Chemical-kinetic prediction of critical parameters in gaseous detonations

Conference · Tue Jan 12 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5359470

Westbrook, C. K.; Urtiew, P. A.

A theoretical model including a detailed chemical kinetic reaction mechanism for hydrogen and hydrocarbon oxidation is used to examine the effects of variations in initial pressure and temperature on the detonation properties of gaseous fuel-oxidizer mixtures. Fuels considered include hydrogen, methane, ethane, ethylene, and acetylene. Induction lengths are computed for initial pressures between 0.1 and 10.0 atmospheres and initial temperatures between 200K and 500K. These induction lengths are then compared with available experimental data for critical energy and critical tube diameter for initiation of spherical detonation, as well as detonation limits in linear tubes. Combined with earlier studies concerning variations in fuel-oxidizer equivalence ratio and degree of dilution with N/sub 2/, the model provides a unified treatment of fuel oxidation kinetics in detonations. 4 figures, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5359470
• Report Number(s): UCRL-87089; CONF-820801-3; ON: DE82007144
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080800* -- Hydrogen-- Properties & Composition
090110 -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Properties-- (1979-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400800 -- Combustion
Pyrolysis
& High-Temperature Chemistry
ACETYLENE
ALKANES
ALKENES
ALKYNES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DETONATIONS
ELEMENTS
ETHANE
ETHYLENE
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN
KINETICS
METHANE
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
REACTION KINETICS