FLAME RETARDANTS EFFECTIVENESS IN GASEOUS DETONATION MITIGATION

For combustion phenomena the role of inhibition in reducing the burning velocity of flammable mixture is of paramount importance and has been well documented. But, when the combustion process is supported by detonation waves in gases, the precise role of chemical and physical factors is not clearly defined. In this paper the following question is addressed: does it exist specific chemical actions of some compounds either to mitigate or to suppress completely gaseous detonation waves? After reviewing the self-sustainance mechanism of gaseous detonations, the influence of flame retardants will be discussed taking into account thermal as well as chemical factors of several halogenated compounds. The interaction between the fuel and the inhibitor will he also examined. Data about structure and velocity of detonation waves will be presented, and the importance of the overall heat capacity of the fresh gases mixture will be discussed. The study focuses on potential substitutes of CF3Br. Thirteen different halogenated species have been investigated and rated according to their efficiency to mitigate detonation waves.