Effect of hydrogen enrichment on the auto-ignition of lean n-pentane/Hydrogen mixtures at elevated pressure

To understand the synergistic effect of hydrogen-enriched combustion of hydrocarbons in the high temperatures, ignition delay times of lean (φ = 0.5) n-pentane/hydrogen mixtures with various hydrogen volumetric contents (X_H2 = 0–95%) were measured in a shock tube at pressures of 2, 10 and 20 atm. As expected, the ignition delay time of n-pentane is decreased when doping with hydrogen. Interestingly, the effect of hydrogen addition on auto-ignition is nonlinear. Note that even the hydrogen proportion is as large as 95%, the ignition delay time of the binary mixture exhibits the n-pentane-like activation energy and pressure dependence characteristics. Reasons for the above-mentioned behaviors were analyzed.     

Measurements and kinetic study on ignition delay times of propane/hydrogen in argon diluted oxygen

Measurements on ignition delay times of propane/hydrogen mixtures in argon diluted oxygen were conducted for hydrogen fractions in the fuel mixtures (XH₂)$\left(X_{{\text{H}}_2}\right)$ from 0 to 100%, pressures of 1.2, 4.0 and 10 atm, and temperatures from 1000 to 1600 K using the shock-tube. Results show that for XH₂$X_{{\text{H}}_2}$ less than 70%, ignition delay time shows a strong Arrhenius temperature dependence and it decreases with the increase of pressure, while for XH₂$X_{{\text{H}}_2}$ larger than 90%, there is a crossover pressure dependence of the ignition delay time with increasing temperature. Numerical studies were made using the selected kinetic mechanisms and results show that the predicted ignition delay time gives a reasonable agreement with the measurements. Both measurements and predictions show that for XH₂$X_{{\text{H}}_2}$ less than 70%, the ignition delay time is only moderately decreased with the increase of XH₂$X_{{\text{H}}_2}$, indicating that hydrogen addition has weak effect on ignition enhancement. Sensitivity analysis reveals the key reactions that control the simulation of ignition delay time. Kinetic study is made to interpret the ignition delay time dependence on pressure and XH₂$X_{{\text{H}}_2}$.     

Experimental and kinetic study on ignition delay times of DME/H2/O2/Ar mixtures

Ignition delay times of dimethyl ether (DME)/hydrogen/oxygen/argon mixtures (hydrogen blending ratio ranging from 0% to 100%) were measured behind reflected shock waves at pressures of 1.2–10 atm, temperature range of 900–1700 K, and for the lean (? = 0.5), stoichiometric (? = 1.0) and rich (? = 2.0) mixtures. For more understanding the effect of initial parameters, correlations of ignition delay times for the lean mixtures were obtained on the basis of the measured data (X_H2 ? 95%) through multiple linear regression. Ignition delay times of the DME/H₂ mixtures demonstrate three ignition regimes. For X_H2 ? 80%, the ignition is dominated by the DME chemistry and ignition delay times show a typical Arrhenius dependence on temperature and pressure. For 80% ? X_H2 ? 98%, the ignition is dominated by the combined chemistries of DME and hydrogen, and ignition delay times at higher pressures give higher ignition activation energy. However, for X_H2 ? 98%, the transition in activation energy for the mixture was found as decreasing the temperature, indicating that the ignition is dominated by the hydrogen chemistry. Simulations were made using two available models and different results were presented. Thus, sensitivity analysis was performed to illustrate the causes of different simulation results of the two models. Subsequently, chemically interpreting on the effect of hydrogen blending ratio on ignition delay times was made using small radical mole fraction and reaction pathway analysis. Finally, high-pressure simulations were performed, serving as a starting point for the future work.     

Shock tube and kinetic study of C2H6/H2/O2/Ar mixtures at elevated pressures

Using a high-pressure shock tube facility, the ignition delay times of stoichiometric C₂H₆/H₂/O₂ diluted in argon were obtained behind reflected shock wave at elevated pressures (p = 1.2, 4.0 and 16.0 atm) with ethane blending ratios from 0 to 100%. The measured ignition delay times were compared to the previous correlations, and the results show that the ignition delay times of ethane from different studies exhibit an obvious difference. Meanwhile, numerical studies were conducted with three generally accepted kinetic mechanisms and the results show that only NUIG Aramco Mech 1.3 agrees well with the measurements under all test conditions. Sensitivity analysis was made to interpret the poor prediction of the other two mechanisms. Furthermore, the effect of ethane blending ratio on the ignition delay times of the mixtures was analyzed and the results show that ethane blending ratio gives a non-linear effect on the auto-ignition of hydrogen. Finally, chemical interpretations on this non-linear effect were made from the reaction pathway analysis and normalized H radical consumption analysis.     

Experimental and modeling study on ignition delays of lean mixtures of methane,hydrogen, oxygen,and argon at elevated pressures

Ignition delays of lean mixtures of methane–hydrogen with various hydrogen volumetric contents were experimentally studied in a shock tube together with modeling analysis. Results show that the ignition behavior of the methane–hydrogen mixture depending on pressure resembles that of methane for hydrogen fraction less than 40%, with the ignition delays decreasing with increasing pressure. For the hydrogen fraction equal 60%, a negligible promoted effect of pressure on the ignition of the methane–hydrogen mixture is exhibited. For hydrogen fractions equal or greater than 80%, however, the ignition response resembles that of hydrogen in that the ignition delay exhibits a complex dependence on pressure and two-step transition in the global activation energy. Compared with calculated values using four available mechanisms, the NUI Galway mechanism yielded the closest agreement, and was adopted in the sensitivity analysis of the ignition kinetics. The sensitivity analysis well explained the experimental results which the ignition delay decreases with increasing temperature regardless of whether methane (typical fuel 80%CH₄/20%H₂) or hydrogen (typical fuel 20%CH₄/80%H₂) dominates the ignition process. Rate of production analysis shows that the promoted effect of the hydrogen on the oxidation of the methane is mainly due to the concentrations of the free radicals such as H, O and OH increase with increasing hydrogen fraction, and lead to the total reaction rate is enhanced. Consumption of methane is mainly through these reactions in which the active free radicals participate.     

The effect of ignition delay time on the explosion behavior in non-uniform hydrogen-air mixtures

The purpose of this study is to examine the explosion characteristics of non-uniform hydrogen-air mixtures with turbulent mixing. In the experiment, hydrogen is first filled into a 20 L spherical chamber to a desired initial pressure, then air is introduced into the same chamber through a fast response solenoid valve, by adjusting the ignition delay time (t_d), i.e., the time period between the end of air injection and the action of ignition, the turbulent mixing strengthen (or called uniformity of hydrogen-air mixture) is then changed. The experimental results show that the explosions are overall enhanced as t_d decreases, which indicates that turbulence plays a leading role in enhancing the explosion behaviors. In addition, it is found that the effect of turbulence on p_max is more prominent in end-wall ignition than that in center ignition. This is because the heat loss per unit time is higher in end-wall ignition due to the flame front continuously contacts with inner wall of the chamber throughout the explosion process, although the explosion duration time t_e for both ignition cases is reduced when turbulence is introduced, heat loss reduction for end-wall ignition is generally larger than that in center ignition. Lately, a systematical analysis of the turbulent effect associated with various equivalence ratios on the explosion characteristics is conducted in end-wall ignition. Those experimental results illustrate that the turbulence-enhancing influence is more noticeable when hydrogen-air mixtures move toward the lower explosion limit. However, no significant influence of turbulence on explosion process can be found as combustible mixtures tend to the fuel-rich side. This is mainly because that when hydrogen-air mixtures tend to fuel-rich side, τ_e reduction caused by the presence of turbulence is relatively weak as compared with that under quiescent condition, resulting in heat loss during explosion process changes slightly, hence there is no significant impact on explosion parameters.     

Effect of hydrogen and syngas addition on the ignition of iso-octane/air mixtures

There is worldwide interest in using renewable fuels within the existing infrastructure. Hydrogen and syngas have shown significant potential as renewable fuels, which can be produced from a variety of biomass sources, and used in various transportation and power generation systems, especially as blends with hydrocarbon fuels. In the present study, a reduced mechanism containing 38 species and 74 reactions is developed to examine the ignition behavior of iso-octane/H₂ and iso-octane/syngas blends at engine relevant conditions. The mechanism is extensively validated using the shock tube and RCM ignition data, as well as three detailed mechanisms, for iso-octane/air, H₂/air and syngas/air mixtures. Simulations are performed to characterize the effects of H₂ and syngas on the ignition of iso-octane/air mixtures using the closed homogenous reactor model in CHEMKIN software. The effect of H₂ (or syngas) is found to be small for blends containing less than 50% H₂ (or syngas) by volume. However, for H₂ mole fractions above 50%, it increases and decreases the ignition delay at low (T < 900 K) and high temperatures (T > 1000 K), respectively. For H₂ fractions above 80%, the ignition is influenced more strongly by H₂ chemistry rather than by i-C₈H₁₈ chemistry, and does not exhibit the NTC behavior. Nevertheless, the addition of a relatively small amount of i-C₈H₁₈ (a low cetane number fuel) can significantly enhance the ignitability of H₂-air mixtures at NTC temperatures, which are relevant for HCCI and PCCI dual fuel engines. The CO addition seems to have a negligible effect on the ignition of i-C₈H₁₈/H₂/air mixtures, indicating that the ignition of i-C₈H₁₈/syngas blends is essentially determined by i-C₈H₁₈ and H₂ oxidation chemistries. The sensitivity and reaction path analysis indicates that i-C₈H₁₈ oxidation is initiated with the production of alkyl radical by H abstraction through reaction: i-C₈H₁₈ + O₂ = C₈H₁₇ + HO₂. Subsequently, the ignition chemistry in the NTC region is characterized by a competition between two paths represented by reactions R2 (C₈H₁₇ + O₂ = C₈H₁₇O₂) and R8 (C₈H₁₇ + O₂ = C₈H₁₆ + HO₂), with the R8 path dominating, and increasing the ignition delay. As the amount of H₂ in the blend becomes significant, it opens up another path for the consumption of OH through reaction R36 (H₂ + OH = H₂O + H), which slows down the ignition process. However, for T > 1100 K, the presence of H₂ decreases ignition delay primarily due to reactions R31 (O₂ + H = OH + O) and R35 (H₂O₂ + M = OH + OH + M).     

An experimental and modeling study of iso-octane ignition delay times under homogeneous charge compression ignition conditions

Autoignition of iso-octane was examined using a rapid compression facility (RCF) with iso-octane, oxygen, nitrogen, and argon mixtures. The effects of typical homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) conditions on the iso-octane ignition characteristics were studied. Experimental results for ignition delay times, τ_ign, were obtained from pressure time-histories. The experiments were conducted over a range of equivalence ratios (?=0.25-1.0), pressures (P=5.12-23 atm), temperatures (T=943-1027 K), and oxygen mole fractions (χO₂=9-21%), and with the addition of trace amounts of combustion product gases (CO₂ and H₂O). It was found that the ignition delay times were well represented by the expression

     

Effects of hydrogen peroxide addition on two-stage ignition characteristics of n-heptane/air mixtures

Rising fuel cost and environmental concerns of greenhouse emissions have driven the development of advanced engine technology with optimal fuel strategy that can simultaneously yield high thermal efficiency and low emissions. Due to its strong reactivity and extra oxygen atom serving as an oxidizer, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) has been used along with other hydrocarbons to promote overall combustion process. To explore the potential benefits of H₂O₂ in clean combustion technology, a numerical study with detailed chemistry is conducted to investigate the effects of H₂O₂ addition on the two-stage ignition characteristics of n-heptane/air mixtures at low-to-intermediate temperatures (below 1000 K), with due emphasis on how the negative temperature coefficient (NTC) behavior is affected. The results show that H₂O₂ addition shortens both the first-stage and total ignition delay times of n-heptane/air mixtures and suppresses the NTC behavior by reducing the upper turnover temperature. With increasing H₂O₂ addition, the lower turnover temperature, corresponding to the first-stage ignition delay minimum, is found to increase first and then decrease. Chemical kinetic analyses show that the addition of H₂O₂ promotes both first- and second-stage ignition reactivity by enhancing OH production through H₂O₂ decomposition. Furthermore, low-temperature chemistry controls the first-stage ignition, while H₂O₂ chemistry dominates the second-stage ignition.     

MILD combustion for hydrogen and syngas at elevated pressures

As gas recirculation constitutes a fundamental condition for the realization of MILD combustion, it is necessary to determine gas recirculation ratio before designing MILD combustor. MILD combustion model with gas recir- culation was used in this simulation work to evaluate the effect of fuel type and pressure on threshold gas recir- culation ratio of MILD mode. Ignition delay time is also an important design parameter for gas turbine combustor, this parameter is kinetically studied to analyze the effect of pressure on MILD mixture ignition. Threshold gas re- circulation ratio of hydrogen MILD combustion changes slightly and is nearly equal to that of 10 MJ/Nm3 syngas in the pressure range of 1-19 atm, under the conditions of 298 K fresh reactant temperature and 1373 K exhaust gas temperature, indicating that MILD regime is fuel flexible. Ignition delay calculation results show that pres- sure has a negative effect on ignition delay time of 10 MJ/Nm3 syngas MILD mixture, because OH mole fraction in MILD mixture drops down as pressure increases, resulting in the delay of the oxidation process.     

Effect of pressure and equivalence ratio on the ignition characteristics of dimethyl ether-hydrogen mixtures

Experimental and numerical study on the effect of pressure and equivalence ratio on the ignition delay times of the DME/H₂/O₂ mixtures diluted in argon were conducted using a shock tube and CHEMKIN II package at equivalence ratios of 0.5–2.0, pressures of 1.2–10 atm and hydrogen fractions of 0–100%. It was found that the measured ignition delay times of the DME/H₂ mixtures demonstrate three ignition regimes. For the DME/H₂ mixture at XH₂$X_{{\text{H}}_2}$ ≤80%, the ignition is controlled by the DME chemistry and ignition delay times present a typical Arrhenius pressure dependence and weak equivalence ratio dependence. For the DME/H₂ mixture at 80% < XH₂$X_{{\text{H}}_2}$ < 98%, the ignition is controlled by the combined chemistries of DME and hydrogen, and the ignition delay times give higher ignition activation energy at higher pressures and a typical Arrhenius equivalence ratio dependence. However, for the DME/H₂ mixture at XH₂$X_{{\text{H}}_2}$≥98%, the ignition is controlled by the hydrogen chemistry and ignition delay time shows complex pressure dependence and weak equivalence ratio dependence. Comparison of the measurements of neat DME and neat hydrogen with the calculations using three generally accepted mechanisms, NUIG Aramco Mech 1.3 [1], LLNL DME Mech 2, 3 and 4 and Princeton-Zhao Mech [5], shows that NUIG Aramco Mech 1.3 gives the best predictions and can well capture the pressure and equivalence ratio dependence at various hydrogen fractions. The sensitivity and normalized H-radicals consumption analysis were performed using NUIG Aramco Mech 1.3 and the key reactions that control the ignition characteristics of DME/H₂ mixtures were revealed. Further chemical kinetic analysis was made to interpret the ignition delay time dependence on pressure and equivalence ratio at varied hydrogen fractions.     

Experimental study on spark ignition of non-premixed hydrogen jets

The leaks of pressurized hydrogen can be ignited if an ignition source is within a certain distance from the source of the leaks, and jet fires or explosions may take place. In this paper, a high speed camera was used to investigate the ignition kernel development, ignition probability and flame propagation along the axis of hydrogen jets, which leaked from a 3-mm-internal-diameter nozzle and were ignited by an electric spark. Experimental results indicate that for successful ignition events, the ignition delay time increases with an increase of the distance between the nozzle and the electrode. Ignitable zone of the hydrogen jets is underestimated if using the predicted hydrogen concentration along the jets centerline. The average rate of downstream flame decreases but that of the upstream flame increases with the electrode going far from the nozzle.     

An experimental and kinetic modeling study of n-propanol and i-propanol ignition at high temperatures

Ignition delay times of n- and i-propanol mixtures in argon-diluted oxygen were measured behind reflected shocks. Experimental conditions are: temperatures from 1100 and 1500 K, pressures from 1.2 to 16.0 atm, fuel concentrations of 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.0%, and equivalence ratios of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0. A detailed kinetic model consisting of 238 species and 1448 reactions was developed to simulate the ignition of the two propanol isomers, with the computed ignition delay times agreeing well with the present measured results as well as the literature data at other conditions. Further validation of the kinetic mechanism was conducted by comparing the simulated results with measured JSR data and laminar flame speeds, and reasonable agreements were achieved for all test conditions. Moreover, reaction pathway analysis indicated that n-propanol mainly produces ethenol, ethene and propene, while i-propanol primarily produces acetone and propene. Finally, sensitivity analysis demonstrated that some fuel-species reactions can be found in the most important reactions for both propanols, and these are mainly the H-abstraction reactions.     

Autoignition delay times of propane mixtures under MILD conditions at atmospheric pressure

The aim of the present work was to obtain experimental reference data in controlled, simple systems collected under MILD combustion. The combustion processes evolving under such conditions show behaviors specific to unique ranges of operating conditions that are not predictable using the available kinetic mechanisms.     

Study on the mechanism of the ignition process of ammonia/hydrogen mixture under high-pressure direct-injection engine conditions

As environmental problems and energy crisis become more serious, ammonia is one of the potential alternative fuels. In order to better use ammonia as fuel in power equipment, the ignition process was studied under high-pressure direct-injection engine condition. In the paper, the Homogeneous model in Chemkin package was selected for numerical calculation. In the six cases with different hydrogen mixing ratios, the effect of initial temperature, pressure, equivalence ratio and hydrogen mixing ratio on ignition delay time (IDT) were studied. It conducted that IDT could be effectively reduced when adding 10–50% hydrogen to ammonia. Then, after sensitivity analysis of NH₃/H₂ mixtures, the key equations and free radicals affecting combustion characteristics were found. The rate of production (ROP) of the key radicals were carried out. It was found that the hydrogen provided the initial concentration of H radical before the start fire, which greatly improved the ROP of OH radical of R1(H + O₂=O + OH) compared to the original H needed to break the N–H chemical bond in pure ammonia. And the OH radical was related to the consumption of NH₃ by R31(NH₃+OH=NH₂+H₂O).     

Experimental and numerical study on lean premixed methane–hydrogen–air flames at elevated pressures and temperatures

Experimental and numerical study on the lean methane–hydrogen–air flames at elevated pressures and temperatures was conducted. The unstretched laminar burning velocities and Markstein lengths were obtained over a wide range of hydrogen fractions at elevated pressures and temperatures. The sensitivity analysis and flame structure were also analyzed. The results show good agreement between the computed results and experimental data. The unstretched laminar burning velocities are increased with the increase of initial temperature and hydrogen fraction, and they are decreased with the increase of initial pressure. With the increase of initial pressure and hydrogen fraction, Markstein lengths are decreased, indicating the increase of flame instability. Laminar burning velocity is depended on the competition between the main chain branching reaction and chain recombination reaction. The chain branching reaction is a temperature-sensitive reaction, while the recombination reaction is a temperature-insensitive reaction. Numerical study shows that the suppression (or enhancement) of overall chemical reaction with the increase of initial pressure (or temperature) is closely linking to the decrease (or increase) of H, O and OH mole fractions in the flames. Strong correlation is existed between burning velocity and maximum radical concentrations of H and OH radicals in the reaction zone of premixed flames.     

Effect of 2,5-dimethylfuran addition on ignition delay times of n-heptane at high temperatures

The shock tube autoignition of 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF)/n-heptane blends (DMF0-100%, by mole fraction) with equivalence ratios of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 over the temperature range of 1200–1800 K and pressures of 2.0 atm and 10.0 atm were investigated. A detailed blend chemical kinetic model resulting from the merging of validated kinetic models for the components of the fuel blends was developed. The experimental observations indicate that the ignition delay times nonlinearly increase with an increase in the DMF addition level. Chemical kinetic analysis including radical pool analysis and flux analysis were conducted to explain the DMF addition effects. The kinetic analysis shows that at lower DMF blending levels, the two fuels have negligible impacts on the consumption pathways of each other. As the DMF addition increases to relatively higher levels, the consumption path of n-heptane is significantly changed due to the competition of small radicals, which primarily leads to the nonlinear increase in the ignition delay times of DMF/n-heptane blends.     

Ignition characteristics of heptane-hydrogen and heptane-methane fuel blends at elevated pressures

There is significant interest in using hydrogen and natural gas for enhancing the performance of diesel engines. We report herein a numerical investigation on the ignition of n-C₇H₁₆/H₂ and n-C₇H₁₆/CH₄ fuel blends. The CHEMKIN 4.1 software is used to model ignition in a closed homogenous reactor under conditions relevant to diesel/HCCI engines. Three reaction mechanisms used are (i) NIST mechanism involving 203 species and 1463 reactions, (ii) Dryer mechanism with 116 species and 754 reactions, and (iii) a reduced mechanism (Chalmers) with 42 species and 168 reactions. The parameters include pressures of 30 atm and 55 atm, equivalence ratios of ? = 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0, temperature range of 800-1400 K, and mole fractions of H₂ or CH₄ in the blend between 0 and 100%. For n-C₇H₁₆/air mixtures, the Chalmers mechanism not only provides closer agreement with measurements compared to the other two mechanisms, but also reproduces the negative temperature coefficient regime. Consequently, this mechanism is used to characterize the effects of H₂ or CH₄ on the ignition of n-C₇H₁₆. Results indicate that H₂ or CH₄ addition has a relatively small effect on the ignition of n-C₇H₁₆/air mixtures, while the n-C₇H₁₆ addition even in small amount modifies the ignition of H₂/air and CH₄/air mixtures significantly. The n-C₇H₁₆ addition decreases and increases the ignition delays of H₂/air mixtures at low and high temperatures, respectively, while its addition to CH₄/air mixtures decreases ignition delays at all temperatures. The sensitivity analysis indicates that ignition characteristics of these fuel blends are dominated by the pyrolysis/oxidation chemistry of n-heptane, with heptyl (C₇H₁₆-2) and hydoxyl (OH) radicals being the two most important species.     

Combustion properties of n-heptane/hydrogen mixtures

The possibility to operate current diesel engines in dual-fuel mode with the addition of hydrogen can be limited by the variation in the combustion properties of the fuel mixture. In the present work, n-heptane was selected as a representative fuel to test the effects of hydrogen addition on the laminar flame speeds and ignition delay times. The spherical bomb technique was used to derive the laminar flame speeds of (n-heptane + hydrogen)/air mixtures (0%, 25%, and 50% hydrogen in the fuel) for an initial temperature of 294 K, pressure of 1 bar, and for equivalence ratios between 0.8 and 1.35. The results showed that average increases of 3% and 10% in the flame speeds were obtained with 25% and 50% hydrogen-enrichment, respectively, while a slight decrease of the Markstein length was obtained. Similar laminar flame speed results were predicted numerically with two kinetic models available in the literature with remarkable accuracy, especially for the Cai and Pitsch model [Cai L, Pitsch H. Combust Flame 2015; 162:1623–37]. The kinetic model was subsequently used to perform additional sensitivity and reaction pathway analyses that showed how the chemistry of n-heptane is not substantially influenced by the presence of hydrogen; while the increase in the flame speed is mainly due to the higher concentrations of radical intermediates. The ignition delay times were measured using the reflected shock tube technique for equivalence ratios equal to 0.832, 1.000, and 1.248, initial nominal pressure of 20 bar, temperatures between 730 K and 1200 K, and for different percentages of hydrogen in the fuel (20%, 50%, and 75%). The Cai and Pitsch model once again did a good job of reproducing the experimental data, indicating how at high temperatures the addition of hydrogen does not significantly affect the ignition delay; and in the NTC region (810 K–920 K) the mixtures composed of (50% n-heptane + 50% hydrogen) and (25% n-heptane + 75% hydrogen) are considerably slower than the reference n-heptane case. This is linked to the concentration of the alkane component and the related low temperature chemistry.     

Experimental study on the ignition characteristics of cellulose,hemicellulose, lignin and their mixtures

Ignition behaviour of biomass is an essential knowledge for plant design and process control of biomass combustion. Understanding of ignition characteristics of its main chemical components, i.e. cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and their mixtures will allow the further investigation of ignition behaviour of a wider range of biomass feedstock. This paper experimentally investigates the influences of interactions among cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin on the ignition behaviour of biomass by thermogravimetric analysis. Thermal properties of an artificial biomass, consisting of a mixture of the three components will be studied and compared to that of natural biomass in atmospheres of air and nitrogen in terms of their ignition behaviour. The results showed that the identified ignition temperatures of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin are 410 °C, 370 °C and 405 °C, respectively. It has been found that the influence of their interactions on the ignition behaviour of mixtures is insignificant, indicating that the ignition behaviour of various biomass feedstock could be predicted with high accuracy if the mass fractions of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin are known. While the deficiencies of the determined mutual interactions would be further improved by the analytical results of the activation energies of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, their mixtures as well as natural and artificial biomass in air conditions.