EFFECTS OF MIXTURE TURBULENCE ON THE LIMITS OF FLAME PROPAGATION.

The limits of flame propagation were measured in turbulent flow of homogeneous propane-oxygen-nitrogen mixtures. The inflammable range of equivalence ratios became narrower with an increase of turbulence intensity. The criterion for flame extinction due to turbulence was investigated. As a result, a linear relation was found at each of the lean and rich limits between the characteristic velocity of turbulent gas motion and the characteristic rate of chemical reaction in the laminar flame zone. It is concluded that flames are disintegrated into small flame-lets by strong turbulence and then extinguished owing to heat loss.