Effect of Carbon Dioxide, Argon and Hydrocarbon Fuels on the Stability of Hydrogen Jet Flames

Experimental studies were carried out to examine the lift-off and blow-out stability of H2/CO2, H2/Ar, H2/C3H8 and H2/CH4 jet flames. The experiments were carried out using a burner with a 2mm inner diameter. The flame structures were recorded by direct filming and also by a schlieren apparatus. The experiments showed that the four gases affected the lift-off and blow-out stability of the hydrogen differently. The experiments showed that propane addition to an initially attached flame always produced lifted flame and the flame was blown out at higher jet velocity. The blow-out velocity decreased as the increasing in propane concentration. Direct blow-off of hydrogen/propane was never observed. Methane addition resulted in a relatively stable flame comparing with the carbon dioxide and propane addition. Comparisons of the stability of H2/C3H8, H2/CH4 and H2/CO2 flames showed that H2/C3H8 produced the highest lift-off height. Propane is much more effective in lift-off and blow out hydrogen flames. The study carried out a chemical kinetic analysis of H2/CO2, H2/Ar, H2/C3H8 and H2/CH4 flames for a comparison of effect of chemical kinetics on flame stability.