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Marginal detonation of aliphatic natural gas constituents with O[sub 2]/N[sub 2]

Journal Article · · Combustion and Flame; (United States)
 [1];  [2]
  1. Middle East Technical Univ., Petroleum Engineering Dept., Ankara (Turkey)
  2. Imperial Coll. of Science and Technology, London (United Kingdom). Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology

This paper reports that detonation propagation and detonation limits in gaseous ternary systems of methane, ethane, n-propane, and n-butane with oxygen and nitrogen have been studied in a 50-mm bore tube, at 1 bar.a and room temperature, after initiation by a denotating mixture of stoichiometric hydrogen and oxygen. Fuel-lean limit concentrations in each system are largely independent of increased diluent concentration up to mixtures with air, but fuel-rich limit concentrations vary and in the case of n-propane and n-butane appear dependent on energy release from condensation processes. For both dilutions, however, the results support once again the opinion that shock temperatures of at least 1200 K are a prerequisite for stable, viable detonation of aliphatic natural gas constituents confined in tubes with nitrogen and/or oxygen. On a relative scale, for mixtures with air, methane appeared least and ethane most detonable.

OSTI ID:
7025935
Journal Information:
Combustion and Flame; (United States), Journal Name: Combustion and Flame; (United States) Vol. 91:3/4; ISSN CBFMAO; ISSN 0010-2180
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English