The Experimental Behavior of Premixed Flames in Tubes: The Effects of Diluent Gases

Abstract

One of the problems facing gas turbine users is the proliferation of gaseous fuels which may be available. These are so many that a comprehensive rig/engine study would be far too costly to undertake. The present studies represent an attempt to quantify the behavior of such fuels, in a simple environment. Measurements of the rates of flame travel and the stability limits have been made for propane/oxygen mixtures diluted with nitrogen, carbon dioxide, helium or argon. The results have been used to forecast the laminar flame speed of mixtures, and rates of flame travel for the various mixtures have been correlated with groups representative of reaction rate and gas transport properties.