Kinetics of Ignition and Combustion in the Al–CH4–O2 System

The extensive analysis of chain mechanism development in the Al–CH4–O2 mixture is conducted on the basis of a novel kinetic model taking into account the latest theoretical data on rate constants of elementary reactions. The physical properties of Al-containing compounds, needed for the calculation of their transport coefficients, are estimated with the use of a quantum-chemical approach. It has been shown that the addition of a small amount of aluminum nanoparticles to the methane–oxygen mixture substantially accelerates the chain mechanism and results in the decrease of the ignition delay and the increase of the laminar flame speed. The higher the concentration of Al in the mixture, the greater the effect of combustion enhancement. The principal reactions responsible for this effect are indicated.