title: Experimental study of the flammability limits of toluene-air mixtures at elevated pressure and temperature.
abstract: The flammability limits of toluene-air mixtures are experimentally determined at pressures up to 500 kPa and temperatures up to 250 degrees C in a closed spherical vessel. The results at atmospheric pressure are compared with the results obtained in a glass tube. The flammability limits depend linearly upon temperature. A twilight zone characterized by weak pressure rises is observed for toluene at all pressures, while soot is formed at elevated pressures only. The explosion characteristics of toluene are compared with those of methane. Despite their chemical differences, the explosion characteristics of toluene and methane are similar.
authors.affiliation: K.U. Leuven, Department of Mechanical Engineering Celestijnenlaan 300A, B-3001 Leuven-Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goethals
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vanderstraeten
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berghmans
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Smedt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vliegen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van't Oost
mesh_terms: D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D002617:Chemical Industry; D005107:Explosions; D008697:Methane / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D014050:Toluene / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014050:Toluene; D008697:Methane