Determination of laminar burning velocities for lean low calorific H2/N2 and H2/CO/N2 gas mixtures

•Experimental investigation of laminar burning velocities.•Investigation of lean premixed H2-air and H2/CO-air mixtures highly diluted with N2.•Heat Flux burner method was utilized.•1D simulations with different chemical reaction mechanism.•Numerical predictions are analysed and compared with the experimental data.

Combustion of lean and ultra-lean synthetic H2/CO mixtures that are highly diluted in inert gases is of great importance in several fields of technology, particularly in the field of post combustion for combined heat and power (CHP) systems based on fuel cell technology. In this case H2/CO mixtures occur via hydrocarbon reforming and their complete conversion requires efficient, compact and low emission combustion systems. In order to design such systems, knowledge of global flame properties like the laminar burning velocity, is essential. Using the heat flux burner method, laminar burning velocities were experimentally determined for highly N2 diluted synthetic H2 and H2/CO mixtures with low calorific value, burning with air, at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, numerical 1-D simulations were performed, using a series of different chemical reaction mechanisms. These numerical predictions are analysed and compared with the experimental data.