Ionization in Methane, Ethylene, Ammonia and Vinylchloride Flames

Abstract

AbstractThe concentration of the ions, which are formed in methane, ethylene, ammonia and vinylchloride flames, has been measured by the circular slit burner technique. The dilution with nitrogen and the mixture strength of the mixtures has been varied in order to derive the apparent activation energy of the ion formation process. The obtained values vary regularly with the ratio fuel to oxidant, they are however sufficiently small to verify the occurence of a true «chemi‐ionization» process. The ion concentration in ammonia flames at comparable temperatures is much less than in hydrocarbon flames.