Experimental and Numerical Study of Ignition and Flame Propagation for Methane–Air Mixtures in Small Vessels

Methane is one of the most common gaseous fuels that also exist in nature as main part natural gas, flammable biogas or reaction products from biomass pyrolysis. In this respect, and installations are always subjected to explosion hazards due methane. Simple methods for evaluating great importance, at least preliminary stage. The paper describes such a method based on an elementary analysis cubic law pressure rise during early stages flame propagation symmetrical cylindrical vessel small volume (0.17 L). pressure–time curves lean, stoichiometric rich methane–air mixtures were recorded analyzed. From history, when increase equal less than initial pressure, normal burning velocities evaluated discussed. Qualitative experiments performed presence radioactive source 60Co order highlight its influence over explosivity parameters, minimum ignition energy, maximum rate rise, velocity. results agreement with literature data.