OH concentration time histories in <i>n</i>‐alkane oxidation

Abstract

Abstract OH radical concentration time histories were measured behind reflected shocks in the oxidation of four n ‐alkanes: propane, n ‐butane, n ‐heptane, and n ‐decane. Initial reflected shock conditions of these measurements were 1357–1784 K, 2.02–3.80 atm, with fuel concentrations of 300–2000 ppm, and equivalence ratios from 0.8 to 1.2. OH concentrations were measured using narrow‐linewidth ring‐dye laser absorption of the R 1 (5) line of the A – X (0,0) transition at 306.5 nm. These concentration time‐history measurements were compared to the modeled predictions of eight large n ‐alkane oxidation mechanisms currently available in the literature and the kinetic implications of these measurements are discussed. These data, in conjunction with recent measurements of n ‐alkane ignition times and ethylene yields in n ‐alkane pyrolysis experiments, also performed in this laboratory, provide a unique database of species concentration time histories for n ‐alkane mechanism validation. © 2001 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 775–783, 2001