Influence of inert and active additives on the initiation and propagation of laminar spherical flames in stoichiometric mixtures of methane, pentane, and hydrogen with air

Abstract

The propagation of a laminar spherical flame in stoichiometric mixtures of methane, and pentane with air in the presence of argon and carbon dioxide and in hydrogen-air-propylene mixtures at atmospheric pressure in a constant-volume bomb is investigated using high-speed color cinematography. It is shown that, under the experimental conditions employed (at T0 = 298 K and a spark energy of E0 = 0.91 J), dilution of the combustible mixtures with these additives can cause a more than 10-fold increase in the time of formation of a steady flame front, with the inhibiting effect of carbon dioxide being stronger than that of argon. Small additives of propylene, a chemically active inhibitor, are demonstrated to substantially increase the time it takes to form a steady flame front and reduce the flame propagation velocity.