[Measurements of the ignition delay times of n-heptane by using characteristic emission from OH radical].

ABSTRACT

Using a measurement system consisting of a monochromator, a photomultiplier tube (PMT), piezoelectric pressure sensors and a digital oscilloscope, the ignition delay times of n-heptane/O2 mixture were measured behind reflected shock waves in a chemical shock tube, the onset of ignition was indicated by the steepest rise of the characteristic emission from OH radical at 306.4 nm. The experimental conditions cover temperatures from 1 170 to 1 730 K, pressures at (1.0 +/- 0.1) and (0.75 +/- 0.05) atm, and equivalence ratio of 1.0. Under these experimental conditions, the correlation formulas of ignition delay time dependence on the temperature for n-heptane have been obtained. Present results indicate that the ignition delay times of n-heptane decreases exponentially with the increase in temperatures. While temperature increases, the change rate of ignition delay time of n-heptane under the pressure of 0.75 atm is less than that of 1.0 atm. Present ignition delay data are important for constructing the kinetic model of the combustion reaction and provide an experimental criterion for validating the combustion reaction mechanism of n-heptane.