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A THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF NITRIC OXIDE PRODUCTION IN A METHANE/AIR TURBULENT DIFFUSION FLAME
Citation:
Marble, F. AND J. Broadwell. A THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF NITRIC OXIDE PRODUCTION IN A METHANE/AIR TURBULENT DIFFUSION FLAME. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/7-80/018 (NTIS PB80218969), 1980.
Description:
The report gives results of a theoretical analysis of nitric oxide production in a methane/air turbulent diffusion flame. In the coherent flame model used, the chemical reactions take place in laminar flame elements which are lengthened by the turbulent fluid motion and shortened when adjacent flame segments consume intervening reactant. The rates with which methane and air are consumed and nitric oxide generated in the strained laminar flame are computed numerically in an independent calculation. The model predicts nitric oxide levels of approximately 80 ppm at the end of the flame generated by a 30.5 cm (1 ft) diameter jet of methane issuing at 3050 cm/sec (100 ft/sec). This level varies directly with the fuel jet diameter and inversely with the jet velocity. A possibly important nitric oxide production mechanism, neglected in the analysis, can be treated in a proposed extension to the model.