Shock-initiated ignition of natural gas-air mixtures

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Symp. (Int.) Combust., (Proc.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5322587

Eubank, C S; Rabinowitz, M J; Gardiner, Jr, W C; Zellner, R E

Ignition delay times in air for hydrocarbon mixtures that simulate natural gas were measured following the shock heating of such mixtures in reflected shock waves. The onset of ignition was determined by time-resolved absorption of the 3.39 /mu/m He-Ne laser line. Measured induction times range from 15-1200 /mu/s over the temperature interval 1200-1850/sup 0/K at total densities near 3 x 10/sup -5/ mol/cm/sup 3/, corresponding to a pressure of about 4 atm at 1600 K. It was found that the induction time of a mixture of 1% CH/sub 4/ in air is shortened by factors of 3, 9 and 13 for the addition of 0.2% C/sub 3/H/sub 8/, 0.2% C/sub 2/H/sub 6/+0.1% C/sub 2/H/sub 8/ and 0.2% C/sub 2/H/sub 6/+0.1% C/sub 3/H/sub 8/+0.1% n-C/sub 4/H/sub 10/, respectively. The temperature variation of the induction times for these fuel mixtures is essentially constant and given by: exp (26000/plus or minus/600 K/T), in agreement with ignition delay studies of CH/sub 4/ in O/sub 2//Ar mixtures. This work is pertinent to liquefied natural gas and the danger of disastrous explosions. 37 refs.

• Research Organization: Univ of Tex, Austin
• OSTI ID: 5322587
• Report Number(s): CONF-800809-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Symp. (Int.) Combust., (Proc.); (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030500 -- Natural Gas-- Health & Safety
034000* -- Natural Gas-- Combustion
AIR
ALKANES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLOSIONS
FIRE HAZARDS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GAS LASERS
GASES
HAZARDS
HELIUM-NEON LASERS
HYDROCARBONS
IGNITION
LASERS
LIQUEFIED GASES
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
METHANE
MIXTURES
NATURAL GAS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
SHOCK WAVES
STORAGE
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSPORT
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE