A detailed chemical kinetic model for aviation fuels

Abstract

The introduction of detailed chemical reaction mechanisms for aviation fuels into complex multidimensional fluid dynamics problems is not practical at the present time. Simplified reaction mechanisms which have been thoroughly validated must be developed in order to address specific issues arising in realistic combustor configurations. The latter should be firmly based on detailed mechanisms carefully validated against a wide range of experimental data. In the present paper, a kinetic mechanism for hydrocarbon combustion is extended to address the gas-phase chemistry of «-decane and Jet-A, endothermic and conventional aviation fuels respectively. Reaction paths similarities and differences are analysed and the ability of the mechanism to predict various features of ndecane and kerosene flames is assessed by comparison to experimental species profiles. Finally, the level of success achieved by the present kinetic model in the context of practical problems is discussed.