Measurements and kinetic study on ignition delay times of propane/hydrogen in argon diluted oxygen

Measurements on ignition delay times of propane/hydrogen mixtures in argon diluted oxygen were conducted for hydrogen fractions in the fuel mixtures (XH2)(XH2) from 0 to 100%, pressures of 1.2, 4.0 and 10 atm, and temperatures from 1000 to 1600 K using the shock-tube. Results show that for XH2XH2 less than 70%, ignition delay time shows a strong Arrhenius temperature dependence and it decreases with the increase of pressure, while for XH2XH2 larger than 90%, there is a crossover pressure dependence of the ignition delay time with increasing temperature. Numerical studies were made using the selected kinetic mechanisms and results show that the predicted ignition delay time gives a reasonable agreement with the measurements. Both measurements and predictions show that for XH2XH2 less than 70%, the ignition delay time is only moderately decreased with the increase of XH2XH2, indicating that hydrogen addition has weak effect on ignition enhancement. Sensitivity analysis reveals the key reactions that control the simulation of ignition delay time. Kinetic study is made to interpret the ignition delay time dependence on pressure and XH2XH2.

► Ignition delay times of propane/hydrogen mixtures are measured.
► Crossover pressure dependence of ignition delay with temperature at high H2 case.
► Hydrogen addition has weak effect on ignition enhancement at low H2 case.
► Key reactions for ignition enhancement and inhibition are found.