Flame inhibition by potassium

Abstract

Potassium has been added at mol fractions ⩽ 10^–3 to fuel-rich, laminar, premixed, atmospheric-pressure hydrogen + oxygen + nitrogen flames. Flame-photometric measurements on the acceleration of H and OH radical recombination observed to result from this addition are interpreted in terms of the gas phase reactions [graphic omitted] and [graphic omitted] with the following rate coefficients: log₁₀(k₁/cm³ molecule^–1 s^–1)=–(10.75 ± 0.5)–430 T^–1; log₁₀(k_–1/cm³ molecule^–1 s^–1)=–(9.3 ± 0.5)–8700 T^–1; log₁₀(k₂/cm⁶ molecule^–2 s^–1)=–(26.8 ± 0.4)–log₁₀T; log₁₀(k_–2/cm³ molecule^–1 s^–1)=–(3.2 ± 0.4)–log₁₀T–17 900 T^–1; all for 1800 ⩽T⩽ 2200 K.