Laminar flame speeds and Markstein lengths of methyl decanoate-air premixed flames at elevated pressures and temperatures

Laminar flame speeds and Markstein lengths of methyl decanoate (MD)-air mixtures were measured within a range of equivalence ratio at different elevated pressures and temperatures using outwardly propagating spherical flames developed inside a constant volume combustion chamber. Shadowgraph technique was employed to observe the temporal evolution of flame fronts. A numerical scheme was used to justify all the experimental data of laminar flame speeds. The numerical scheme was developed based on a short mechanism of methyl decanoate oxidation. A sound agreement was observed between the numerical predictions and experimentally obtained data of laminar flame speeds. Markstein lengths were calculated to quantify the effect of stretch on the flame front at different initial conditions. The study provided viable data of laminar flame speeds and Markstein lengths of methyl decanoate-air flames at different initial conditions which were also well conforming to the established theories of conventional fuels regarding of the effects of equivalence ratio, pressure, and temperature variation on laminar flame speed.