Chemistry and transport effects on critical flame initiation radius for alkanes and aromatic fuels

The combined effects of transport and fuel reactivity on the critical flame initiation radius for n-alkanes and aromatics are investigated experimentally and numerically using outwardly propagating spherical flames at atmospheric pressure. The effects of transport on the critical flame initiation radius are examined by comparing n-alkanes with different sizes (n-heptane vs. n-decane) but similar molecular structure and reactivity. The effect of...