Surface Growth of Soot Particles in Premixed Ethylene/Air Flames

Abstract

The surface growth rate of soot increases steeply with increasing equivalence ratio. We have found that the increased growth rate is accounted for primarily by the increased surface area available for growth rather than by increased concentrations of surface growth species. We have shown that the surface growth species are not depleted by the process of surface growth. Our data suggest that the surface growth seen in our flames can be accounted for primarily by reaction of acetylene with the soot particles.