Effect of propane additives on laminar burning velocity in hydrogen-air-water steam mixtures

A numerical simulation was conducted to investigate the laminar flame speed in a stoichiometric mixture of hydrogen, air, and water vapor, with the addition of a small amount of propane, at an initial temperature of 323 K and a pressure of 1 atm. The results demonstrate that even at low concentrations, propane acts as an effective inhibitor of combustion processes in hydrogen mixtures. A sensitivity analysis was performed, identifying the key chemical reactions that influence the formation of the laminar flame speed. Furthermore, application of Le Chatelier’s principle revealed that even minor additions of propane can substantially alter the mixture composition, specifically its overall fuel equivalence ratio, which may also affect the flame speed.