Comparison of Minimum Ignition Energy for Four Alkanes: Effects of Ignition Kernel Size and Equivalence Ratio

• Published in: Combustion science and technology 1993-05, Vol.91 (1-3), p.163-178
• Main Authors: WANG, CHIN-SHU, SIBULKIN, MERWIN
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Combustion of gaseous fuels; Combustion. Flame; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; extinction; Ignition; minimum ignition energy; propagation; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering
• ISSN: 0010-2202; 1563-521X
• DOI: 10.1080/00102209308907638

Minimum ignition energies have been calculated for alkane-air mixtures at standard ambient conditions. The governing conservation equations have been solved using approximate transport properties and chemistry. A six-species, four-step global reaction scheme for combustion of alkane hydrocarbons up to butane (Jones and Lindstedt, 1988) was employed. Radiative heat loss due to band emission from the ignition kernel which is included in the calculations was found to be negligible at equivalence ratios where ignition energy is a minimum. The important effect of energy input radius on minimum ignition energy is discussed in some detail for a propane-air mixture. After establishing a methodology for finding the minimum ignition energy for a specific fuel and equivalence ratio, results are presented for methane through butane over a wide range of equivalence ratios. A comparison is made with experimental results, and the similarities and differences are discussed.