Simulation of the flame propagation in a methane–air mixture in the presence of water aerosol

We have formulated a physicomathematical model of the flame propagation in a combustible gas containing water aerosol based on the thermal-diffusion model of the laminar flame propagation in a gas and taking into account the processes of heat and mass transfer between the phase and liquid drops. Computational-theoretical studies of the influence of water aerosol characteristics on the flame velocity in a lean methane–air mixture have been made. Comparison of the results of calculations with experimental data has shown that there is good agreement between them. Comparison of the efficiency of using water aerosol and inert gas to stop the spread of fire has shown that there exists a limiting size of the dispersed phase above which the efficiency of using water aerosol and inert powders to stop the spread of fire becomes equal. © 2015 Springer Science + Business Media New York.