Experimental and kinetic modeling investigation on flow reactor pyrolysis and laminar flame propagation of cyclopentanone

Pyrolysis of cyclopentanone is performed in a flow reactor at temperatures from 875 to 1428 K and pressures of 0.04 and 1 atm. Synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry (SVUV-PIMS) is used to detect pyrolysis products, while C2H4 and CO are found as the most abundant pyrolysis products. Two groups of keto-enol tautomers (cyclopentanone and 5-cyclopentenol; 1,4-cyclopentadien-1-ol, 2-cyclopeten-1-one and 3-cyclopeten-1-one) are also observed. Laminar burning velocities of cyclopentanone/air mixtures at 443 K and 1-5 atm are measured in a high-pressure constant-volume cylindrical combustion vessel. A detailed kinetic model of cyclopentanone is developed and validated against the present experimental data. Based on modeling analysis, two unimolecular reactions of cyclopentanone directly or eventually producing ethylene and CO play the most important roles in fuel consumption under pyrolysis conditions, while H-abstraction reactions of cyclopentanone and reactions including C2H3 and C4H7 radicals are among sensitive reactions in laminar flame propagation.