Effect of hydrogen concentration on vented explosion overpressures from lean hydrogen–air deflagrations

Experimental data from vented explosion tests using lean hydrogen–air mixtures with concentrations from 12 to 19% vol. are presented. A 63.7-m³ chamber was used for the tests with a vent size of either 2.7 or 5.4 m². The tests were focused on the effect of hydrogen concentration, ignition location, vent size, and obstacles on the pressure development of a propagating flame in a vented enclosure. The dependence of the maximum pressure generated on the experimental parameters was analyzed. It was confirmed that the pressure maxima are caused by pressure transients controlled by the interplay of the maximum flame area, the burning velocity, and the overpressure generated outside of the chamber by an external explosion. A model proposed earlier to estimate the maximum pressure for each of the main pressure transients was evaluated for the various hydrogen concentrations. The effect of the Lewis number on the vented explosion overpressure is discussed.     

Study of heat transfer between an over-bed oil burner flame and a fluidized bed during start-up: Determination of the flame to bed convection coefficient

A study of the heat transfer processes between an over-bed burner flame and a fluidized bed during start-up as been conducted. Owing to the difficulty of estimating the flame to bed convection coefficient in an industrial boiler, convection coefficients were determined using a laboratory bench scale unit. Such convection heat transfer coefficients are obtained for 3 kg, 4 kg and 5.5 kg initial bed inventories by combining measured temperatures and flow rates with a mathematical model representing the complex energy exchange in the system. Results show that the height of the fluidized bed and its distance to the flame are an important factor in the overall heat transfer process, both by convection and radiation. For 5.5 kg, 4 kg and 3 kg initial bed inventories, the convection coefficients obtained, at the end of start-up, are 180 ± 30 W/m² K, 150 ± 20 W/m² K and 95 ± 10 W/m² K respectively. The determined convection coefficients can be utilized in the future as guides in the design of start-up systems for BFB boilers. The energy analysis performed also identified the major sources of heat losses in the bubbling fluidized bed.     

Thermal performance of a meso-scale liquid-fuel combustor

Combustion in small scale devices poses significant challenges due to the quenching of reactions from wall heat losses as well as the significantly reduced time available for mixing and combustion. In the case of liquid fuels there are additional challenges related to atomization, vaporization and mixing with the oxidant in the very short time-scale liquid-fuel combustor. The liquid fuel employed here is methanol with air as the oxidizer. The combustor was designed based on the heat recirculating concept wherein the incoming reactants are preheated by the combustion products through heat exchange occurring via combustor walls. The combustor was fabricated from Zirconium phosphate, a ceramic with very low thermal conductivity (0.8 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹). The combustor had rectangular shaped double spiral geometry with combustion chamber in the center of the spiral formed by inlet and exhaust channels. Methanol and air were introduced immediately upstream at inlet of the combustor. The preheated walls of the inlet channel also act as a pre-vaporizer for liquid fuel which vaporizes the liquid fuel and then mixes with air prior to the fuel–air mixture reaching the combustion chamber. Rapid pre-vaporization of the liquid fuel by the hot narrow channel walls eliminated the necessity for a fuel atomizer. Self-sustained combustion of methanol–air was achieved in a chamber volume as small as 32.6 mm³. The results showed stable combustion under fuel-rich conditions. High reactant preheat temperatures (675 K–825 K) were obtained; however, the product temperatures measured at the exhaust were on the lower side (475 K–615 K). The estimated combustor heat load was in the range 50 W–280 W and maximum power density of about 8.5 GW/m³. This is very high when compared to macro-scale combustors. Overall energy efficiency of the combustor was estimated to be in the range of 12–20%. This suggests further scope of improvements in fuel–air mixing and mixture preparation.     

A detailed experimental study of n-propylcyclohexane autoignition in lean conditions

The autoignition chemistry of lean n-propylcyclohexane/“air” mixtures (? = 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) was investigated in a rapid compression machine at compressed gas temperatures ranging from 620 to 930 K and pressures ranging from 0.45 to 1.34 MPa. Cool flame and ignition delay times were measured. Cool flame delay times were found to follow an Arrhenius behavior, and a correlation including pressure and equivalence ratio dependences was deduced. The present ignition delay data were compared with recent experimental results and simulations from the available thermokinetic models in the literature. Negative temperature coefficient zones were observed when plotting ignition delay times versus compressed gas temperature. The oxidation products were identified and quantified during the ignition delay period. Formation pathways for the C₉ bicyclic ethers and conjugate alkenes are proposed. The experimental data provide an extensive database to test detailed thermokinetic oxidation models.     

Simultaneous processes of electricity generation and ceftriaxone sodium degradation in an air-cathode single chamber microbial fuel cell

A single chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) with an air-cathode is successfully demonstrated using glucose-ceftriaxone sodium mixtures or ceftriaxone sodium as fuel. Results show that the ceftriaxone sodium can be biodegraded and produce electricity simultaneously. Interestingly, these ceftriaxone sodium-glucose mixtures play an active role in production of electricity. The maximum power density is increased in comparison to 1000 mg L⁻¹ glucose (19 W m⁻³) by 495% for 50 mg L⁻¹ ceftriaxone sodium + 1000 mg L⁻¹ glucose (113 W m⁻³), while the maximum power density is 11 W m⁻³ using 50 mg L⁻¹ ceftriaxone sodium as the sole fuel. Moreover, ceftriaxone sodium biodegradation rate reaches 91% within 24 h using the MFC in comparison with 51% using the traditional anaerobic reactor. These results indicate that some toxic and bio-refractory organics such as antibiotic wastewater might be suitable resources for electricity generation using the MFC technology.     

Evaluation of an improved CFD model against nine vented deflagration experiments

In the present work, a newly developed CFD deflagration model incorporated into the ADREA-HF code is evaluated against hydrogen vented deflagrations experiments carried out by KIT and FM-Global in a medium (1 m³) and a real (63.7 m³) scale enclosure respectively. A square vent of 0.5 m² and 5.4 m² respectively is located in the center of one of side walls. In the case of the medium scale enclosure the 18% v/v homogeneous hydrogen-air mixture and back-wall ignition case is examined. In the case of the real scale enclosure the examined cases cover different homogeneous mixture concentrations (15% and 18% v/v), different ignition locations (back-wall and center) and different levels of initial turbulence. The CFD model accounts for flame instabilities that develop as the flame propagates inside the chamber and turbulence that mainly develops outside the vent. Pressure predictions are compared against experimental measurements revealing a very good performance of the CFD model for the back-wall ignition cases. For the center ignition cases, the model overestimates the maximum overpressure. The opening of the vent cover is identified as a possible reason for the overprediction. The analysis indicates that turbulence is the main factor which enhances external explosion strength causing the sudden pressure increase, confirming previous findings.     

Transient flame–wall interactions: Experimental analysis using spectroscopic temperature and CO concentration measurements

This paper reports on simultaneous measurement of temperature and CO concentration in atmospheric methane/air jet flames impinging vertically against a water-cooled stainless-steel wall. Flame–wall interactions are investigated for statistically stationary flames and propagating flames, representing the recognized case of head-on quenching. Instantaneous temperatures are determined using nanosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy of nitrogen (CARS); CO concentrations are measured using two-photon laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Statistically stationary flames are investigated in a parametric study for equivalence ratios (0.83 < ? < 1.2) and two turbulence intensities. Surface temperatures were measured using phosphor thermometry (TP). Extrapolation of the gas phase to the wall temperature allows estimation of the error in determining the wall position. For transient flame–wall interactions flames are initiated by a laser-spark 27 mm below the wall and propagate against the wall. Head-on flame quenching is studied in these cases for 0.83 < ? < 1.0. Quenching distances and maximum wall heat fluxes are derived from the quantitatively measured gas phase temperatures. Conditional statistics are deduced from 200 individual quenching events and are analyzed for distance from the wall. Enthalpy losses of the flame to the wall severely impact the thermo-chemical state, causing significant deviation from stationary conditions. Spatial and temporal profiles of the transient flames are also investigated. The quenching layer is found to be in the range of 0.17–0.32 mm with corresponding dimensionless quenching distances between 0.38 and 0.68. During transient flame quenching the wall heat flux is enhanced by a factor of two and reaches values ranging from 0.24 to 0.48 MW/m². The normalized quenching heat flux is found to be 0.29 for lean and 0.52 for stoichiometric methane/air flames. These values are in agreement with experimental studies that used very different measurement techniques and with results from direct numerical simulations (DNS) reported in the literature.     

Production capacity estimation by reservoir numerical simulation of northwest (NW) Sabalan geothermal field, Iran

A three dimensional numerical model of the northwest (NW) Sabalan geothermal system was developed on the basis of the designed conceptual model from available field data. A numerical model of the reservoir was expressed with a grid system of a rectangular prism of 12 km × 8 km with 4.6 km height, giving a total area of 96 km². The model has 14 horizontal layers ranging in thickness between 100 m to 1000 m extending from a maximum of 3600 to −1000 m a.s.l. Fifteen rock types were used in the model to assign different horizontal permeabilities from 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁸ to 4.0 × 10⁻¹³ m² based on the conceptual model.Natural state modeling of the reservoir was performed, and the results indicated good agreements with measured temperature and pressure in wells. Numerical simulations were conducted for predicting reservoir performances by allocating production and reinjection wells at specified locations. Three different exploitation scenarios were examined for sustainability of reservoir for the next 30 years. Effects of reinjection location and required number of makeup wells to maintain the specified fluid production were evaluated. The results showed that reinjecting at Site B, immediate adjacent to production zone, is most effective for pressure maintenance of the system.On the base of existing data and assumptions the reservoir can sustain producing fluid equivalent to 50 MW_e of electricity for more than 30 years. The reservoir can produce the maximum amount of fluids equivalent to 90-100 MW_e for only 5 years, but the production capacity decreases to 50 MW_e after 20 years of operation because of pressure and enthalpy drop. The reservoir can sustain 50 MW_e over 100 years that can be defined as a sustainable production level of the field.     

Development of high intensity CDC combustor for gas turbine engines

Colorless distributed combustion (CDC) has been demonstrated to provide ultra-low emission of NOx and CO, improved pattern factor and reduced combustion noise in high intensity gas turbine combustors. The key feature to achieve CDC is the controlled flow distribution, reduce ignition delay, and high speed injection of air and fuel jets and their controlled mixing to promote distributed reaction zone in the entire combustion volume without any flame stabilizer. Large gas recirculation and high turbulent mixing rates are desirable to achieve distributed reactions thus avoiding hot spot zones in the flame. The high temperature air combustion (HiTAC) technology has been successfully demonstrated in industrial furnaces which inherently possess low heat release intensity. However, gas turbine combustors operate at high heat release intensity and this result in many challenges for combustor design, which include lower residence time, high flow velocity and difficulty to contain the flame within a given volume. The focus here is on colorless distributed combustion for stationary gas turbine applications. In the first part of investigation effect of fuel injection diameter and air injection diameter is investigated in detail to elucidate the effect fuel/air mixing and gas recirculation on characteristics of CDC at relatively lower heat release intensity of 5 MW/m³ atm. Based on favorable conditions at lower heat release intensity the effect of confinement size (reduction in combustor volume at same heat load) is investigated to examine heat release intensity up to 40 MW/m³ atm. Three confinement sizes with same length and different diameters resulting in heat release intensity of 20 MW/m³ atm, 30 MW/m³ atm and 40 MW/m³ atm have been investigated. Both non-premixed and premixed modes were examined for the range of heat release intensities. The heat load for the combustor was 25 kW with methane fuel. The air and fuel injection temperature was at normal 300 K. The combustor was operated at 1 atm pressure. The results were evaluated for flow field, fuel/air mixing and gas recirculation from numerical simulations and global flame images, and emissions of NO, CO from experiments. It was observed that the larger air injection diameter resulted in significantly higher levels of NO and CO whereas increase in fuel injection diameter had minimal effect on the NO and resulted in small increase of CO emissions. Increase in heat release intensity had minimal effect on NO emissions, however it resulted in significantly higher CO emissions. The premixed combustion mode resulted in ultra-low NO levels (<1 ppm) and NO emission as low as 5 ppm was obtained with the non-premixed flame mode.     

Active nucleation site density in boiling systems

Realizing the significance of the active nucleation site density as an important parameter for predicting the interfacial area concentration in a two-fluid model formulation, the active nucleation site density has been modeled mechanistically by knowledge of the size and cone angle distributions of cavities that are actually present on the surface. The newly developed model has been validated by various active nucleation site density data taken in pool boiling and convective flow boiling systems. The newly developed model clearly shows that the active nucleation site density is a function of the critical cavity size and the contact angle, and the model can explain the dependence of the active nucleation site density on the wall superheat reported by various investigators. The newly developed model can give fairly good predictions over rather wide range of the flow conditions (0 kg/m² s ? mass velocity ? 886 kg/m² s; 0.101 MPa ? pressure ? 19.8 MPa; 5° ? contact angle ? 90°; 1.00×10⁴ sites/m² ? active nucleation site density ? 1.51×10¹⁰ sites/m²).     

Effect of cylindrical confinement on the determination of laminar flame speeds using outwardly propagating flames

The effect of nonspherical (i.e. cylindrical) bomb geometry on the evolution of outwardly propagating flames and the determination of laminar flame speeds using the conventional constant-pressure technique is investigated experimentally and theoretically. The cylindrical chamber boundary modifies the propagation rate through the interaction of the wall with the flow induced by thermal expansion across the flame (even with constant pressure), which leads to significant distortion of the flame surface for large flame radii. These departures from the unconfined case, especially the resulting nonzero burned gas velocities, can lead to significant errors in flame speeds calculated using the conventional assumptions, especially for large flame radii. For example, at a flame radius of 0.5 times the wall radius, the flame speed calculated neglecting confinement effects can be low by ∼15% (even with constant pressure).A methodology to estimate the effect of nonzero burned gas velocities on the measured flame speed in cylindrical chambers is presented. Modeling and experiments indicate that the effect of confinement can be neglected for flame radii less than 0.3 times the wall radius while still achieving acceptable accuracy (within 3%). The methodology is applied to correct the flame speed for nonzero burned gas speeds, in order to extend the range of flame radii useful for flame speed measurements. Under the proposed scaling, the burned gas speed can be well approximated as a function of only flame radius for a given chamber geometry - i.e. the correction function need only be determined once for an apparatus and then it can be used for any mixture. Results indicate that the flow correction can be used to extract flame speeds for flame radii up to 0.5 times the wall radius with somewhat larger, yet still acceptable uncertainties for the cases studied. Flow-corrected burning velocities are measured for hydrogen and syngas mixtures at atmospheric and elevated pressures. Flow-corrected flame speeds in the small cylindrical chamber used here agree well with previously reported flame speeds from large spherical chambers. Previous papers presenting burning velocities from cylindrical chambers report performing data analysis on flame radii less than 0.5 or 0.6 times the wall radius, where the flame speed calculated neglecting confinement effects may be low by ∼15 or 20%, respectively. For cylindrical chambers, data analysis should be restricted to flame radii less than 0.3 times the wall radius or a flow correction should be employed to account for the burned gas motions.With regard to the design of future vessels, larger vessels that minimize the flow aberrations for the same flame radius are preferred. Larger vessels maximize the relatively unaffected region of data allowing for a more straightforward approach to interpret the experimental data.     

Generation of electricity in microbial fuel cells at sub-ambient temperatures

Direct generation of electricity from a mixture of carbon sources was examined using single chamber mediator-less air cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs) at sub-ambient temperatures. Electricity was directly generated from a carbon source mixture of d-glucose, d-galactose, d-xylose, d-glucuronic acid and sodium acetate at 30 °C and <20 °C (down to 4 °C). Anodic biofilms enriched at different temperatures using carbon source mixtures were examined using epi-fluorescent, scanning electron microscopy, and cyclic voltammetry for electrochemical evaluation. The maximum power density obtained at different temperatures ranged from 486 ± 68 mW m⁻² to 602 ± 38 mW m⁻² at current density range of 0.31 mA cm⁻² to 0.41 mA cm⁻² (14 °C and 30 °C, respectively). Coulombic efficiency increased with decreasing temperature, and ranged from 24 ± 3 to 38 ± 1% (20 °C and 4 °C, respectively). Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was over 68% for all carbon sources tested. Our results demonstrate adaptation, by gradual increase of cold-stress, to electricity production in MFCs at sub-ambient temperatures.     

Helium dispersion following release in a 1/4-scale two-car residential garage

A series of experiments are described in which helium was released at a constant rate into a 1.5 m × 1.5 m × 0.75 m enclosure designed as a 1/4-scale model of a two-car garage. The purpose was to provide reference datasets for testing and validating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models and to experimentally characterize the effects of a number of variables on the mixing behavior within an enclosure and the exchange of helium with the outside surroundings. Helium was used as a surrogate for hydrogen, and the total volume released was scaled as the amount that would be released by a typical hydrogen-fueled automobile with a full tank. Temporal profiles of helium were measured at seven vertical locations within the enclosure during and following 1-h and 4-h releases. Idealized vents in one wall sized to provide air exchange rates typical of actual garages were used. The effects of vent size, number, and location were investigated using three different vent combinations. The dependence on leak location was considered by releasing helium at three different points within the enclosure.     

Modelling airflow,heat transfer and moisture transport around a standing human body by computational fluid dynamics

In this study a combined computational model of a room with virtual thermal manikin with real dimensions and physiological shape was used to determine heat and mass transfer between human body and environment. Three dimensional fluid flow, temperature and moisture distribution, heat transfer (sensible and latent) between human body and ambient, radiation and convection heat transfer rates on human body surfaces, local and average convection coefficients and skin temperatures were calculated. The radiative heat transfer coefficient predicted for the whole-body was 4.6 W m^− 2 K^− 1, closely matching the generally accepted whole-body value of 4.7 W m^− 2 K^− 1. Similarly, the whole-body natural convection coefficient for the manikin fell within the mid-range of previously published values at 3.8 W m^− 2 K^− 1. Results of calculations were in agreement with available experimental and theoretical data in literature.     

Performance assessment of a geothermally heated building

This study deals with an exergetic performance evaluation of a geothermally heated building. This building used in the analysis has a volume of 1147.03 m³ and a net floor area of 95.59 m², while indoor and exterior air temperatures are 20 and 0 °C, respectively. The geothermal heating system used for the heat production was constructed in the Ozkilcik heating center, Izmir, Turkey. Thermal water has a pressure of 6.8 bar, a temperature of 122 °C and a mass flow rate of 54.73 kg/s, while it is reinjected at 3.2 bar and 72 °C. The system investigated feeds three regions. Among these, the Ozkanlar region has supply/return pressure and temperature values of 4.6/3 bar and 80/60 °C, respectively. Energy and exergy flows are studied to quantify and illustrate exergy destructions in the overall system. Total exergy input rate to the system is found to be 9.92 kW and the largest exergy destruction rate occurs in the primary energy transformation at 3.85 kW.     

The effect of pre-heating on flame propagation in nanocomposite thermites

Flame propagation in a confined tube configuration was evaluated for aluminum (Al) and molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃) thermites starting at room temperature and pre-heated up to 170 °C. Flame propagation was analyzed via high speed imaging diagnostics and temperatures were monitored with thermocouples. Experiments were performed in a semi-confined flame tube apparatus housed in a reaction chamber initially at standard atmospheric pressure. The flame propagation behavior for the nano-particle thermite was compared to micron particle thermite of the same composition. Results indicate that increasing the initial temperature of the reactants results in dramatically increased flame speeds for nanocomposite thermite (i.e., from 627 to 1002 m/s for ambient and 105 °C pre-heat temperature, respectively) and for micron composite thermite (i.e., from 205 to 347 m/s for ambient and 170 °C pre-heat temperature, respectively) samples. Experimental studies were extended giving a cooling time for the heated thermites prior to ignition and flame propagation. It is shown that when 105 °C and 170 °C pre-heated thermites are cooled at a rate of 0.06 K/s, almost the same flame speeds are obtained as thermites at ambient temperature. However, when the cooling rate is increased to 0.13 K/s, the measured flame speeds approach the flame speeds of pre-heated samples.     

Combined particle mass spectrometer – Quartz crystal microbalance apparatus for in situ nanoparticle monitoring during flame assisted synthesis

A newly developed apparatus for simultaneous in situ monitoring of size, mass and number concentration of a flame synthesised particle aerosol is presented. The diagnostics methodology is relying on combination of particle mass spectrometry and quartz crystal microbalance techniques. The analysis protocol includes molecular beam sampling, sorting the charged particles constituent according to mass/charge ratio (m/ze) via electrostatic deflection, and detection of the neutral particles by monitoring the variation of the quartz crystal oscillation frequency upon exposure to the particle – laden molecular beam. From these measurements, the total mass concentration and probability density distribution of m/ze could be directly determined, allowing to deduce the particle number concentration in the aerosol, at least in relative units. The feasibility of the method was demonstrated on the example of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) forming in CH₄/O₂/N₂ dual stage flame doped with iron pentacarbonyl, Fe (CO)₅ as a precursor of iron oxide NPs. Sensitivities of 6 × 10⁴ NP/s and 8 × 10⁶ NP/s were achieved for charged and neutral particles, respectively. Possible implications of the obtained results on the elucidation of iron oxide NP formation mechanism are discussed.     

Natural and forced ventilation of buoyant gas released in a full-scale garage: Comparison of model predictions and experimental data

An increase in the number of hydrogen-fueled applications in the marketplace will require a better understanding of the potential for fires and explosion associated with the unintended release of hydrogen within a structure. Predicting the temporally evolving hydrogen concentration in a structure, with unknown release rates, leak sizes and leak locations is a challenging task. A simple analytical model was developed to predict the natural and forced mixing and dispersion of a buoyant gas released in a partially enclosed compartment with vents at multiple levels. The model is based on determining the instantaneous compartment over-pressure that drives the flow through the vents and assumes that the helium released under the automobile mixes fully with the surrounding air. Model predictions were compared with data from a series of experiments conducted to measure the volume fraction of a buoyant gas (at 8 different locations) released under an automobile placed in the center of a full-scale garage (6.8 m × 5.4 m × 2.4 m). Helium was used as a surrogate gas, for safety concerns. The rate of helium released under an automobile was scaled to represent 5 kg of hydrogen released over 4 h. CFD simulations were also performed to confirm the observed physical phenomena. Analytical model predictions for helium volume fraction compared favorably with measured experimental data for natural and forced ventilation. Parametric studies are presented to understand the effect of release rates, vent size and location on the predicted volume fraction in the garage. Results demonstrate the applicability of the model to effectively and rapidly reduce the flammable concentration of hydrogen in a compartment through forced ventilation.     

Innovative microbial fuel cell for electricity production from anaerobic reactors

A submersible microbial fuel cell (SMFC) was developed by immersing an anode electrode and a cathode chamber in an anaerobic reactor. Domestic wastewater was used as the medium and the inoculum in the experiments. The SMFC could successfully generate a stable voltage of 0.428 ± 0.003 V with a fixed 470 Ω resistor from acetate. From the polarization test, the maximum power density of 204 mW m⁻² was obtained at current density of 595 mA m⁻² (external resistance = 180 Ω). The power generation showed a saturation-type relationship as a function of wastewater strength, with a maximum power density (P_max) of 218 mW m⁻² and a saturation constant (K_s) of 244 mg L⁻¹. The main limitations for achieving higher electricity production in the SMFC were identified as the high internal resistance at the electrolyte and the inefficient electron transfer at the cathode electrode. As the current increased, a large portion of voltage drop was caused by the ohmic (electrolyte) resistance of the medium present between two electrodes, although the two electrodes were closely positioned (about 3 cm distance; internal resistance = 35 ± 2 Ω). The open circuit potential (0.393 V vs. a standard hydrogen electrode) of the cathode was much smaller than the theoretical value (0.804 V). Besides, the short circuit potential of the cathode electrode decreased during the power generation in the SMFC. These results demonstrate that the SMFC could successfully generate electricity from wastewater, and has a great potential for electricity production from existing anaerobic reactors or other anaerobic environments such as sediments. The advantage of the SMFC is that no special anaerobic chamber (anode chamber) is needed, as existing anaerobic reactors can be used, where the cathode chamber and anode electrode are immersed.     

Explosion bomb measurements of ethanol-air laminar gaseous flame characteristics at pressures up to 1.4 MPa

The principal burning characteristics of a laminar flame comprise the fuel vapour pressure, the laminar burning velocity, ignition delay times, Markstein numbers for strain rate and curvature, the stretch rates for the onset of flame instabilities and of flame extinction for different mixtures. With the exception of ignition delay times, measurements of these are reported and discussed for ethanol-air mixtures. The measurements were in a spherical explosion bomb, with central ignition, in the regime of a developed stable, flame between that of an under or over-driven ignition and that of an unstable flame. Pressures ranged from 0.1 to 1.4 MPa, temperatures from 300 to 393 K, and equivalence ratios were between 0.7 and 1.5. It was important to ensure the relatively large volume of ethanol in rich mixtures at high pressures was fully evaporated. The maximum pressure for the measurements was the highest compatible with the maximum safe working pressure of the bomb. Many of the flames soon became unstable, due to Darrieus-Landau and thermo-diffusive instabilities. This effect increased with pressure and the flame wrinkling arising from the instabilities enhanced the flame speed. Both the critical Peclet number and the, more rational, associated critical Karlovitz stretch factor were evaluated at the onset of the instability. With increasing pressure, the onset of flame instability occurred earlier. The measured values of burning velocity are expressed in terms of their variations with temperature and pressure, and these are compared with those obtained by other researchers. Some comparisons are made with the corresponding properties for iso-octane-air mixtures.