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Title: Extinction Limits of Nonadiabatic, Catalyst-Assisted Flames in Stagnation-Point Flow

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/781978· OSTI ID:781978

An idealized geometry corresponding to a premixed flame in stagnation-point flow is used to investigate the effects of catalysis on extending the extinction limits of on adiabatic stretched flames. Specifically, a surface catalytic reaction is assumed to occur on the stagnation plane, thereby augmenting combustion in the bulk gas with a exothermic surface reaction characterized by a reduced activation energy. Assuming the activation energies remain large, an asymptotic analysis of the resulting flame structure yields a formula for the extinction limit as a function of various parameters. In particular, it is demonstrated that the presence of a surface catalyst can extend the burning regime, thus counterbalancing the effects of heat loss and flame stretch that tend to shrink it. The analysis is relevant to small-volume combustors, where the increased surface-to-volume ratio can lead to extinction of the nonadiabatic flame in the absence of a catalyst.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of Energy (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
781978
Report Number(s):
SAND2001-8172; TRN: AH200124%%94
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1 Feb 2001
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English