Mechanisms underlying the evolvement of oscillation during the gas-phase oxidation of hydrocarbons

Investigations of oscillation in hydrocarbon oxidation processes under flow-through conditions in a two-section reactor have shown that in these systems both attenuating and stable oscillations can develop. Passing through attenuating oscillations, the system enters the regime of the stabilized cold flame. By varying system parameters, such as the flow velocity, pressure, temperatures in the first section and especially in the second section where the oscillations are produced, it is possible to establish a regime of stable, continuous oscillations with a specified amplitude and frequency. The experiments were carried out in a two-section cylindrical reactor. The investigation was directed at the oscillating oxidation of propane (C/sub 3/H/sub 8/:)/sub 2/ = 1:1), propylene (C/sub 3/H/sub 6/:O/sub 2/ = 1:1) and also of a mixture containing propane and propylene in various proportions: C/sub 3/H/sub 8/:C/sub 3/H/sub 6/:O/sub 2/ = 1:1:2 C/sub 3/H/sub 8/:C/sub 3/H/sub 6/:O/sub 2/ = 2:1:3.