Kinetics of the Formation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Combustion Gases

Abstract

Some aspects of the evolution in the knowledge about the PAH kinetics in combustion systems have been discussed. A simplified description of the improvements from early reaction models of PAH species formation and growth up to the newest models is given. More accurate determination of thermochemcial data for each species considered in the model, more accurate rate coefficients, and inclusion of relevant reactions that have not been considered yet are the ways for further improvements of kinetic models. The accurate determination of rate coefficients includes the elucidation of their pressure dependence, as PAH growth and soot formation are strongly dependent on pressure; skillful efforts have been recently devoted to this field, including RRKM and QRRK approaches on elementary reactions.