Experimental and computed burning velocities of propane–air mixtures

The laminar burning velocities of propane/air mixtures with various initial concentrations, pressures and temperatures ([C3H8] = 2.50–6.20 vol.%, p0 = 0.3–1.2 bar and T0 = 298–423 K) were evaluated from pressure measurements in a spherical vessel following central ignition, using a recent correlation based on the cubic law of pressure rise during the early stage of explosion. The burning velocities of propane–air mixtures derived from experimental data are examined against values reported in literature, obtained by other methods, and against computed values, obtained with the package INSFLA for free laminar premixed flames, using an extended reaction mechanism with 592 elementary reactions and 53 species. The experimental burning velocities are correlated with temperature and pressure in the form: S u = S u , 0 T T 0 μ ( p p 0 ) ν , where the thermal and baric coefficients are: μ = 1.30, …, 2.10 and ν = −0.13, …, −0.30. Although the burning velocities were obtained over a restricted range of initial pressures and temperatures, the baric and thermal coefficients correspond well to the usual range of variation.