Measurements of Markstein numbers and laminar burning velocities for liquefied petroleum gas-air mixtures

Experimental test for premixed laminar combustion of liquefied petroleum gas-air mixtures is conducted in a constant volume combustion bomb. Spherically expanding flames have been employed to measure laminar flame speeds over wide equivalence ratios, at the initial pressures of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15 MPa, and preheat temperatures from 300 to 400 K. To study the effects of stretch on burning velocity, various Markstein numbers for both strain and curvature have been measured and the effects of initial temperature and pressure on these parameters have been discussed. Following the linear relation between flame speeds and flame stretches, one has then obtained the corresponding unstretched laminar burning velocity after omitting the effect of stretches imposed on these flames. Over the ranges studied, laminar burning velocities are fit by a functional form u_l=u_l0(T_u/T_u0)^α_T(P_u/P_u0)^β_P, and the dependencies of α_T and β_P upon the equivalence ratio of mixture are also discussed.     

Determination of laminar burning velocities for natural gas

Spherically expanding flames of natural gas-air mixtures have been employed to measure the laminar flame speeds, at the equivalence ratios from 0.6 to 1.4, initial pressures of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15 MPa, and preheat temperatures from 300 to 400 K. Following Markstein theory, one then obtains the corresponding unstretched laminar burning velocity after omitting the effect of stretch imposed at the flame front. Over the ranges studied, the burning velocities are fit by a functional form u_l=u_l0(T_u/T_u0)^α_T(P_u/P_u0)^β_P, and the dependencies of α_T and β_P upon the equivalence ratio of mixture are also given. The effects of dilute gas on burning velocities have been studied at the equivalence ratios from 0.7 to 1.2, and the explicit formula of laminar burning velocities for dilute mixtures is achieved.     

Laminar burning velocity and explosion index of LPG-air and propane-air mixtures

The determination of burning velocity is very important for the calculations used in hazardous waste explosion protection and fuel tank venting, which has a direct impact on environmental protection. The scope of the present study encompass an extensive study to map the variations of the laminar burning velocity and the explosion index of LPG-air and propane-air mixtures over wide ranges of equivalence ratio (Φ = 0.7-2.2) and initial temperature (T_i = 295-400 K) and pressure (P_i = 50-400 kPa). For this purpose a cylindrical combustion bomb was developed. The reliability and accuracy of the built up facility together with the calculation algorithm are confirmed by comparing the values of the laminar burning velocity obtained for a standard fuel (propane at normal pressure normal temperature conditions, NPT) with those available in the literature. The burning velocity was determined using different models depending on the pressure history (P-t) of the central ignition combustion process at the minimum ignition energy.The data obtained for the laminar burning velocity is correlated to S_L = S_L0(T/T₀)^α(P/P₀)^β where S_L0 is the burning velocity at NPT, α and β are the temperature and pressure exponents respectively. The value of β is observed to slightly vary with the equivalence ratio for both fuels. However, propane exhibits higher pressure dependency than that of LPG. The maximum laminar burning velocity found for propane is nearly 455 mm/s at Φ = 1.1, while that for LPG is nearly 432 mm/s at 4.5% fuel percent (Φ ≈ 1.5). The maximum explosion index, commonly called the “explosion severity parameter”, is calculated from the determined laminar burning velocity and is found to be 93 bar m/s for propane, and nearly 88 bar m/s for LPG.     

Group combustion of staggeringly arranged heptane droplets at various Reynolds numbers, oxygen mole-fractions, and separation distances

The group combustion of interacting heptanes liquid droplets are numerically simulated by solving two dimensional unsteady laminar Navier-Stokes equations. The unsteady computations for the time-varying vaporization of multi-droplets are carried out with parameters of the Reynolds number (Re), the separation distance (S) between the droplets, and the oxygen mole-fraction. The n-heptane droplets initially at T₀ = 300 K are in hot air of 10 atm at T_g = 1250 K. Multi-droplets are staggeringly arranged at a separation distance ranging from 4 to 15 droplet radius. The Reynolds number, based on the droplet diameter and free stream velocity, is varied from Re = 10 to 50. The oxygen mole-fraction of the surrounding air is changed from 15% to 90%. The time variations of the flame structure, the combustion characteristics, and the burning rates are presented and discussed. These results indicated that the staggered arrangement of the multi-droplets induced combustion characteristics distinct from those of a single droplet. The burning rate of the interacting droplets in the staggered arrangement exhibited a relatively strong dependence on the Re, S, and oxygen mole-fraction. The burning rate of the interacting multi-droplets, non-dimensionalized by that of a single droplet, was found as a function of S and Re.     

Reduced kinetic mechanism for combustion of synthesis gas at elevated temperatures and pressures

The key combustion reactions of synthesis gas at elevated initial temperatures (T ₀ = 500–700 K) and pressures (p = 10–30 atm) are identified by analyzing the kinetic mechanism. A reduced mechanism of the oxidation reactions of synthesis gas consisting of 14 elementary reactions involving 13 species is proposed which adequately describes the results of experimental data on the burning velocities of mixtures of synthesis gas with oxygen and inert diluents at T ₀ = 300–700 K, p = 10–30 atm, and ratios CO/H₂ = 0.05–0.95, and satisfactorily predicts the flame structure and the dependence of the flammability limits on the initial temperature at atmospheric pressure.     

SHS of TiC-TiNi composites: Effect of initial temperature and nanosized refractory additives

For SHS reactions in Ti-Ni-C powder blends yielding TiC-TiNi composites, investigated was the effect of initial temperature (T ₀), green composition, and nanosized refractory additive (alloying agent) on combustion parameters and structure formation in combustion products. An increase in T ₀ elevated combustion temperature T and burning velocity U, while the addition of micro- and nano-sized ZrO₂ particles diminished the above parameters due to partial blocking of reactive Ti-Ni contacts by ZrO₂ agglomerates. At the same time, the addition of alloying agents enlarged the number of crystallization centers for the growth of primary TiC grains in the melt.     

扩散过滤燃烧火焰特性

扩散过滤燃烧是新的燃烧技术,具有扩散燃烧和预混过滤燃烧的某些特性。通过二维双温模型,使用单步总包反应,数值研究氮气稀释的甲烷和氧气同轴同平板扩散过滤燃烧特性。模型中考虑热弥散和组分弥散效应。研究小球直径、气体混合物速度和甲烷质量分数对火焰高度和火焰形态的影响。结果表明,与预混过滤燃烧不同,气体和固体高温区存在于燃烧器的不同位置;而在高温区域之外,气体和多孔介质固体的温差很小。当填充床小球直径从6.66 mm减小到2.02 mm,火焰高度从0.048 m增大到0.12 m。增大混合物速度,甲烷的质量分数导致火焰变宽,火焰高度增大。数值模型的有效性得到了实验验证。     

The effect of temperature on the adiabatic laminar burning velocities of CH4−air and H2−air flames

The effect of temperature on the adiabatic laminar burning velocities of CH₄ + air and H₂ + air flames was analyzed. Available measurements were interpreted using correlation S_L = S_L0 (T/T₀)^α. Particular attention was paid to the variation of the power exponent α with equivalence ratio at fixed (atmospheric) pressure. Experimental data and proposed empirical expressions for α as a function of equivalence ratio were summarized. They were compared with predictions of detailed kinetic models in methane + air and hydrogen + air flames. Unexpected non-monotonic behavior of α was found in rich methane + air flames. Modeling results are further examined using sensitivity analysis to elucidate the reason of particular dependences of the power exponent α on equivalence ratio.     

Prediction of a high swirled natural gas diffusion flame using a PDF model

The paper deals with the numerical prediction of a high swirling non-premixed confined natural gas diffusion flame in order to predict the pollutant emissions NO_x using the PDF model coupled with the Reynolds stress model (RSM). A chemical equilibrium model in conjunction with the assumed shape of the PDF is adopted. The chemical combustion reactions are described by nine species and eight reactions [Westbrook CK, Dryer FL. Chemical kinetic modelling of hydrocarbon combustion. Progr Energy Combust Sci 1984;10:1-57]. The PDF of the mixture fraction is described with a β-function. In order to predict the NO_x emissions, a NO_x post-processor of the Fluent code has been performed. The concentration of O and OH radicals are obtained assuming the partial-equilibrium assumption and using a PDF in terms of temperature. The numerical simulation of various factors influencing the combustion process are examined and compared favourably with experimental results.     

Measurement of Temperature and Concentration of OH Radicals in Combustion of Hydrogen and Ethanol by the Laser‐Induced Fluorescence Technique

Diffusion combustion of ethanol and hydrogen and homogeneous combustion of hydrogen–oxygen mixtures are studied by the laserinduced fluorescence technique in the linear regime and with signal saturation. Data on the flame temperature and OH concentration are obtained. The burning temperature of 3090 K for a stoichiometric O₂–H₂ mixture is in agreement with the known value. It is shown that the maximum concentrations of radicals in the hydrogen–air and stoichiometric hydrogen–oxygen flames are close to each other (4.4· 10¹⁶ cm^-3).     

Measurement of laminar burning velocity of dimethyl ether-air premixed mixtures

Measurement of laminar burning velocity of dimethyl ether-air mixtures was taken under different initial pressures and equivalence ratios using a constant volume bomb and high-speed schlieren photography. The stretched laminar burning velocity increases with the increase of stretch rate. At equivalence ratio of 1.0, low initial pressure gives high stretched flame speed. At initial pressure less than 0.1 MPa, the stoichiometric mixture gives the higher value of stretched flame speed than those at ? = 1.2 and ? = 0.8. The Markstein numbers decrease with the increase of equivalence ratio, and this reveals that lean mixture will maintain higher stability of flame front surface than that of rich mixture in dimethyl ether-air premixed flames.     

Flame flickering frequency on a rotating Bunsen burner

The empirical correlation (St^*2/Ri=0.00028Re^*2/3: St^* is the reduced Strouhal number, Ri the Richardson number, Re^* the reduced Reynolds number) proposed by Kostiuk and Cheng [1995. The coupling of conical wrinkled laminar flames with gravity. Combustion and Flame 103, 27-40] for predicting buoyancy-induced flame flickering frequency, has been experimentally investigated under the swirling flow conditions produced by a rotating Bunsen burner, focusing on how the flame flickering frequency changes with increasing swirl number S. Under low swirling conditions up to S≈0.1, the flame flickering frequency f_t did not change and monotonically increased with increasing the bulk flow velocity from the burner tube U. The trend of the data is similar to those obtained by Durox et al. [1995. Some effects of gravity on the behavior of premixed flames. Combustion and Flame 82, 66-74] and Kostiuk and Cheng (1995) and could be fitted well with the empirical correlation Kostiuk and Cheng (1995). However, under high swirling  conditions (S>1), f_t significantly decreased up to ≈80% of that with non-swirling condition, and became insensitive to U. As a result, the data under S>1 could not be correlated by the empirical equation. From results obtained by laser doppler velocimetry (LDV), this inconsistency is due to flow divergence shown by the change in the velocity distribution between the burner exit and the flame tip with burner rotation. A minimum value of the centerline velocity u_j,min between the burner exit and the flame tip fulfills an important role in controlling the flame flickering frequency. The use of this parameter allows the empirical correlation to be extended to the high swirling case by means of a modified empirical correlation St^*2/Ri=0.00028(Re^*exp(-0.64S^1.78))^2/3.     

DOPO-based curing flame retardant of epoxy composite material for char formation and intumescent flame retardance

Phosphorus-containing flame retardant (HBAEA-DOPO) for epoxy resin was synthesized by addition reaction of 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) with bis[2-(4-hydroxybenzylideneamino)ethyl]amine (HBAEA) that was synthesized via 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde with diethylenetriamine. HBAEA-DOPO was mixed with 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone to co-cure the epoxy resin of diglycidyl ether bisphenol A. The silane modified nano-silica (nano-SiO₂) was used to reinforce the epoxy resin. Thermal stability and dynamic mechanical properties of the cured epoxy materials were studied with the use of thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Flame retardance and burning behavior were evaluated by the limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning test, and the cone calorimetry. The cured epoxy materials have excellent thermal stability, and the temperatures at the maximum weight loss rate are over 384.0°C. The characteristic temperature corresponding to 5.00 wt% of thermal decomposition reaches 341.5°C as 1.00 wt% of phosphorus content is loaded. Flame retardant grade meets the V-0 level. The fire residue mass gradually increases with HBAEA-DOPO and nano-SiO₂. The characteristics of high flame retardance and smoke suppression of HBAEA-DOPO and nano-SiO₂ on the cured epoxy composites have been demonstrated to be related to char formation and intumescent flame retardance in the condensed phase.     

Production of ultra-high temperature carbide (Ta,Zr)C by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of mechanically activated mixtures

The combustion temperatures and rates of mechanically activated (MA) Ta–Zr–C mixtures depending on the initial temperature T₀ are determined. The self-heating phenomenon is observed in argon atmosphere at T₀>380 K due to oxidation of the surface of zirconium particles by adsorbed oxygen. Zirconium oxide is formed in the combustion zone at the initial stage of chemical interaction; it is subsequently transformed into zirconium carbide. In addition, tantalum carbide is formed in the combustion zone, while the binary tantalum–zirconium carbide (Ta,Zr)C is formed closer to the post-combustion zone. In order to maintain the layer by layer stationary combustion mode of SHS, the initial temperature T₀ needs to be 298 K, while the duration of mechanical activation needs to be less than 5 min. After longer mechanical activation, the mixtures are prone to bulk combustion even at low initial temperatures. Single-phase (Ta,Zr)C carbide with the lattice parameter of 0.4479 nm was synthesized by forced SHS compaction in a sand mold.     

Numerical investigation of the autoignition of turbulent gaseous jets in a high-pressure environment using the multiple-RIF model

The autoignition and subsequent flame propagation of initially nonpremixed turbulent system have been numerically investigated. The unsteady flamelet modeling based on the RIF (Representative Interactive Flamelet) concept has been applied to account for the influences of turbulence on these essentially transient combustion processes. In this RIF approach, the partially premixed burning, diffusive combustion and formation of pollutants (NO_x, soot) can be consistently modeled by utilizing the comprehensive chemical mechanism. To treat the spatially distributed inhomogeneity of scalar dissipation rate, the multiple RIFs are employed in the framework of Eulerian Particle Flamelet Model approach. Computations are made for the various initial conditions of pressure, temperature and fuel composition. The present turbulent combustion model reasonably well predicts the essential features of autoignition process in the transient gaseous fuel jets injected into high-pressure and high-temperature environments.     

The effect of red phosphorus on the flammability of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Addition of red phosphorus in concentrations of about 4% to poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) reduces the flammability of that polymer. The rates of flame propagation and the ignitability are reduced, while the oxygen index (O.I.) is increased. The surface temperature of burning PET amounts to T_S ≈ 380°C; addition of 4% red phosphorus raises this value to T_S ≈ 450°C. An increase of the environmental temperature T_E enhances the flammability of PET and PET + phosphorus samples; the O.I. decreases and the rate of flame propagation increases with temperature. The flame-retardant effectiveness of red phosphorus is reduced if the sample is burned in a N₂O atmosphere. This indicates that part of the flame retardancy imparted by phosphorus involves gas-phase inhibition. The major flame-retardant action does, however, occur in the condensed phase, since the rate of pyrolysis of PET is affected by the presence of red phosphorus.     

Free-convective regime of flame spread over a fuel film on a substrate

Flame spread over a liquid fuel film on a thin metallic substrate under free convection was studied experimentally. Instantaneous flame velocities correlate with the flame length. The average flame velocity increases from 2 to 30–40 cm/sec with the slope angle of the substrate to the horizon varying in the range of 0–90°. For a substrate of specified width, the flame velocity is inversely proportional to the heat capacity of the unit area of the substrate-fuel system and to the differences between the temperature corresponding to the formation of a stoichiometric mixture of the saturated fuel vapor and air and the ambient temperature. __________ Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 43, No. 5, pp. 21–30, September–October, 2007.     

Application of percolation model to particulate matter formation in pressurized coal combustion

Coal is an important energy resource for meeting the future demand for electricity, as coal reserves are much more abundant than those of other fossil fuels. In this study, the percolation model, which can account for swelling due to devolatilization and ash agglomeration, is applied to particulate matter formation process in coal combustion, and the effects of coal properties, ambient temperature, ambient pressure and initial coal size on the characteristics of a burning coal particle are studied. The devolatilization rate of coal is given by the first-order reaction model with FLASHCHAIN^® model [Niksa, S., Combust. Flame, 100, (1995) 384-394.]. The characteristics of a burning coal particle are investigated under the atmospheric and high pressure conditions. The results show that in the atmospheric pressure condition, the characteristics of the burning coal particle obtained by the percolation model are in general agreement with the experimental data. The particle diameter of Newlands coal with higher fuel ratio and ash content is larger than that of Plateau coal in the char-combustion-dominant process. As the ambient temperature increases, the particle diameter becomes small in the early stage of the char-combustion-dominant process, but becomes large afterward. The porosity in the char-combustion-dominant process decreases with decreasing the initial coal size. It is also observed that the effect of ambient pressure is prominent in the char-combustion-dominant process. The particle diameter and porosity in the pressurized condition are greater than those in the atmospheric pressure condition. These behaviors can be explained by the interaction between char reaction and ash agglomeration.     

Laminar burning velocity predictions by meso-scale flames in an annular diverging tube

Flame behavior in an annular diverging tube (ADT) consisting of an outer quartz tube and a tapered inner core column was investigated as a basic model for small combustion devices of various combustion space scales. Flames can be stabilized at suitable locations where the mean flow velocity is matched to the spatial average propagation velocity (SAPV). Transient variations of wall temperature and the SAPV were compared for various experimental parameters: inner core materials, burner configurations, and flow rates. It was found that a critical propagation velocity (CPV) exists that is least affected by the flow rates. The CPVs of methane, propane, and dimethyl ether (DME) were measured and a good agreement was shown between the measured CPVs and the laminar burning velocities presented in the literatures. Therefore, the ADT method can be a model for small combustion devices of various combustion space scales; furthermore, this study can be beneficial in designing and operating small combustion devices. The ADT method can also be applied in the field for in situ monitoring of the burning velocities.     

Nitrogen dilution effect on flame stability in a lifted non-premixed turbulent hydrogen jet with coaxial air

The nitrogen dilution effect on flame stability was experimentally investigated in a lifted non-premixed turbulent hydrogen jet with coaxial air. Hydrogen gas was used as the fuel and coaxial air was injected to initiate flame liftoff. Hydrogen was injected into an axisymmetric inner nozzle (d_F = 3.65 mm) and coaxial air jetted from an axisymmetric outer nozzle (d_A = 14.1 mm). The fuel jet and coaxial air velocities were fixed at u_F = 200 m/s and u_A = 16 m/s, while the mole fraction of the nitrogen diluent gas varied from 0.0 to 0.2 with a 0.1 step. For the analysis of the flame structure and the flame stabilization mechanism, the simultaneous measurement of PIV/OH PLIF was performed. The stabilization point was in the region of the flame base with the most upstream region and was defined as the point where the turbulent flame propagation velocity was found to be balanced with the axial component of the local flow velocity. The turbulent flame propagation velocity increased as the nitrogen mixture fraction decreased. The nitrogen dilution makes the flame structure more premixed. That is, the stabilization mechanism shifts from edge flame propagation based mechanism toward premixed flame propagation based mechanism. We concluded that the turbulent flame propagation velocity was expressed as a function of the turbulent intensity and the axial strain rate, even though the mole fraction of the nitrogen diluent varied.