The inhibitory effects of chlorocarbon addition to fuel-rich methane/air combustion

ABSTRACT Due to its implications for incineration of chlorinated hydrocarbon wastes, the inhibitory effects of CH3Cl on an atmospheric pressure fuel-rich CH4/air premixed laminar flat flame have been studied through stable species concentration measurements and detailed chemical modeling. The chlorocarbon doping results in consistently higher observed CO/CO2 ratios. Chemical pathway analyses derived from the detailed mechanistic flame modeling indicates that this inhibition results from the slowdown of CO burnout by OH, and reduced utilization of O2 by H. These inhibiting effects are due to consumption of OH and H by HCl, which is generated primarily from fast H abstractions by Cl. The H2 formed by the reaction of H with HCl also consumes OH. This represents a shift in product slate away from CO2 to H2O.