A shock tube study of n- and iso-propanol ignition

An understanding of the ignition and oxidation characteristics of propanol, as well as other alcohols, is important toward the development and design of combustion engines that can effectively utilize bioderived and bioblended fuels. Building upon a database for "first-generation" alcohols including methanol and ethanol, the ignition characteristics of the two isomers of propanol (n-propanol and iso-propanol) have been studied in a shock tube. Ignition delay times for propanol/oxygen/argon mixtures have been measured behind reflected shock waves at temperatures ranging from approximately 1350 to 2000 K and a pressure of 1 atm. Equivalence ratios of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 have been used. Pressure measurements and CH^* emissions were used to determine ignition delay times. The influences of equivalence ratio, temperature, and mixture strength on ignition delay have been characterized and compared to the behavior seen with a newly developed detailed kinetic mechanism. The overall trends are captured fairly well by the mechanism, which include a greater level of reactivity for the n-propanol mixtures relative to iso-propanol at the conditions used in this study.