The stability of laminar diffusion flames of methane

✍ Scribed by K. Robson; M.J.G. Wilson

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1969
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 723 KB
• Volume: 13
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0010-2180
• DOI: 10.1016/0010-2180(69)90070-4

✦ Synopsis

Laminar diffusion flames of methane were burned on small tubes. Flow velocity, temperature and composition were measured over a small region near the flame base. The central stream of methane entrained air below and through the flame, cooling the flame base to about 1500°C but increasing the reactant flux. Near lift, the oxygen flux and gas velocity at the flame base were similar to the values in premixed methane-air flames burning at the same temperature.

SMALL diffusion flames are useful for domestic purposes, though prone to lift when methane is the fuel gas. This problem of flame lift has been studied by determining the conditions near the base of a methane diffusion flame. The flame burned on a round tube, so it was symmetrical about a vertical axis, and observations could be made in any vertical plane containing the axis. At the flame base the region of interest was small, being about 0.1 cm high and extending out to a radius of 0.2 cm. Temperature, velGcity and gas composition were mapped over this region, and the position of the flame base was recorded photographically.