KINETIC-STUDY OF N-PENTANE OXIDATION

The oxidation of n-pentane is studied in a jet-stirred flow reactor in the temperature range 950–1050 K at atmospheric pressure for a wide range of fuel-oxygen equivalence ratios (0.2 to 2.0). A chemical kinetic reaction mechanism developed from previous studies on smaller hydrocarbons and extended to C5species is used to reproduce the experimental data. Good agreement between computed and measured concentrations of major chemical species is obtained for the entire range of experimental conditions. The major reaction paths for n-pentane consumption and for the formation of the main products are identified. The same mechanism is used to model experiments performed by other investigators on n-pentane oxidation in reactors or in a shock tube. The experimental concentration profiles of the chemical species in a jet-stirred reactor between 1000 and I250K are closely reproduced, as well as the ignition delays measured behind a reflected shock wave up to 1400K. © 1991, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.