Use of chemical kinetics to predict critical parameters of gaseous detonations

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Combust., Explos. Shock Waves (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5231571

Westbrook, C K; Urtiew, P A

Gaseous detonations represent an important class of potential hazards associated with many industrial and energy production systems. Detonations are extremely complex phenomena and involve many competing physical and chemical processes. Complete theoretical models of the initiation, stability and structure of detonation waves require an accurate description of the chemical kinetics of the induction phase. The goal of the present work is to demonstrate that kinetic mechanisms are now available which are able to predict the induction delay period for a variety of practical fuels. It is observed that computed induction delay times and induction lengths correlate very well with observed experimental detonation phenomena, independent of fuel type, oxidizer type, nitrogen dilution, initial pressure, initial temperature, and equivalence ratio. This general agreement emphasizes the central role that chemical kinetics plays in the detonation process, determining the characteristic length and time scales.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore Lab., Univ. of California, Berkeley CA
• OSTI ID: 5231571
• Journal Information: Combust., Explos. Shock Waves (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Combust., Explos. Shock Waves (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 19:6; ISSN CESWA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450100* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Chemical Explosions & Explosives
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
DETONATION WAVES
DETONATIONS
DILUTION
ELEMENTS
FORECASTING
FUELS
KINETICS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OXIDIZERS
PRESSURE EFFECTS
REACTION KINETICS
SHOCK WAVES
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS