The effects of enrichment by H2 on propagation speeds in adiabatic flat and cellular premixed flames of CH4 + O2 + CO2

Experimental studies of adiabatic flat and cellular premixed flames of (CH₄ + H₂) + (O₂ + CO₂) are presented. The hydrogen content in the fuel was varied from 0% to 35% and the oxygen content in the oxidizer was 31.55%. These mixtures could be formed when oxy-fuel combustion technology is combined with hydrogen enrichment. Non-stretched flames were stabilized at atmospheric pressure on a perforated plate burner. A heat flux method was used to determine propagation speeds under conditions when the net heat loss of the flame is zero. Adiabatic burning velocities of methane + hydrogen + carbon dioxide + oxygen mixtures were found in satisfactory agreement with the detailed kinetic modeling employing the Konnov mechanism. Under specific experimental conditions the flames become cellular; this leads to significant modification of the flame propagation speed. The onset of cellularity was observed throughout the stoichiometric range of the mixtures studied. Visual and photographic observations of the flames were performed to quantify their cellular structure. The results obtained in the present work in (CH₄ + H₂) + O₂ + CO₂ mixtures are in good accordance with the previous observations for different fuels, CH₄, C₂H₆ and C₃H₈. The enrichment by hydrogen leads to: the increase of the laminar burning velocities; the increase of the number of cells observed; the decrease of the mean cell diameter. The flame acceleration due to cellularity was not affected by the hydrogen enrichment.