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Thermal cracking and variable properties effects on free boundary layer diffusion flames

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5250153
An analytical model for a free convective boundary layer flame is presented and compared with experimental results. The analytical model will add two new features to the solution presented in order to improve agreement with experimental data. It is proposed that the fuel undergoes endothermic decomposition (cracking) before reaching the flame. The effect of cracking on the free convective diffusion flame is explored by the use of modified Shvab Zeldovich variables which model both the flame reaction and the cracking reaction. The second addition to the solution is the use of a temperature dependent density-viscosity function which allows the ambient viscosity to be determined by ambient conditions. In order to match the location of the theoretical flame with that of the experimental flame, previous studies have adjusted the ambient viscosity to non-ambient values. By using the temperature dependent density-viscosity function, the analytical model accurately predicts the location of the flame using the ambient value of viscosity.
Research Organization:
California Univ., Berkeley (USA)
OSTI ID:
5250153
Report Number(s):
N-88-19652; NBS-GCR-88-542
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English