Abstract
Effects of inert gases on the vortex bursting in a small-diameter tube have been experimentally investigated. Methane was used as fuel. Results show that the flame propagation has observed for carbon dioxide mixture at 30% oxygen concentration within a 3.6mm tube which is less than the quenching diameter (5.9mm). Such flame propagation may attribute to the large pressure difference between the unburned and the burned gas. Furthermore, for carbon dioxide mixture, Lewis number is significantly lower than unity, hence, combustion was intensified at the flame tip which promote the flame propagation within the tube less than quenching diameter.
