On the thermodynamic stability of the explosion limits of hydrogen-oxygen mixtures

A. Lidor, D. Weihs, E. Sher

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

We present here a novel explanation for the explosion limits phenomenon, based on the concept of thermodynamic stability analysis of the fuel-oxidizer mixture. This concept is demonstrated by a detailed statistical thermodynamic analysis of the explosion limits of the H2-O2 system. It is shown that while the magnitude of the relative fluctuations in the thermal energy and number of molecules is very small, the reactants approach their thermodynamic stability limit at the explosion limit, thus contributing to the onset of self-ignition. It is also found out that the products (H2O) behave in an opposite manner, being on the verge of stability in the non-explosive region, and becoming stable above the explosion limit. The different chain-carriers are on the verge of thermodynamic stability over the complete range (both explosive and non-explosive regions), a fact that sits well with their short residence time as known from chemical kinetics and experiments. We conclude that the unique nature of the branching limits phenomenon can be considered as a thermodynamic stability problem, promoting the idea that a universal self-ignition criterion can be developed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages1238-1258
Number of pages21
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2018
Externally publishedYes
Event58th Israel Annual Conference on Aerospace Sciences, IACAS 2018 - Tel-Aviv and Haifa, Israel
Duration: 14 Mar 201815 Mar 2018

Conference

Conference58th Israel Annual Conference on Aerospace Sciences, IACAS 2018
Country/TerritoryIsrael
CityTel-Aviv and Haifa
Period14/03/1815/03/18

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Space and Planetary Science

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