A computational study of spherical diffusion flames in microgravity with gas radiation. Part II: Parametric studies of the diluent effects on flame extinction

Halon 1301 flame extinction results are discussed for the com bustion of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), eight composite materials, and carbon in the gas phase. Two types of combustion and flame extinction experi ments were performed: (1) in the Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC) flammability apparatus (50 kW scale) for PMMA and composite materials, and (2) in the FMRC electrical arc apparatus for carbon in the gas phase. For char forming composite materials, mass transfer from the surface was low, turbulent diffusion flames were not generated, and flame extinction oc curred between 3 to 4.5% of Halon 1301, close to the value reported for the lam inar diffusion flames of polymers. For non-charring PMMA, mass transfer from the surface was high, flames were turbulent, and flame extinction was found at about 6% of Halon 1301, contrary to the accepted value of about 4% for the lam inar diffusion flames of polymers. With Halon 1301 the conditions for flame in stability and extinction for combustion efficiency less than about 0.40, with sig nificant increase in the amounts of products of incomplete combustion (such as CO and hydrocarbon), were in agreement with flame instability and extinction found for fuel-rich conditions inside well-ventilated laminar and turbulent diffusion flames, in ceiling layers of combustion products, in enclosure fires, in ventilation-controlled buoyant diffusion flames of polymers, and for flame ex tinction of heptane flames by water. Experiments in the FMRC electrical arc apparatus showed that in the gas phase combustion of carbon vapors generated in high energy arc, chemical heat release rate and combustion efficiency decreased with increase in Halon 1301. At about 7.5% of Halon 1301, conditions were close to flame extinction and at 9.0%, oxidative pyrolysis of carbon was indicated. Concentrations of Br- and F- ions, generated from the decomposition of Halon 1301, were also measured. Concentration of Br- ions was higher than the concentration of F- ions, al though there are three F atoms and only one Br atom in Halon 1301. There was brown deposit on the walls of the apparatus with extensive corrosion of rubber gaskets, electrical fan, and other components. The techniques discussed in this article appear to be attractive for the assess ment of flame extinguishability and corrosive characteristics of fire suppres sants to replace ozone layer depleting Halons.

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PAHs and Soot Emissions in Oxygenated Ethylene Diffusion Flames at Elevated Pressures

Volume 4B: Combustion, Fuels, and Emissions ◽

10.1115/gt2018-77180 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Krishna C. Kalvakala ◽

Suresh K. Aggarwal

Keyword(s):

Diffusion Flames ◽

Soot Formation ◽

Computational Study ◽

Mixture Fraction ◽

Flame Temperature ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Soot Emission ◽

Elevated Pressures ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

Soot Emissions

Operating combustion systems at elevated pressures has the advantage of improved thermal efficiency and system compactness. However, it also leads to increased soot emission. We report herein a computational study to characterize the effect of oxygenation on PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) and soot emissions in ethylene diffusion flames at pressures 1–8atm. Laminar oxygenated flames are established in a counterflow configuration by using N2 diluted fuel stream along with O2 enriched oxidizer stream such that the stoichiometric mixture fraction (ζst) is varied, but the adiabatic flame temperature is not materially changed. Simulations are performed using a validated fuel chemistry model and a detailed soot model. The primary objective of the study was to expand the fundamental understanding of PAH and soot formation in oxygenated flames at elevated pressures. At a given pressure, as the level of oxygenation (ζst) is increased, we observe a significant reduction in PAHs (benzene and pyrene) and consequently in soot formation. Further, at a fixed ζst, as pressure is increased, it leads to increased benzene and pyrene formation, and thus increased soot emission. The reaction path analysis indicates that this can be attributed to the fact that at higher pressures, the C2/C4 path becomes more significant for benzene formation compared to the propargyl recombination path.

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