Title: Towards a kinetic understanding of the ignition of air-propane mixture by a non-equilibrium discharge: the decomposition mechanisms of propane

Authors: Stéphane Pasquiers; Sabrina Bentaleb; Pascal Jeanney; Nicole Blin-Simiand; Pierre Tardiveau; Lionel Magne; Katell Gadonna; Nicolas Moreau; François Jorand

Addresses: Laboratoire de Physique des Gaz et des Plasmas (UMR CNRS 8578), Université Paris-Sud 11, bât.210, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France. ' Laboratoire de Physique des Gaz et des Plasmas (UMR CNRS 8578), Université Paris-Sud 11, bât.210, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France. ' Laboratoire de Physique des Gaz et des Plasmas (UMR CNRS 8578), Université Paris-Sud 11, bât.210, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France. ' Laboratoire de Physique des Gaz et des Plasmas (UMR CNRS 8578), Université Paris-Sud 11, bât.210, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France. ' Laboratoire de Physique des Gaz et des Plasmas (UMR CNRS 8578), Université Paris-Sud 11, bât.210, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France. ' Laboratoire de Physique des Gaz et des Plasmas (UMR CNRS 8578), Université Paris-Sud 11, bât.210, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France. ' Laboratoire de Physique des Gaz et des Plasmas (UMR CNRS 8578), Université Paris-Sud 11, bât.210, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France. ' Laboratoire de Physique des Gaz et des Plasmas (UMR CNRS 8578), Université Paris-Sud 11, bât.210, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France. ' Laboratoire de Physique des Gaz et des Plasmas (UMR CNRS 8578), Université Paris-Sud 11, bât.210, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France

Abstract: The decomposition of propane in non-thermal plasmas of N₂/C₃H₈ and N₂/O₂/C₃H₈ mixtures (oxygen percentage up to 20%) at low temperature is studied in a photo-triggered discharge. Quenching of nitrogen metastable states dissociate C₃H₈ to produce propene and hydrogen. Oxidation reactions are growing in importance when the O₂ concentration increases, but the dissociation quenching reactions still occurs for the air-based mixture. Even for a low concentration of oxygen, OH is an important specie involved in the conversion of the hydrocarbon. A kinetic analysis emphasises that OH comes in great part from the production of H, in which the methyl radical plays a role, strengthening the role of the dissociation processes of propane and propene in the medium reactivity. Results of PLIF measurements performed on OH during the diffuse afterglow of a nanosecond corona discharge correlate with results obtained on the photo-triggered discharge.

Keywords: non-thermal plasma kinetics; pre-ionised discharge; corona discharge; hydrocarbon decomposition; propane; atmospheric gases; air-propane ignition; hydrogen; oxidation reactions; dissociation quenching; oxygen; methyl radical; propene.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAD.2013.050917

International Journal of Aerodynamics, 2013 Vol.3 No.1/2/3, pp.135 - 158

Published online: 28 Feb 2014 *

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