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Comparison of Methane and Propane Diffusion Flame Extinguishment by Thermal Agents An Experimental and Detailed Kinetic Modeling Study
Published
Author(s)
William M. Pitts, Jiann C. Yang, Rodney A. Bryant, Linda G. Blevins
Abstract
A combined computational and experimental study of methane and propane flames burning in air diluted with thermal agents is described. Detailed kinetic modeling of opposed-jet diffusion flames and experimental extinguishing volume fraction measurements for counterflow and coflow diffusion flames are described. It is shown that the hypothesis of a characteristic maximum flame temperature for buoyancy-dominated diffusion flames near extinguishment allows quantitative predictions of agent extinguishing volume fractions for counterflow diffusion flames. The characteristic temperatures differ for methane and propane flames. In general, coflowing diffusion flames require lower volume fractions of a thermal agent for extinction than counterflow flames, but the relative effectiveness of the agents is the same, suggesting that heat loss mechanisms are similar for both types of flame and fuel.
Proceedings Title
Proceedings of the 6th U.S. National Combustion Meeting
Pitts, W.
, Yang, J.
, Bryant, R.
and Blevins, L.
(2009),
Comparison of Methane and Propane Diffusion Flame Extinguishment by Thermal Agents An Experimental and Detailed Kinetic Modeling Study, Proceedings of the 6th U.S. National Combustion Meeting, Ann Arbor, MI
(Accessed October 1, 2025)