Extended Le Chatelier's formula and nitrogen dilution effect on the flammability limits

Abstract

The effect of nitrogen dilution on the flammability limits was measured carefully for a number of fuel gases in order to make an accurate numerical analysis of the data. An extension of Le Chatelier's formula was developed to apply to mixtures containing inert gas. A numerical analysis was carried out using the extended formula for newly measured experimental values of the flammability limits. As a result, it has been found that the extended Le Chatelier's formula fits the inert gas dilution effect on the flammability limits of individual fuel gases very well. Moreover, it has been found that a common set of parameters can be used to predict the nitrogen dilution effect on the flammability limits of methane, propane, propylene, methyl formate, and 1,1-difluoroethane. Ethylene, dimethyl ether, and ammonia behave a little differently from these compounds.