Effects of various inhibitors on hydrogen-air flame speeds

Abstract The effects of small amounts of eighty compounds (gases and vaporized liquids) on the flame speed of the fastest-burning hydrogen-air flame were measured. Those most effective in reducing the flame speed were hydrocarbons as a group, bromine-substituted hydrocarbons, several metallic chlorides, and iron carbonyl. Chlorine- and fluorine-substituted hydrocarbons were relatively ineffective. The effects of methane and ethylene on hydrogen-air flames were studied in detail as functions of hydrogen-air ratio, amount of additive up to four per cent, and preflame gas temperature. Both hydrocarbons reduced flame speeds more effectively in rich than in lean hydrogen-air mixtures.