Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Minimum Burning Pressures of Water-based Emulsion Explosives
Published on: October 31, 2017
Auto-ignition and upper explosion limit of rich propane-air mixtures at elevated pressures
F Norman1, F Van den Schoor, F Verplaetsen
1K.U. Leuven, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Celestijnenlaan 300A, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Frederik.Norman@mech.kuleuven.be
Abstract:
The auto-ignition limits of propane-air mixtures at elevated pressures up to 15 bar and for concentrations from 10 mol% up to 70 mol% are investigated. The experiments are performed in a closed spherical vessel with a volume of 8 dm3. The auto-ignition temperatures decrease from 300 degrees C to 250 degrees C when increasing the pressure from 1 bar to 14.5 bar. It is shown that the fuel concentration most sensitive to auto-ignition depends on initial pressure. A second series of experiments investigates the upper flammability limit of propane-air mixtures at initial temperatures up to 250 degrees C and pressures up to 30 bar near the auto-ignition area. Finally the propane auto-oxidation is modelled using several detailed kinetic reaction mechanisms and these numerical calculations are compared with the experimental results.
Related Concept Videos
Autoxidation of Ethers to Peroxides and Hydroperoxides
Conformations of Ethane and Propane
Staggered conformation is a low energy and more stable conformation with the C-H bonds on the front carbon placed at 60°dihedral angles relative to the C-H bonds on the back carbon, leading to a reduced torsional strain. In staggered ethane, the...
Combustion Energy: A Measure of Stability in Alkanes and Cycloalkanes
Alkanes undergo combustion in the presence of excess oxygen and high-temperature conditions to give carbon dioxide and water. A combustion reaction is the energy source in natural gas, liquified petroleum gas (LPG), fuel oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, and...
Flame Photometry: Overview
Carboxylic Acids to Methylesters: Alkylation using Diazomethane
Vapor Pressure
