Ignition of hydrogen-air mixtures under volumetric expansion

A better understanding of chemical kinetics under volumetric expansion is important for a number of situations relevant to industrial safety including detonation diffraction and direct initiation, reflected shock-ignition at obstacles, ignition behind a decaying shock, among others. The ignition of stoichiometric hydrogen-air mixtures was studied using 0D numerical simulations with time-dependent specific volume variations. The competition between chemical energy release and expansion-induced cooling was characterized for different cooling rates and mathematical forms describing the shock decay rate. The critical conditions for reaction quenching were systematically determined, and the thermo-chemistry dynamics were analyzed near the critical conditions.     

Detonation initiation from shock and material interface interactions in hydrogen-air mixtures

A numerical study was conducted to explore the mechanisms of detonation initiation in a stoichiometric hydrogen-air mixture resulting from the interaction between a Mach 2.8 shock and a perturbed material interface. The simulations used a high-order compressible numerical method for fluid dynamics with both detailed and simplified chemical-diffusive models. Three material interfaces were considered: no interface, a perturbed planar flame, and a perturbed helium interface. The case with no interface did not evolve into a detonation. The case with the flame produced a series of additional shock-flame and shock-shock interactions. The shock-shock interactions produced a series of contact surfaces and sliplines with increasing temperature. Hot spots eventually formed along these sliplines and a detonation was initiated shortly thereafter through a reactivity gradient mechanism. The overall process of detonation initiation was similar for both detailed and simplified chemical-diffusive models. Only the fine details, such as the precise time and location of the hot spots, were different. This indicates that simplified chemical-diffusive models are adequate to describe the initiation of detonations in the present configuration. The processes that ignited the detonation were also similar in the case where the flame was replaced with a helium interface. Helium has a similar acoustic impedance to the products and produced similar wave refraction patterns. Thus, the primary effect of the flame is to facilitate the shock-shock interactions that produce hot spots and initiate the detonation. The chemical energy released by the flame has a secondary influence.     

On minimum energy of ignition of methane-air mixtures

The spark ignition of methane-air mixtures of various compositions with the help of a high-voltage source based on a piezoceramic step-up transformer with a high output resistance was studied. The experiments were performed at volumetric flow rates up to 20 cm/s and discharge gap widths up to 6 mm. The results were compared to the published data. Gaseous mixtures were demonstrated to be initiated at a decreased ignition energy. The ignition energy was found to be substantially lower when the initiation occurred in the corona discharge regime.     

Mathematical modeling of the chemical inhibition of the detonation of hydrogen-air mixtures

A mathematical modeling of the chemical inhibition of the detonation of hydrogen-air mixtures is performed. It is demonstrated that a one-dimensional model of detonation based on a chain-branching mechanism of hydrogen combustion makes it possible to describe the main regularities of the effect of inhibitors on detonation. The calculation results, which are in good agreement with the available experimental data, show that inhibition causes a narrowing of the concentration limits of detonation and an increase in the critical diameter of detonation.     

Combustion and explosion of hydrogen-air mixtures under conditions imitating elements of gas-laden rooms

The time evolution of the processes of combustion and explosion with regard to safety problems in handling reactive gas mixtures was studied. The explosion safety for reaction volumes and gas-laden rooms can be assessed only if data on the possible consequences of the emergencies under conditions close to real ones or modeling them are available. The propagation of nonplanar explosion waves with a short positive phase in volumes with variable cross section is an essentially unsteady process. Until recently, the regularities of the evolution of the characteristics of such waves during their propagation in a reactive mixture with heat release virtually have not been studied. At the same time, these processes determine the character of combustion, and, therefore, the possibility of their formalization provides the opportunity to treat the entire variety of combustion regimes. Only a knowledge of general laws of the interaction of unsteady gasdynamic processes and gaskinetic processes in a reactive medium makes it possible to control combustion regimes purposefully and effectively. The present work is devoted to studying the propagation of combustion in cavities with a geometry imitating elements of reaction volumes and rooms filled with a hydrogen-air mixture. Results for a pyramid-shaped cavity capable of cumulating flows and waves are considered and compared to those obtained using a conical cavity [1–5].     

Recovery and suppression of the detonation of hydrogen-air mixtures at an obstacle with orifices

A numerical simulation of the interaction of detonation waves with an obstacle having orifices and an analysis of the results were performed. The calculations were conducted using the 3D GasDynamicTool code for a model gas with parameters of detonation corresponding to a hydrogen-air stoichiometric mixture under normal conditions. Within the framework of the assumptions made, it was shown that, upon interaction with a perforated partition, a detonation wave experiences disintegration accompanied by the formation of unsteady jets of detonation products, with each one being preceded by a shock wave. The simulations demonstrated that the reinitiation of detonation downstream from the partition is determined by the dynamics of the ignition caused by the interaction between the converging shock waves formed ahead of the jets outflowing from neighboring orifices.     

Effects of fuel stratification on ignition kernel development and minimum ignition energy of n-decane/air mixtures

Fuel-stratified combustion has broad application due to its promising advantages in extension of lean flammability limit, improvement of flame stabilization, enhancement of lean combustion, etc. In the literature, there are many studies on flame propagation in fuel-stratified mixtures. However, there is little attention on ignition in fuel-stratified mixtures. In this study, one-dimensional numerical simulation is conducted to investigate the ignition and spherical flame kernel propagation in fuel-stratified n-decane/air mixtures. The emphasis is placed on assessing the effects of fuel stratification on the ignition kernel propagation and critical ignition condition. First, ignition and flame kernel propagation in homogeneous n-decane/air mixture are studied and different flame regimes are identified. The minimum ignition energy (MIE) of the homogeneous n-decane/air mixture is obtained and it is found to be very sensitive to the equivalence ratio under fuel-lean conditions. Then, ignition and flame kernel propagation in fuel-stratified n-decane/air mixture are investigated. The inner equivalence ratio and stratification radius are found to have great impact on ignition kernel propagation. The MIEs at different fuel-stratification conditions are calculated. The results indicate that for fuel-lean n-decane/air mixture, fuel stratification can greatly promote ignition and reduce the MIE. Six distinct flame regimes are observed for successful ignition in fuel-stratified mixture. It is shown that the ignition kernel propagation can be induced by not only the ignition energy deposition but also the fuel-stratification. Moreover, it is found that to achieve effective ignition enhancement though fuel stratification, one needs properly choose the values of stratification radius and inner equivalence ratio.     

Laser-initiated metal deposition on GaAs substrates

The local deposition of metal structures by thermal dissociation of trimethylaluminium, dimethylzinc and dimethylcadmium on GaAs surfaces heated by a cw krypton laser has been investigated. Piles of amorphous aluminium and zinc and crystalline structures of Cd have been deposited at temperatures between 200 and 1000°C. The smallest size of the deposits was ≈4 μm.     

Low-temperature ignition of methane-air mixtures under the action of nonequilibrium plasma

A plasma-chemical kinetic mechanism of the low-temperature (600 < T < 1000 K) oxidation/combustion of methane under conditions of nonequilibrium plasma over a wide pressure range (P = 0.1?100 atm) is developed and verified. The mechanism is comprised of three types of elementary processes: chemical reaction of neutral atoms and molecules, primary plasma-chemical processes involving electrons, and secondary plasma-chemical processes involving atomic and molecular ions and excited species. Application of the developed mechanism to describing the plasma-assisted oxidation of methane shows that this mechanism can describe the experimental results qualitatively and quantitatively.     

Laser ignition of flammable mixtures via a solid core optical fiber

To date no commercial fiber coupled laser systems have reached the irradiance and pulse energy required for flammable mixtures ignition. In this work we report preliminary results on the ignition of two-phase mixtures promoted by a laser delivering pulses through optical fiber. Experiments undertaken on free beam path configurations have allowed identification of the optical parameters required for laser ignition. The fiber coupled system used is based on a Q-switched nanosecond laser operating at 1064 nm. The fiber input angle and the focal length have been identified as the most important parameters. We demonstrated the possibility of delivering nanosecond pulses of 30 mJ focused onto a spot of 200 μm through a solid core optical fiber, and to promote ignition of n-heptane/air and JP4/air mixtures. PACS 42.62.-b; 42.81.-i; 47.55.-t; 82.33.Vx     

The role of radical wall quenching in flame stability and wall heat flux: hydrogen-air mixtures

The role of wall quenching of radicals in ignition, extinction and autothermal behaviour of premixed H₂–air flames impinging on a flat surface was studied using numerical bifurcation techniques, with detailed gas-phase chemistry and surface radical recombination reactions. Quenching out of radicals was found to retard the system at ignition due solely to the kinetics of the surface reactions. While kinetically extinction is also retarded, the thermal feedback from the wall recombination of radicals can render the flame more stable and lead to a higher wall heat flux as a function of wall temperature compared to an inert surface under some conditions. It is also shown that the combined kinetic and thermal effects of wall radical quenching can expand the autothermal regime. Implications for estimating flammability limits near reactive surfaces of tubes are finally discussed.

M This article features multimedia enhancements available from the abstract page in the online journal; see http://www.iop.org.     

Specific features of the inhibition of the combustion of propane-air and hydrogen-air mixtures by trifluoromethane and pentafluoroethane

Experimental data on the flammability limits and combustion kinetics of propane-air mixtures at atmospheric pressure in the presence and absence of CF₃H, C₂F₅H, CF₄, N₂, and CO₂ additives are presented. It was found that CF₃H and C₂F₅H inhibit the process of combustion. At the same time, the effect of CF₄, N₂, and CO₂ is caused only by mixture dilution, with a marked contribution of heat capacity in the case of CF₄ and CO₂. The mechanisms of chain termination by the inhibitors and the reasons for their different efficiency in the inhibition of hydrogen and propane combustion are explained.     

Localised forced ignition of globally stoichiometric stratified mixtures: A numerical investigation

Localised forced ignition of globally stoichiometric stratified mixtures (i.e. < φ > =1.0) has been analysed here based on direct numerical simulations for different initial values of velocity and equivalence ratio fluctuations (i.e. u′ and φ′), and the Taylor micro-scale l_φ of equivalence ratio φ variation. The localised ignition is accounted for by a source term in the energy transport equation which deposits energy over a stipulated time interval. It has been found that combustion takes place predominantly under premixed mode in the case of successful ignition. The initial values of φ′ and l_φ have been found to have significant effects on the extent of burning of stratified mixtures following localised ignition. It has been found that an increase in u′(φ′) has adverse effects on the burned gas mass, whereas the effects of l_φ on the extent of burning are non-monotonic and dependent on φ′. Detailed physical explanations have been provided for the observed u′, φ′ and l_φ dependences on the extent of burning in stratified mixtures.     

Thermally nonequilibrium processes occurring during the ignition of hydrocarbon-air mixtures behind shock waves

The effect of a nonequilibrium vibrational excitation of the reactants on the ignition of methane-air mixtures in a supersonic flow behind the front of an incline shock wave. It was demonstrated that the equilibrium kinetic models give incorrectly predict the induction zone length (within a factor of 3) and the final pressure in the combustion products. Even a moderate preliminary vibrational excitation of N₂ molecules makes it possible to substantially (by a factor 10 to 15) decrease the length of the induction zone behind the shock wave front (to ～1–2 m) at even moderate temperatures of the shocked gas (1400–1500 K).     

Experimental study of laser-induced thermal ignition in O2/O3 mixtures

O₂/O₃ mixtures are ignited by absorption of laser pulses of a TEA CO₂ laser along the axis of a cylindrical cell. The dependence of the radial propagation of the O₃ decomposition, detected by uv absorption of the ozone, on laser fluence and on O₃ concentration is investigated. Oscillations of the signals are identified to be the first radial acoustic mode of the cell. For mixtures of 0.35 bar and 0.70 bar total pressure and O₃ percentages within 20–50%, the ignition limit is in the order of 0.1–0.2 J/cm³ (absorbed energy density). These values are in reasonable agreement with the results of the corresponding numerical simulations.     

Experimental study of minimum ignition energy of lean H2-N2O mixtures

Ignition energies for short duration (<50 ns) spark discharges were measured for undiluted and nitrogen-diluted H₂-N₂O mixtures of equivalence ratios ? = 0.15 and 0.2, dilution of 0% and 20% N₂, and initial pressures of 15–25 kPa. The ignition events were analyzed using statistical tools and the probability of ignition versus spark energy density (spark energy divided by the spark length) was obtained. The simple cylindrical ignition kernel model was compared against the results from the present study. Initial pressure has a significant effect on the width of the probability distribution, ranging from a broad (P = 15 kPa) to a narrow (P = 25 kPa) probability distribution indicating that the statistical variation of median spark energy density increases as initial pressure of the mixture decreases. A change in the equivalence ratio from 0.15 to 0.2 had a small effect on the median spark energy density. The addition of 20% N₂ dilution caused a significant increase in the median spark energy density when compared to no dilution. The extrapolation of the present results to atmospheric pressure, stoichiometric H₂-N₂O indicates that the electrostatic discharge ignition hazards are comparable to or greater than H₂-O₂ mixtures.     

A wire microcalorimetric study of catalytic ignition of methane–air mixtures over palladium oxide

Catalytic ignition and heat release of methane oxidation over a Pd wire covered with a 1–2 μm PdO surface layer were investigated by wire microcalorimetry over the temperature range of 600–770 K and pressure range of 0.5–4 atm. Ignition temperatures and heat release rates for different methane concentrations (1–4 vol.% in dry air) were determined, showing that the ignition temperatures decrease with increasing the methane concentration and increasing ambient pressure. At total pressure of 1 atm and 2% methane concentration, the global activation energy for the catalytic reaction is 21.5 ± 0.9 kcal/mol and 14.3 ± 0.2 kcal/mol in the temperature ranges of 600–670 K and 670–770 K, respectively. The reaction order for methane is 0.9 ± 0.1 over the temperature range of 630–770 K.     

Experimental observation of turbulent jet ignition of pre-chamber with scavenging system for carbon dioxide diluted mixtures

The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) method can suppress knock and improve the thermal efficiency of engines. But it will also deteriorate the combustion stability and engine power. Turbulent jet ignition (TJI) is a reliable ignition resource for improving ignition stability and burning rate. However, the residual productions in the pre-chamber will worsen the performance of the TJI. To this end, a self-designed pre-chamber with a scavenging system has been proposed. In this study, the ignition process and flame propagation phenomena under different EGR dilution ratios for H₂/N₂/O₂ and CH₄/N₂/O₂ mixtures were conducted in a constant-volume combustion chamber. The results suggested that the increase in EGR dilution weakens the influence of cellular instability and causes buoyancy instability, the latter of which could be mitigated by the passive TJI method. For the passive TJI mode, the exit time of the hot jet was delayed, and the turbulent flame speed decreased with the increase of EGR dilution ratio. Four ignition phenomena, namely jet re-ignition, flame buoyancy, re-ignition failure, and misfire, were distinctly identified. However, EGR tolerance cannot be extended by passive pre-chambers. Therefore, the pre-chamber with a scavenging system that can effectively extend the lean combustion tolerance with EGR dilution compared to SI and passive TJI was proposed. The effects of air and fuel injection quantities on ignition and flame propagation were investigated. The flame propagation velocity was positively related to the air injection mass, whereas an optimum fuel mass was required to achieve fast flame propagation. The EGR limit based on dual injections in the pre-chamber was obviously extended. Moreover, under near EGR tolerance conditions, a leaner fuel injection in the pre-chamber was required to realize successful ignition in the main chamber, as strong turbulence could cause high heat transfer loss with the cool unburnt mixture and suppress the occurrence of re-ignition.