Correlation of Laminar Flame Velocities for Hydrocarbon-Oxygen-Inert Gas Mixtures

Author: Crowe, Thomas Huston

Year: 1955

Degree: Engineer's thesis

Advisor: Penner, Stanford S.

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Aeronautics

DOI: 10.7907/29MY-5D14

Abstract

A thermal theory of laminar flame propagation for hydrocarbon-oxygen flames is described. The method of analysis follows the earlier work of von Karman and his collaborators. The problem is greatly simplified by the introduction of several approximations and assumptions.

In Section III the problem is formulated and approximate solutions are given for hydrocarbon-oxygen flames, assuming a second order rate-controlling step. Approximate analytic solutions have been obtained for all mixture ratios.

Hydrocarbon-oxygen-inert gas mixtures are considered in Section IV. A second order rate-controlling step is again assumed and solutions are given for various initial gas compositions.

An attempt is made to correlate experimentally determined burning velocity data in Section V. Reference to Section V shows that a good correlation was obtained only for lean mixtures. Absolute values for the laminar burning velocity cannot be estimated because of the lack of data concerning reaction mechanism and specific reaction rate constants.

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