Extinction of nonpremixed opposed-flow hydrocarbon flames by chemically-passive fire suppressants

Khaled M. Shebl, Ammar M. Abdilghanie, Werner J.A. Dahm, Gerard M. Faeth

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Effects of chemically-passive fire suppressants on the critical strain rate required to extinguish hydrocarbon-air opposed-flow diffusion flames were investigated by combined use of experiments and computations. Extinction strain rates were determined for fuel streams consisting of pure CH4, C 2H6, C3H8 or C2H 4 and oxidizer streams composed of air with 0-30% volume fractions of Ar, N2 or CO2 as inert suppressants. Relative suppressant effectiveness increased for all fuels in order from Ar to N2 to CO2, consistent with the increase in specific heat due to the resulting suppressant concentration in a stoichiometric mixture of the fuel and oxidizer streams. The higher suppressant effectiveness in the C 2H4 flames relative to previous measurements in wet-CO flames reflects the role of peak H-radical concentrations in the flame extinction process. Accordingly, although extinction strain rates for all fuels and suppressants correlate well with peak temperature just below the extinction limit, better correlation is found with the peak value of H radical concentration and with corresponding H+OH and H+O radical concentrations. However in contrast to suppressant effects in premixed flames, the present results do not indicate that the chain-terminating three-body recombination reaction H+O2+M → HO2+M controls the suppressant effectiveness in diffusion flames.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationCollection of Technical Papers - 43rd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference
PublisherAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc.
Pages6486-6497
Number of pages12
ISBN (Print)1563479036, 9781563479038
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007
Externally publishedYes
Event43rd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference - Cincinnati, OH, United States
Duration: Jul 8 2007Jul 11 2007

Publication series

NameCollection of Technical Papers - 43rd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference
Volume7

Other

Other43rd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityCincinnati, OH
Period7/8/077/11/07

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Space and Planetary Science

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