Initiation of spherical detonation in [formula omitted

Abstract

Spherical detonation has been initiated in a range of mixtures of hydrogen and air, at one atmosphere initial pressure, by Tetryl charges of mass (0.78–2.40) × 10 −3 kg. The results are in accordance with an earlier experiment by Cassut but contrary to a recent prediction of Lee. A theoretical model embracing the full kinetic scheme for hydrogen oxidation fits the experimental detonability data and predicts the variation of detonability with concentration over a much wider range. An important conclusion from the model study is that it predicts for the first time for spherical detonation the existence of concentration limits to detonability. A kinetic explanation is offered for these limits which are approximately 13–70% v hydrogen in air.