A comparative single-pulse shock tube experiment and kinetic modeling study on pyrolysis of cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane and ethylcyclohexane

The pyrolysis of cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, and ethylcyclohexane have been studied behind reflected shock waves at pressures of 5 and10 bar and at temperatures of 930–1550 K for 0.05% fuel diluted by Argon. A single-pulse shock tube (SPST) is used to perform the pyrolysis experiments at reaction times varying from 1.65 to 1.74 ms. Major products are obtained and quantified using gas chromatography analysis. A flame ionization detector and a thermal conductivity detector are used for species identification and quantification. Kinetic modeling has been performed using several detailed and lumped chemical kinetic mechanisms. Differences in modeling results among the kinetic models are described. Reaction path analysis and sensitivity analysis are performed to determine the important reactions controlling fuel pyrolysis and their influence on the predicted concentrations of reactant and product species profiles. The present work provides new fundamental knowledge in understating pyrolysis characteristics of cyclohexane compounds and additional data set for detailed kinetic mechanism development.