The thermal theory of constant-pressure deflagration for first-order global reactions

The one-dimensional thermal theory of constant-pressure deflagration has been discussed in a recent publication by the senior author and G. Millán. In this paper an explicit relation was given for the linear burning velocity in flames supported by first-order global reactions. It is the purpose of the present analysis to extend this work by dropping the assumptions (a) that the average molecular weight of the gas mixture remains constant, and (b) that the thermal conductivity is constant. As the result, the one-dimensional theory of constant-pressure deflagration described in this paper is complete except in so far as the following reasonable approximations are concerned: (a) a constant average specific heat equal to the ratio of heat release per gram of reactant to total temperature rise may be used; (b) the ideal gas law constitutes a satisfactory equation of state for reacting gas mixtures.