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Formation of NO(x) from nitrogen-containing additives in premixed methane flames

Journal Article · · Combust. Flame; (United States)
The conversion of fuel nitrogen to nitrogen oxides (NO + NO2) is premixed methane flames containing nitrogen at concentrations approaching those found in polymers is investigated. Maximum concentrations of nitric oxide of up to 18,000 ppm were produced by the addition of ammonia, acetonitrile or pyridine to laminar methane-oxygen flames diluted with argon or nitrogen. Combustion occurred at equivalence ratios from 0.70 to 1.16 and final flame temperatures between 2000 and 2600 K. The conversion of nitrogen to NO(x) is found to be nearly quantitative for low concentrations of additive, but to approach a limiting value at high concentrations, which value decreased with increasing equivalence ratio and decreasing flame temperature. The formation of nitric oxide is explained in terms of a simple three-stage mechanism involving a nitrogen-containing intermediate, which is then used to derive an expression allowing the prediction of NO(x) levels for other hydrocarbon flames.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Manchester Inst. of Science and Tech., England
OSTI ID:
6434028
Journal Information:
Combust. Flame; (United States), Journal Name: Combust. Flame; (United States) Vol. 51; ISSN CBFMA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English