The structure of three laminar premixed rich flames have been investigated: a pure methane flame and two methane flames doped by allene and propyne, respectively. The gases of the three flames contain 20.9% (molar) of methane and 33.4 % of oxygen corresponding to an equivalent ratio of 1.25 for the pure methane flame. In both doped flames, 2.49 % of C 3 H 4 was added, corresponding to a ratio C 3 H 4 / CH 4 of 12 % and an equivalent ratio of 1.55. The three flames have been stabilized on a burner at a pressure of 6.7 kPa using argon as dilutant, with a gas velocity at the burner of 36 cm/s at 333 K. The concentration profiles of stable species were measured by gas chromatography after sampling with a quartz microprobe. Quantified species included carbon monoxide and dioxide, methane, oxygen, hydrogen, ethane, ethylene, acetylene, propyne, allene, propene, propane, 1,2-butadiene, 1,3-butadiene, 1-butene, iso-butene, 1-butyne, vinylacetylene and benzene. The temperature was measured using a thermocouple in PtRh (6%)-PtRh (30%) settled inside the enclosure and ranged from 700K close to the burner up to 1850K. In order to model these new results, some improvements have been made to a mechanism previously developed in our laboratory for the reactions of C 3 -C 4 unsaturated hydrocarbons. The main reaction pathways of consumption of allene and propyne and of formation of C 6 aromatic species have been derived from flow rate analyses.Keywords : Premixed laminar flame, methane, allene, propyne, modeling. 3 INTRODUCTIONSoots and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which are present in the exhaust gas of diesel engine, represent a high part of the urban pollution. Many efforts have then been focused on reducing the emissions of these compounds. The formation of soot precursors and PAH in combustion involves small unsaturated hydrocarbons, the chemistry of which is still very uncertain. Different reaction pathways have been proposed for the formation and the oxidation of the first aromatic compounds, involving the reactions of C 2 (acetylene), C 3 or C 4 unsaturated species [1][2][3][4][5].As the determinant role of propargyl radicals in forming benzene, the first aromatic ring, is now well accepted, it is important to better understand their reactions. With that purpose, the oxidation of allene (propadiene) and propyne has been already studied in several oxidation conditions: shock tubes [6][7][8], flow reactor [9,10], jet-stirred reactor [7,11] and premixed flames [10,11]. Previous works in flames include studies of the influence of the addition of allene on The purpose of the present paper is to experimentally investigate the structures of two premixed laminar methane flames containing propadiene and propyne, respectively, and to compare them with that of a pure methane flame containing the same mole fractions of methane and oxygen. The use of a methane flame will allow us to have a reactive mixture rich in methyl radicals and to be more representative of combustion mixtures containing larger hydrocarbons than hydrogen or ...

In line with the study presented in the part I of this paper, the structure of a laminar rich premixed methane flame doped with 1,3-butadiene has been investigated. The flame contains 20.7% (molar) of methane, 31.4% of oxygen and 3.3% of 1,3-butadiene, corresponding to an equivalence ratio of 1.8, and a ratio C 4 H 6 / CH 4 of 16 %. The flame has been stabilized on a burner at a pressure of 6.7 kPa using argon as dilutant, with a gas velocity at the burner of 36 cm/s at 333 K. The temperature ranged from 600 K close to the burner up to 2150 K. Quantified species included usual methane C 0 -C 2 combustion products and 1,3-butadiene, but also propyne, allene, propene, propane, 1,2-butadiene, butynes, vinylacetylene, diacetylene, 1,3-pentadiene, 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene), 1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-butene, benzene and toluene.In order to model these new results, some improvements have been made to a mechanism previously developed in our laboratory for the reactions of C 3 -C 4 unsaturated hydrocarbons. The main reaction pathways of consumption of 1,3-butadiene and of formation of C 6 aromatic species have been derived from flow rate analyses. In this case, the C 4 route to benzene formation plays an important role in comparison to the C 3 pathway.

In line with the studies presented in the parts I and II of this paper, the structure of a laminar rich premixed methane flame doped with cyclopentene has been investigated. The gases of this flame contains 15.3% (molar) of methane, 26.7% of oxygen and 2.4% cyclopentene corresponding to an equivalence ratio of 1.79 and a ratio C 5 H 8 / CH 4 of 16 %. The flame has been stabilized on a burner at a pressure of 6.7 kPa using argon as dilutant, with a gas velocity at the burner of 36 cm/s at 333 K. The temperature ranged from 627 K close to the burner up to 2027 K. Quantified species included usual methane C 0 -C 2 combustion products, but also propyne, allene, propene, propane, 1-butene, 1,3-butadiene, 1,2-butadiene, vinylacetylene, diacetylene, cyclopentadiene, 1,3-pentadiene, benzene and toluene. A new mechanism for the oxidation of cyclopentene has been proposed. The main reaction pathways of consumption of cyclopentene and of formation of benzene and toluene have been derived from flow rate analyses.

For a better modeling of the importance of the different channels leading to the first aromatic ring, we have compared the structures of laminar rich premixed methane flames doped with several unsaturated hydrocarbons: allene and propyne, because they are precursors of propargyl radicals which are well known as having an important role in forming benzene, 1,3-butadiene to put in evidence a possible production of benzene due to reactions of C 4 compounds, and, finally, cyclopentene which is a source of cyclopentadienylmethylene radicals which in turn are expected to easily isomerizes to give benzene. These flames have been stabilized on a burner at a pressure of 6.7 kPa (50 Torr) using argon as dilutant, for equivalence ratios (φ) from 1.55 to 1.79. A unique mechanism, including the formation and decomposition of benzene and toluene, has been used to model the oxidation of allene, propyne, 1,3-butadiene and cyclopentene. The main reaction pathways of aromatics formation have been derived from reaction rate and sensitivity analyses and have been compared for the three types of additives. These combined analyses and comparisons can only been performed when a unique mechanism is available for all the studied additives.

The structure of a laminar rich premixed 1,3-C 4 H 6 /CH 4 /O 2 /Ar flame have been investigated. 1,3-Butadiene, methane, oxygen and argon mole fractions are 0.033; 0.2073; 0.3315, and 0.4280, respectively, for an equivalent ratio of 1.80. The flame has been stabilized on a burner at a pressure of 6.7 kPa (50 Torr). The concentration profiles of stable species were measured by gas chromatography after sampling with a quartz probe. Quantified species included carbon monoxide and dioxide,