Study of Quasi-Global Schemes for Hydrocarbon Combustion

Abstract

The paper presents experimental results of the study, in a “well stirred reactor”, of the combustion of hydrocarbons with air. Particular care had been taken in the realization of a good “stirring”, or homogenization, of the combustor, and in the minimization of heat losses. The evolution of the CO, CO₂, H₂ species during the combustion of CH₄, C₃H₈, CH₄ + H₂ mixture, benzene and isooctane has been measured as a function of residence time for reaction extents from 0.50 to 0.95, according to the cases, and for equivalence ratio from 0.65 to 1.20. These experimental results have been exploited with a view to leading to a “quasi global” schematization of the complex chemical processes of combustion, for which the numerical values of the corresponding constants have been obtained; a computer programme has been deducted from that scheme, which yielded a rather satisfactory agreement with experimental results. Although relatively simplified, this schematization can already be used with reasonable safety for predicting the performance of burners and combustors, particularly of turbomachine combustors.