Shock Tube Measurement of Ethylene Ignition Delay Time and Molecular Collision Theory Analysis

In this study, 75% and 96% argon diluent conditions were selected to determine the ignition delay time of stoichiometric mixture of C2H4/O-2/Ar within a range of pressures (1.3-3.0 atm) and temperatures (1092-1743 K). Results showed a logarithmic linear relationship of the ignition delay time with the reciprocal of temperatures. Under both two diluent conditions, ignition delay time decreased with increased temperature. By multiple linear regression analysis, the ignition delay correlation was deduced. According to this correlation, the calculated ignition delay time in 96% diluent was found to be nearly five times that in 75% diluent. To explain this discrepancy, the hard-sphere collision theory was adopted, and the collision numbers of ethylene to oxygen were calculated. The total collision numbers of ethylene to oxygen were 5.99 x 10(30) s(-1) cm(-3) in 75% diluent and 1.53x10(29) s(-1) cm(-3) in 96% diluent (about 40 times that in 75% diluent). According to the discrepancy between ignition delay time and collision numbers, viz. 5 times corresponds to 40 times, the steric factor can be estimated.