ROLE OF CHAIN MECHANISM IN IGNITION AND COMBUSTION OF HYDROGEN-OXYGENMIXTURES NEAR THE 3RD EXPLOSION LIMIT

In contrast to the commonly accepted opinion, the ignition and combust ion of hydrogen and oxygen (air) mixtures near the third ignition limi t under atmospheric pressure are shown to occur via the branched-chain mechanism, which largely determines the essential features of the pro cess under these conditions and under lower pressures. The joint effec t of branching and self-heating on the kinetics is discussed. The comp etition between chain branching and chain termination steps along with self-heating governs the phenomenology of many other combustion proce sses over a wide range of pressures and temperatures.