Mathematical Modeling of the Combustion of an Overfueled Aluminum–Air Mixture Based on the Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics of the Process

Abstract

This paper presents the results of mathematical modeling of the combustion of flow of a multifractional suspension of an aluminum powder in air taking into account the nonequilibrium nature of the process. The calculations were performed for air-to-fuel ratios α = 0.1–0.5. Time dependences of thermodynamic parameters, the completeness of metal particle combustion, and the relative residence time of the fractions in the flow were obtained. The adequacy of the nonequilibrium model for describing thermodynamic processes was validated by comparing with the equilibrium model for time tending to ∞. The necessity of taking into account the formation of Al₂O suboxide present in the range of the air-to-fuel ratio is analyzed and proved. The need to include nitriding reactions in the mathematical modeling for 0.1 ≤ α < 0.4 is shown by comparing the results of calculations based on equilibrium and nonequilibrium thermodynamics.