Propagation of sub-atmospheric methyl formate flames

Laminar flame speeds of methyl formate/air mixtures were measured at sub-atmospheric pressures for which limited data exist. The experiments were carried out in the counterflow configuration at an unburned mixture temperature of 333 K. The flow velocities were measured using particle image velocimetry. Particle phase slip correction was applied to low-pressure data sets for which the density disparity between the flow tracers and the gaseous phase is notable. The data were modeled using two recently developed kinetic models of methyl formate oxidation, and significant disagreements were realized at all pressures especially under fuel-rich conditions. Additionally, the computed species profiles of CO and CO2 in the burner-stabilized flame configuration using the two models were found to differ significantly. Reaction path analysis revealed that the kinetics of CH2OCHO that is produced directly from the fuel affects the overall reactivity, and the attendant rate constants differ between the two models. The variation of laminar flame speed with pressure revealed also a different behavior between experiments and simulations. Further insight into the sources causing the observed discrepancies were investigated and it was determined that reactions involving formyl radical, methanol, and formaldehyde could also be responsible for the reduction in reactivity specifically under fuel-rich conditions.