Oxidation and Ignition Characteristics of Hydrocarbon Fuels

A research program studying the oxidation and ignition characteristics of hydrocarbon fuels has been conducted. The program was initiated in October 1985 with the awarding of a research grant through the Army Research Office (Grant No. DAAG 29-85-K-0253, Project No. 22437-EG) and ran through November 1989. The research program entailed mechanistic studies examining the oxidation chemistry of single-component hydrocarbons and ignition studies examining the overall ignition behavior of pure single-component fuels and binary and ternary fuel blends. Three separate and complementary bench scale experiments, which include a static reactor, an atmospheric pressure flow reactor, and a pressurized flow reactor were used to examine the preignition chemistry and ignition behavior of hydrocarbons over a range of temperatures, pressures, and equivalence ratios. Gas chromatography and GC/MS were used for chemical analysis of the stable reaction intermediates and products. Specifically, the objectives defined for this study were to: (1) obtain kinetic information in the low and intermediate temperature regimes (5001000 K) over a range of pressures (up to 15 atm) for the oxidation of pure hydrocarbons in the 6 4 to C1 2 range; (2) determine the synergistic and antagonistic effects for binary and ternary mixtures of full boiling range fuel components; and (3) develop a method for predicting the ignition characteristics of actua! fuels based on their composition. Work focused on mechanistic studies using the static reactor, ignition studies using the atmospheric pressure flow reactor, and construction, verification, and preliminary testing of the pressurized flow reactor. The overall program has been successfully completed and has added to our understanding of fuel factors and physical effects on oxidation and ignition processes.