Measurement of Laminar Burning Speeds and Determination of Onset of Auto-Ignition of Jet-A/Air and Jet Propellant-8/Air Mixtures in a Constant Volume Spherical Chamber

Abstract

The laminar burning speeds of Jet-A/air and three different samples of jet propellant (JP-8)/air mixtures have been measured and the onset of auto-ignition in JP-8/air premixed mixtures has been determined. The experiments were made in a constant volume spherical vessel, which can withstand high pressures up to 400 atm. Burning speed was calculated from dynamic pressure rise due to the combustion process in the vessel. A thermodynamic model based on the pressure rise was used to determine the burning speed. The burning speeds were measured in lean mixtures for pressures of 1–4.5 atm and temperatures of 493–700 K. The onset of auto-ignition of JP-8 fuels was evaluated by observing intense fluctuations of pressure data during the explosion of the unburned gas. It was revealed that Jet-A and JP-8 have very similar burning speeds; however, auto-ignition temperatures of various samples of JP-8 were slightly different from each other. Auto-ignition of these fuels was much more sensitive to temperature rather than pressure.