LIF measurements and chemical kinetic analysis of methylidyne formation in high-pressure counter-flow partially premixed and non-premixed flames

We report quantitative, spatially resolved, linear laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) measurements of methylidyne concentration (CH]) in laminar, methane–air, counter-flow partially premixed and non-premixed flames using excitation near 431.5 nm in the A–X (0,0) band. For partially premixed flames, fuel-side equivalence ratios (_B) of 1.45, 1.6 and 2.0 are studied at pressures of 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 atm. For non-premixed flames, the fuel-side mixture consists of 25% CH₄ and 75% N₂; measurements are obtained at pressures of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 12 atm. The quantitative CH measurements are compared with predictions from an opposed-flow flame code utilizing two GRI chemical kinetic mechanisms (versions 2.11 and 3.0). LIF measurements of CH] are corrected for variations in the quenching rate coefficient by using major species concentrations and temperatures generated by the code along with suitable quenching cross sections for CH available from the literature. A pathway analysis provides relative contributions from important elementary reactions to the total amount of CH produced at various pressures. Key reactions controlling peak CH concentrations are also identified by using a sensitivity analysis. For the partially premixed flames, measured CH profiles are reproduced reasonably well by GRI 3.0, although some quantitative disagreement exists at all pressures. Two CH radical peaks are observed for _B=1.45 and _B=1.6 at pressures above 3 atm. Peak CH concentrations for the non-premixed flames are significantly underpredicted by GRI 3.0. The latter agrees with previously reported NO concentrations, which are also underpredicted in these same high-pressure counter-flow diffusion flames. PACS 07.35.+k; 42.62.Fi; 82.33.Vx