A high pressure shock tube study of n-propylbenzene oxidation and its comparison with n-butylbenzene

Ignition delay times have been measured for mixtures of n-propylbenzene in air (approximate to 21% O-2, approximate to 79% N-2) at equivalence ratios of 0.29, 0.48, 0.96 and 1.92 and at reflected shock pressures of 1, 10 and 30 atm in a heated high-pressure shock tube over a wide temperature range (1000-1600 K). The effects of reflected shock pressure and of equivalence ratio on ignition delay time were determined and common trends highlighted. Simulations were carried out using the n-propylbenzene sub-mechanism contained in an n-butylbenzene reaction mechanism available in the literature. This kinetic model was improved by including pressure dependent reactions which were not in place previously and the addition of the NUI Galway C-0-C-4 sub-mechanism. These simulations showed very good agreement with the experimental data. Additionally a comparison is made with experimental data previously obtained and published for n-butylbenzene over the same range of conditions and common trends are highlighted. (C) 2012 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.