Free-radical reactions in glow and explosion of carbon monoxide-oxygen mixtures

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Combust. Flame; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-2180(86)90116-1· OSTI ID:5697945

Von Elbe, G; Lewis, B

Examination of published compilations of rate coefficients of free-radical reactions yields reactions that are associated with chain branching in mixtures of CO and O/sub 2/ and small quantities of hydrogen or water vapor. The complete mechanism included diffusion of HO/sub 2/ radicals to the vessel wall and their adsorption and reaction at the surface. This mechanism is applied to the data of E.J. Buckler and R.G.W. Norrish on the branched-chain explosion of CO-O/sub 2/ mixtures containing H/sub 2/ in the order of 1 mm Hg. Substantial agreement is found between theory and experiment. Further, the mechanism is applied to experiments of Bond, Gray, and Griffiths with an H/sub 2/ content of 0.01-0.05 mm Hg. By specifying details of the adsorption and surface reaction of HO/sub 2/ on the basis of Langmuir's adsorption the phenomenon of flow is explained and the regions of slow reaction, glow, and explosion are described in accord with the experimental data. It is confirmed that the reaction between CO and O/sub 2/ requires the presence of a hydrogenous compound such as H/sub 2/, H/sub 2/O, CH/sub 4/, etc., and that ''dry'' homogenous reaction is not possible except at very high temperatures.

• Research Organization: Combustion and Explosives Research, Inc., 719 Oliver Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
• OSTI ID: 5697945
• Journal Information: Combust. Flame; (United States), Journal Name: Combust. Flame; (United States) Vol. 63:1-2; ISSN CBFMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400800* -- Combustion
Pyrolysis
& High-Temperature Chemistry
ADSORPTION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
COMBUSTION KINETICS
DATA ANALYSIS
DIFFUSION
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
EXPLOSIONS
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROGEN
KINETICS
MIXTURES
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REACTION KINETICS
SORPTION
VAPORS
WATER VAPOR
YIELDS