Kinetics modeling of shock-induced ignition in low-dilution CH4/O2 mixtures at high pressures and intermediate temperatures

Consideration is given to a detailed kinetics mechanism developed to model shock tube ignition delay times for CH4/O2 mixtures at the extreme conditions of elevated pressure (40-260 atm), intermediate temperature (1040-1500 K), low dilution level (less than 70 percent), and fuel-rich stoichiometry (phi not less than 3.0). In general, agreement between model and experiment was good, particularly in the mechanism's ability to predict the lower activation energy observed in the fuel-rich data at higher pressures and lower temperatures. The mechanism was developed to predict the previously unexplored ignition characteristics of relevance to ram-propulsion techniques and to elucidate the key kinetics reactions and pathways. (AIAA)