Ignition and flame speed kinetics of two natural gas blends with high levels of heavier hydrocarbons

High-pressure experiments and chemical kinetics modeling were performed to generate a database and a chemical kinetic model that can characterize the combustion chemistry of methane-based fuel blends containing significant levels of heavy hydrocarbons (up to 37.5% by volume). Ignition delay times were measured in two different shock tubes and in a rapid compression machine at pressures up to 34 atm and temperatures from 740 K to 1660 K. Laminar flame speeds were also measured at pressures up to 4 atm using a high-pressure vessel with optical access. Two different fuel blends containing ethane, propane, n-butane, and n-pentane added to methane were studied at equivalence ratios varying from lean (0.3) to rich (2.0). This paper represents the most comprehensive set of experimental ignition and laminar flame speed data available in the open literature for CH₄/C₂H₆/C₃H₈ /C₄H₁₀/C₅H₁₂ fuel blends with significant levels of C2+ hydrocarbons. Using these data, a detailed chemical kinetics model based on current and recent work by the authors was compiled and refined. The predictions of the model are very good over the entire range of ignition delay times, considering the fact that the data set is so thorough. Nonetheless, some improvements to the model can still be made with respect to ignition times at the lowest temperatures and for the laminar flame speeds at pressures above 1 atm and at rich conditions.