Soot formation in laminar diffusion flames of natural gas with hydrocarbon and air additive

It is shown that when acetylene, ethylene, hexane, octane, benzene, and naphthalene are introduced into natural gas, new soot particles are not formed in laminar diffusion flames and the hydrocarbon additives are expended only in particle growth. A similar effect, referred to as the inhibition of soot formation, has been observed previously during isothermal pyrolysis of hydrocarbon mixtures. Introducing air into the gas sharply reduces the yield of soot. Complete cessation of soot production, as observed from the disappearance of the luminous flame tip, corresponds to an air/natural gas ratio of 2.1.