Condensation flame of acetylene decomposition

Abstract

Acetylene decomposition flame propagation was numerically analyzed and was found to be the result of the condensation reaction. Condensation processes provide reaction heat and act as a driving force for C2H2 flame propagation. The kinetic model reasonably predicts the level of burning velocity of the acetylene decomposition flame. The model does not demonstrate the relatively strong positive pressure dependence of burning velocity as was observed experimentally in the work of Cummings et al. [Proc. Combust. Inst. 8 (1962) 503–510]. Heat-release kinetics demonstrates a two-stage process. The first stage corresponds to heat release due to benzene formation, and the second stage of heat release corresponds to soot inception and carbonization processes. It was demonstrated that the burning velocity is sensitive to the surface growing rate constant. The use of a simplified form of presentation of the surface growing process [P.R. Lindstedt, in: Soot Formation in Combustion: Mechanisms and Models, Springer-Verlag, Berlin/New York, 1994, pp. 417–441] represents positive thermal feedback in the heat generation in a flame reaction zone.