Abstract
The autoignition of premixed fuel/air mixtures at atmospheric pressure in the free convection boundary layer flow adjacent to a vertical isothermal hot plate has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. A flow rig is described that is used to simulate the free convection flow in free space of a fuel/air mixture over a vertical hot plate. Measurements of the reacting temperature field for a range of conditions up to the onset of ignition have been made in the rig using fine wire thermocouples. A mathematical model of this reacting free convection flow in which a one-step chemical reaction with Arrhenius kinetics is used to represent the exothermic oxidation chemistry is also described. Comparison of the experimental and theoretical results shows that this simple chemical model cannot yeild a satisfactory representation of the autoignition phenomenon. The experimental results are compatible with the cool-flame and two stage ignition behaviour observed in other experimental investigations. A more detailed representation of the oxidation chemistry is required for a satisfactory mathematical model.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1799-1806 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Symposium (International) on Combustion |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1981 |
| Externally published | Yes |