Fundamental combustion properties of oxygen enriched hydrogen/air mixtures relevant to safety analysis: experimental and simulation study - Chemical Kinetics in Shock and Detonation Wave

In order to face the coming shortage of fossil energies, a number of alternative methods of energy production are being considered. One promising approach is nuclear fusion as investigated within the framework the ITER project, International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. However, the op- eration of ITER may rise safety problems including the formation of a flammable dust/hydrogen/air atmosphere. A first towards the accurate assessment of accidental explosion in ITER consist in bet- ter characterizing the risk of explosion in gaseous hydrogen-containing mixtures. In the present study, the laminar burning speed, the ignition delay-time behind reflected shock wave, and the detonation cell size were measured over wide ranges of composition and equivalence ratios. The performance of five detailed reaction models were evaluated with respect to the present data.