Computer modeling of self-ignition delays of methane-alkane mixtures

Abstract

The presence of high concentrations of heavy methane homologues with a low detonation resistance makes associated petroleum gases (APG) unsuitable for direct use as fuel for gas piston engines, which constitute the basis of distributed power generation grids in the range up to 5 MW. One of the most informative and demonstrative parameters that determine the detonation characteristics of gas mixtures is the self-ignition delay time. At present, there are no systematic data on the self-ignition delay times of even binary mixtures of methane with its heavier homologues, not to mention more complex compositions typical of APG The paper reports the results of computer simulation of the self-ignition delay times for binary and multiple methane-alkane-air mixtures containing C2–C5 alkanes.