Ignition processes in carbon-monoxide-hydrogen-oxygen mixtures

Abstract

Ignition processes in the carbon monoxide-hydrogen-oxygen system are simulated by solving the corresponding conservation equations (i.e. conservation of mass, energy, momentum and species mass) for one-dimensional geometries using a detailed reaction mechanism and a multi-species transport model. An additional source term in the energy conservation equation allows the treatment of induced ignition, and a realistic model for the destruction of reactive species at the vessel surface is used to treat auto-ignitions in static reactors. Spatial discretization using finite differences and an adaptive grid point system leads to a differential/algebraic equation system which is solved numerically by extrapolation or backward differencing codes. Minimum ignition energies are calculated for various mixture compositions and radii of the external energy source. Ignition limits are computed, and a sensitivity analysis shows the rate-limiting reactions.