Constants of explosive limits

•Density factor is defined as the ratio of before ignition density to after ignition density of the ignition mixture.•This work provides an estimation method for explosive limits of various fuels.•The assumption of a constant density factor can be used in approximating upper explosive limit.

This work defines density factor as the ratio of before ignition density to after ignition density of the ignition mixture. This work provides an estimation method for explosive limits of various fuels under room temperature and pressure by showing that for a large universe of fuels, constant adiabatic flame temperature and density factor are appropriate approximations at the lower explosive limit while only a constant density factor might be an appropriate approximation at the upper explosive limit. Thus the assumption of a constant adiabatic flame temperature can be used in calculating lower explosive limit while the assumption of a constant density factor can be used in approximating upper explosive limit.