., Weber, I., Olzmann, M.: Pyrolysis of dimethoxymethane and the reaction of dimethoxymethane with H atoms: A shock-tube/ARAS/TOF-MS and modeling study. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 10.1016/j.proci.2018.05.036, 2019.
• Weber, I., Olzmann, M.: Thermal decomposition of CH 3 I revisited: Consistent calibration of I‐atom concentrations behind shock waves with dual I‐/H‐ARAS. Int. J. Chem. Kinet., 10.1002/kin.21260, 2019.
• Weiser, L., Weber, I., Olzmann, M.: Pyrolysis of furan and its methylated derivatives: A shock-tube/TOF-MS and modeling study. J. Phys. Chem. A, 10.1021/acs.jpca.9b06967, 2019.
• Koksharov, A., Yu, C., Bykov, V., Maas, U., Pfeifle, M., Olzmann, M.: Quasi-spectral method for the solution of the master equation for unimolecular reaction systems: Solution of the master equation for unimolecular reaction systems. Int. J. Chem. Kinet., 10.1002/kin.21165, 2018.
• Luan, Y., Olzmann, M., Magagnato, F.: Simulation of a shock tube with a small exit nozzle. J. Therm. Sci., 10.1007/s11630-018-0981-8, 2018.
• Stein, M., Bykov, V., Bertótiné Abai, A., Janzer, C., Maas, U., Deutschmann, O., Olzmann, M.: A reduced model for the evaporation and decomposition of urea–water solution droplets. International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, 10.1016/j.ijheatfluidflow.2018.02.005, 2018.
• Weber, I., Friese, P., Olzmann, M.: H-Atom-Forming Reaction Pathways in the Pyrolysis of Furan, 2-Methylfuran, and 2,5-Dimethylfuran: A Shock-Tube and Modeling Study. J. Phys. Chem. A, 10.1021/acs.jpca.8b05346, 2018.
• Gratzfeld, D., Olzmann, M.: Gas-phase standard enthalpies of formation of urea-derived compounds: A quantum-chemical study. Chemical Physics Letters, 10.1016/j.cplett.2017.05.006, 2017.