Objective 3:

To Determine the propagation rate of flame front travel through a pre-determined length of flame

tube for different air-fuel mixtures.

Operating Procedure:

1) Install the wire of head burner 'gauze to the rubber hose and connect it to mixing

2) Measure the hose diameter and its length.

3) Mark some points on the given pipe of known length.

4) Open the air valve and allow it for a few minutes. Then ignite the burner and pushing ignition
buttons present on apparatus.

5) Adjust it to get a stable flame (blue flame).

6) Record the flow rates of air and fuel.

7) At the same time/simultaneously turn off the burner main switch button and close both air and
fuel valves. After that, observe the fire movement inside the tube.

8) Record the flame propagation time inside the hose based on the required distance since you have
already marked some points, or you can measure across whole length of your pipe if flame
propagates to end of pipe.

Observations:

Sr Air Flow rate Gas Flow rate Mixture Length of Time Flame
No (m3/hr) (m3/hr) Flow Rate hose (m) (Sec) Speed
(m3/hr) (m/hr)

1 1 0.08 1.08 1 1.15 3130.4

2 2.7 0.12 2.82 1 1.06 3396.2

3 3.3 0.15 3.45 1 1.00 3600.0

Calculations:

Propagation rate of back flame= Area*velocity avg

A= πr2 * L
A=3.14*(2.5cm)2 1m
=4.90*10-4 m2
Distance
Flame Speed =
Time

1- t = 1.15 s
Distance/ length: 1m
After Calculations using a Calculator,
V=3130.4 m/hr

2- t = 1.06 s
Distance/ length: 1m
After Calculations using a Calculator,
V=3396.2 m/hr

3- t = 1.00 s
Distance/ length: 1m
After Calculations using a Calculator,
V= 3600 m/hr
V 1+V 2+V 3
Average Velocity =
3
=3375.5 m/hr

Propagation rate of back flame = Area*velocity avg

= 4.90*10-4 m2 * 3600 m/hr

= 1.767 m3/hr

Shutdown Procedure:

1) Tum off gas valves to extinguish the flame

2) Run air through system for few seconds

3) Turn off the unit, Cut off electrical supplies

4) Turn off the valve of cylinder.

Discussion and Conclusion:

In this experiment the average propagation rate was found to be 1.167m 3/hr. The possible errors
which could be in the calculation or observation can be the personal errors in observing the flame height
or the time measurement for the back flame. Also, there was a fluctuation in the air flow meter which can
also lead to the wrong results.