Algorithmic analysis of chemical dynamics of the autoignition of NH₃-H₂O₂/Air Mixtures

The dynamics of a homogeneous adiabatic autoignition of an ammonia/air mixture at constant volume was studied, using the algorithmic tools of Computational Singular Perturbation. Since ammonia combustion is characterized by both unrealistically long ignition delays and elevated NO_x emissions, the time frame of action of the modes that are responsible for ignition was analyzed by calculating the developing time scales throughout the process and by studying their possible relation to NO_x emissions. The reactions that support or oppose the explosive time scale were identified, along with the variables that are related the most to the dynamics that drive the system to an explosion. It is shown that reaction H₂O₂ (+M)→OH + OH (+M) is the one contributing the most to the time scale that characterizes ignition and that its reactant H₂O₂ is the species related the most to this time scale. These findings suggested that addition of H₂O₂ in the initial mixture will influence strongly the evolution of the process. Itwas shown that ignition of pure ammonia advanced as a slowthermal explosion with very limited chemical runaway. The ignition delay could be reduced by more than two orders of magnitude through H₂O₂ addition, which causes only a minor increase in NO_x emissions.