An Experimental Study of the Sensitiveness of Unconfined Hydrocarbon-Air Mixtures to Direct Detonative Initiation.

摘要

An experimental technique is described whereby the sensitiveness of a number of hydrocarbon/air mixtures is assessed in terms of direct detonative initiation from solid explosive charges. A microwave interferometer is used to monitor continuously the propagation of the reaction zone in the gaseous system over a path length of several metres, and to give a reliable distinction between detonation and deflagration. The hydrocarbons acetylene, ethylene, ethane, propane, butane, isobutane, and methane are ranked in order of the sensitiveness of the stoichiometric fuel/air mixtures. The critical initiation energy of ethane is measured as a function of fuel/air stoichiometry. The minimum initiation energy for various stoichiometric methane/ethane/air is assessed. A brief literature survey is included. (Author)