Burning velocities and kinetics of H2/NF3/N2, CH4/NF3/N2, and C3H8/NF3/N2 flames

The combustion characteristics and reaction mechanism of mixtures containing nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) were investigated. Burning velocities for H2/NF3/N2, CH4/NF3/N2, and C3H8/NF3/N2 flames were determined for the first time at various equivalence ratios and N2 mole fractions. The burning velocities of the latter two flames were similar and showed peaks at equivalence ratios of ∼1.0, while those of the H2/NF3/N2 flames had the pronounced peak at low equivalence ratios where the formation of the wrinkled flames was observed. A detailed kinetic model was constructed to simulate the laminar burning velocities of H2/NF3/N2 and CH4/NF3/N2 flames. The model accurately reproduced the experimental results. Analyses of the reaction mechanism revealed the major reaction pathways that involve the decomposition of NF3, the oxidation and chain-fluoridation of H2 and CH4, and the formation of N2.