The effect of external factors on the formation of detonation in saturated knallgas-steam mixtures

Abstract

The formation of detonation in saturated mixtures of knallgas and steam at 100°C was studied with respect to spark and hot-wire modes of ignition and geometry (diameter) of the reaction vessel. Reaction pressures and the amount of knallgas consumed by reaction in each experimental mixture were measured. The data indicate that the ease with which detonation is formed is affected by both of the primary variables in a dual manner which is strongly dependent upon heat and wall effects related to the reactor size. The controlling effects observed are apparently accentuated due to the ‘weak’ nature of the pre-detonation reactions and the ‘slow’ transition to detonation which are characteristic of the majority of saturated knallgas-steam mixtures.