Intermediate temperature oxidation of methane, ethane and propane mixtures in a rapid compression machine: Experiments and modelling

A rapid compression machine was used to measure ignition delay times for the oxidation of methane under fuel-rich conditions, at compressed gas pressures of 30 and 40 atm and 956-1024 K. Ignition delay times for 85% methane/15% ethane mixtures were measured at 1000-1100 K at a compressed gas pressure of 40 atm and in the equivalence ratio range 0.5:1-2:1. These data were complemented by experiments using 85% methane/15% propane under similar conditions of temperature, pressure and equivalence ratio. Finally, ignition delay times were measured for propane at 600-1000 K, at compressed gas pressures of 20, 30, and 40 atm and equivalence ratios of 0.5:1-2:1. A negative temperature coefficient behavior was observed for propane oxidation similar to other alkane oxidation studies under these low to intermediate temperature conditions. However, no two-stage ignition for propane in any of our experiments was observed. Original is an abstract.