SUPERSONIC COMBUSTION IN PREMIXED HYDROCARBON-AIR FLOW.
Abstract
A study of the mechanisms of ignition and flame propagation of supersonic air-hydrogen fuel mixtures at temperatures below the published autoignition limits was made. The hydrocarbons considered were: methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), ethylene (C2H4) and propane (C3H8) with flame ignition and stabilization by means of a small hydrogen-oxygen pilot flame. Flame speeds for methane, ethane, and ethylene-air mixtures were found to be: four, three and two times smaller, respectively than hydrogen-air flame speeds under similar flow conditions. The dependence of the flame speed on the initial mixture temperature was correlated by a simple exponential relation. Addition of a small amount of hydrogen to a methane-air mixture resulted in doubling the observed flame angle. Finally, measurements of flame temperature distribution and spreading rate were shown to be in agreement with results of a theoretical analysis incorporating finite rate methane-air chemistry and axisymmetric diffusive flow. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0633977
Entities
People
- I. Fruchtman
- J. Tamagno
- S. Slutsky