Factors affecting combustion of organic materials in high-pressure environments. Spray ignition of aliphatic hydrocarbons

Abstract

Samples of n-hexane, n-hexadecane, and squalane were used in initial studies of factors affecting combustion of aliphatic hydrocarbons in a high-pressure injection system. Factors considered were temperature, sample size, pressure, catalytic effects, and chemical structure. Ignition delay as a function of these factors was studied. Information on spontaneous ignition (self-ignition) temperatures also is presented. Ignition delay as a function of temperature was the most significant measurement. Relative activation energies were calculated from the data by the Arrhenius theory of reaction rates. Reactant sample size affected the ignition delay at specified pressures and temperature. Under the conditions studied, increasing sample injection pressure and leaving the reactor tube pressure constant decreased ignition delay. Catalytic effects, if any, were not detected and ignition delay increased with the molecular weight of the aliphatic hydrocarbons.