Effects of O2 enrichment and CO2 dilution on laminar methane flames

This study presents the effects of O2 enrichment and CO2 (carbon dioxide) dilution on laminar methane flames. For that purpose, the following procedure was followed: i) measurements of laminar methane flame velocities carried out in a stainless steel combustion chamber at atmospheric pressure and 300 K; ii) calculations and comparison with experiments of laminar flame velocities to validate the reaction mechanism; and iii) simulations in larger ranges of flames conditions near to gas turbine conditions: premixed methane–air flames, preheated inlet temperature (To = 600 K) and pressures ranging from 1 to 8 bar. Lean, stoichiometric and slightly rich conditions were studied as the equivalence ratio was varied from 0.7 to 1.1. Both influences of the oxygen enrichment and CO2 dilution are discussed.