Propagation Velocity of Flames in Inert-Diluted Stoichiometric Propane-Air Mixtures: Pressure and Temperature Dependence

Abstract

The flammable propane–air mixtures raise specific safety and environmental issues in the industry, storage, handling and transportation; therefore dilution of such mixtures has gained significant importance from the viewpoint of fire safety, but also due to nitrogen oxide’s emission control through flameless/mild combustion. In this paper, the propagation of the flame in C3H8-air-diluent stoichiometric gaseous mixtures using Ar, N2 and CO2 as diluents was investigated. Data were collected from dynamic pressure-time records in spherical propagating explosions, centrally ignited. The experiments were done on stoichiometric C3H8-air + 10% diluent mixtures, at initial pressures within 0.5–2.0 bar and initial temperatures within 300–423 K. The flame velocity was determined from laminar burning velocities obtained using the pressure increase in the incipient stage of flame propagation (when the pressure increase is lower than the initial pressure). The experimental propagation velocities were compared with computed ones obtained from laminar burning velocities delivered by kinetic modeling made using the GRI mechanism (version 3.0) with 1D COSILAB package. The thermal and baric coefficients of propagation velocity variation against the initial temperature and pressure are reported and discussed.