INFLUENCE OF THE AEROSOL FORMED IN THE FAST EVAPORATION OF SUPERHEATED WATER ON THE COMBUSTION OF METHANE-AIR MIXTURES IN A CLOSED VESSEL

The influence of the aerosol formed in the fast evaporation of superhe ated water at 150 degrees C on the combustion of a methane-air mixture in a near-spherical closed vessel (volume 20 dm(3)) is investigated e xperimentally. The concentrational limits of flame propagation and the normal combustion rate are determined as a function of the mass conce ntration of the water aerosol. It is found that the flegmatizing abili ty of the aerosol is relatively low; it is not due to the formation of fairly large water drops but practically completely to the presence o f saturated water vapor. Exponential reduction in normal combustion ra te of the mixture with increase in concentration of the superheated-wa ter aerosol is observed.