Detonation parameters: a basis for the design of microstructured process equipment

Test apparatuses are described which allow to characterize detonations of flammable substance/oxidizer mixtures by the detonation limits, the limiting starting pressure, the detonation velocity, the detonation pressure and the width of the detonation cells at different initial pressures and temperatures. Based on such measurements it is possible to derive a ‘safe capillary diameter’ for microstructured processes for a given composition of the mixture from the correlation of the width of the detonation cells with the initial pressure by the use of the ‘λ/3-rule’. Such safe capillary diameters as well as the detonation limits, the detonation pressures and detonation velocities have been determined for several hydrocarbon + oxygen mixtures in correlation with raising initial pressures and temperatures.