The Effects of Non-Uniform Magnetic Field on the Concentration of Methane-Air Reaction Species

Abstract

It is a well-known fact that the effects of magnetic fields on combustion can be used to control and optimize the flame deformation and the flame brightness. The kinetics and equilibrium properties of chemical reactions of combustion are influenced by the magnetic force exerted on paramagnetic species. In this study, the effects of non-uniform magnetic fields on one-stage methane combustion reaction are numerically investigated. It is known that NO, OH, and O₂ are paramagnetic species and the other species and methane have diamagnetic behavior. Considering these facts, the effects of non-uniform magnetic field on 10 main product species of methane combustion are studied, by minimization of the Gibbs free energy. The results indicate that variation of non-uniform magnetic fields from 0 to 0.08 Tesla leads to decrease in NO mole fraction by 99.6 % in temperature range 1500-2500 K. Furthermore, the combination of non-uniform magnetic field and raising the pressure have the beneficial result in decreasing NO and CO mole fractions as well as rise in temperature.