Methane/propane oxidation at high pressures: Experimental and detailed chemical kinetic modeling

Shock tube experiments and chemical kinetic modeling were performed to further understand the ignition and oxidation kinetics of various methane-propane fuel blends at gas turbine pressures. Ignition delay times were obtained behind reflected shock waves for fuel mixtures consisting of CH4/C3H8 in ratios ranging from 90/10% to 60/40%. Equivalence ratios varied from lean (phi = 0.5), through stoichiometric to rich (phi = 3.0) at test pressures from 5.3 to 31.4 atm. These pressures and mixtures, in conjunction with test temperatures as low as 1042 K, cover a critical range of conditions relevant to practical turbines where few, if any, CH4/C3H8 prior data existed. A methane/propane oxidation mechanism was prepared to simulate the experimental results. It was found that the reactions involving CH3O, CH3O2, and CH3 + O-2/HO2 chemistry were very important in reproducing the correct kinetic behavior. (C) 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The Combustion Institute.