The determination of burning velocities of slow flames

Abstract

Measurements of the burning velocities of methane, ethane, propane, butane, ethylene, carbon monoxide and cyanogen mixtures with air, in the range about 4 to 8 cm, are made by the flat-flame burner method with an accuracy of 2 to 3%. The results can be represented by a straight-line relationship between composition and burning velocity except for carbon monoxide which is sensitive to the percentage of water vapour present. Extrapolated values agree well with recent measurements of faster flames. Measurements are also made on binary mixtures with air of the gases, including hydrogen. The mixture law holds except with mixtures containing carbon monoxide. Limits of inflammability are also determined and the burning velocities at the limits average 3⋅6 cm/s. The mixtures obey the Le Chatelier rule accurately, except for carbon monoxide mixtures. The burning velocities of the hydrocarbons can be represented approximately by a straight-line relationship with the heat generated and with the maximum flame temperature, but correlation is best when thermal conductivity is introduced. At a given velocity the excess energy maintained by the flame appears to be constant for all the hydrocarbons investigated, except methane, which behaves slightly differently. The burning velocities of the hydrocarbons are controlled by a reaction which provides reasonable values of the activation energies and probably precedes the sudden development of chain branching.