Experiments / ACME burners
CFI-GSupports fire safety
Cool Flames Investigation with Gases
Found the conditions under which gas-fed spherical flames turn into cool flames, including the highest-oxygen tests in PSI.
What burned
Gas
N-butane, propane and ethane
Where
On the space station
In orbit, where everything is weightless
How much data
333 tests
Each one is a row in NASA's table
What they changed between tests
- fuel
- oxygen concentration
- pressure
- fuel dilution
- flow rate
- flame direction
What it found
- 1 of 2
Its high oxygen values belong to "inside-out" flames, where oxygen is injected into fuel - not to an oxygen-rich cabin atmosphere.
NASA's words
“an oxygen-nitrogen mixture of up to 85% oxygen flowed from the spherical burner creating an inside-out flame” NASA challenge statement
- 2 of 2
The tests span reduced and elevated pressures for both flame directions.
NASA's words
“Consider multiple fuels, a range of reactant dilutions, flow rates, and pressures for normal and inverse convection directions.” PSI record
Summarized by the SI. Each summary is tied to a quotation that the build checks against NASA's text. A matching quote is not a scientific review.
What it helps with
Stopping a fire from starting
Which materials burn, and in what air
A clear part
Noticing a fire early
What smoke looks like to a detector
Not an aim
Putting a fire out
What makes a flame go out
Touches on it
For researchers: NASA's full recordThe conditions tested, every row of the table, NASA's description, publications and hardware
Shared hardware: Six gas-flame experiments shared one modular set of burners and diagnostics. Experiments that shared hardware share its limits, so their results can be compared directly.
Why it counts as fire-safety research
“Microgravity tests with the highest oxygen concentrations were conducted as part of the ACME's Cool Flames Investigation with Gases (CFI-G).” NASA challenge statement
NASA's words behind each rating
- Prevention2 of 3
“Determine the conditions for which cool diffusion flames occur for propane, n-butane, and n-pentane”
- Detection0 of 3
Not an aim of this investigation.
- Suppression1 of 3
“Cool diffusion flames for which a decrease in fluent flow rate will cause extinction”
Conditions covered
- Oxygen in the atmosphere
- 18% to 40%
- airMoon
- burner stream up to 85%
- Pressure
- 49.5 kPa to 331 kPa
- Moonsea level
- Flow speed
- not reported
- not in the PSI table
- Itemized rows
- 333
- 333 tests
Fuels and materials
n-butane (140), propane (99), ethane (94)
Measurements named in the PSI record
- Flame imaging
- Radiometry
- Thermocouples
- Chemiluminescence
How the tests differ, and how they are the same
Worked out from the 333 rows of the PSI table. A variable that is not listed was not reported, which is different from being held fixed.
Changed from test to test
- Oxygen
- 12% to 85%
- Oxygen refers to
- 2 different values
- Pressure
- 49.5 kPa to 331 kPa
- Fuel or material
- 3 different values
- Fuel fraction
- 0% to 100%
- Fuel flow rate
- 0 mg/s to 3.21 mg/s
- Oxidizer flow rate
- 0.931 mg/s to 9.08 mg/sreported in 154 of 333 rows
- Ignited
- 3 different values
- Burn time
- 0 s to 304 sreported in 329 of 333 rows
- How the test ended
- 2 different valuesreported in 272 of 333 rows
- Cool flame observed
- 2 different valuesreported in 8 of 333 rows
- Flame colour
- 5 different valuesreported in 120 of 333 rows
- Oxygen at end of test
- 17.9% to 39.7%reported in 179 of 333 rows
- Adiabatic flame temperature
- 1,397 K to 2,978 K
- Stoichiometric mixture fraction
- 0.0588 to 0.784
- Peak burner temperature
- 25.6 °C to 651.5 °Creported in 284 of 333 rows
- Photomultiplier tube 1 gain setting
- 4.5 to 10reported in 328 of 333 rows
- Photomultiplier tube 3 gain setting
- 5 to 10reported in 328 of 333 rows
The same in every test
- Fuel phase
- gas
- Geometry
- spherical burner
Rows from the PSI table
Click a row for the source of every value. Filter and export
| Record | Type | Fuel or material | Shape | Oxygen | Pressure | Flow, cm/s | Outcome | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21196 A1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 110 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21196 A2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21196 F1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 15%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21196 H1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 12%stream | 110 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21196 J1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 13.5%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21196 F2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 15%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21196 F3 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 15%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21196 F4 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 15%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21196 F5 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 15%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21196 F6 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 15%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21196 K1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 15%stream | 49.5 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21196 L1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 49.5 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21196 L2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 49.5 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21196 M1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 30%stream | 49.5 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21196 M2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 30%stream | 49.5 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21196 M2_1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 30%stream | 49.5 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21202 A1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21202 A2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21202 A3 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21202 A4 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21202 H1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21202 H2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21202 H3 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21202 H4 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21202 J1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21202 K1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21202 K2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21202 L1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21209 A1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21209 A2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21209 A3 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21209 B1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21209 A4 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21209 H1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21209 J1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 30%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21209 F1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21209 F2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21209 F3 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21209 B2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21209 K1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 18%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21216 A1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21216 A2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21216 A3 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21216 A4 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21216 A5 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21216 A6 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21216 B1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21216 C1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21216 F1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 331 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21216 H1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21216 H2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21216 J1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21216 K1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21222 A1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21222 A2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21222 A3 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21222 A4 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21222 A5 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21222 B1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21222 C1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21222 C2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21222 F1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21222 F2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 331 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21228 A1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21228 A2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21228 A3 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21228 A4 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21228 B1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21228 C1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21228 C2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 221 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21228 C3 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21228 C4 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21228 F1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 221 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21228 H1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21228 H2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21228 J1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21228 K1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21228 K2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21228 L1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21228 L2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21235 A1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21235 A2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21235 C1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21235 F1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21235 F2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 110 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21235 H1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 18%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21235 J1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 19%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21235 B1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21235 K1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21235 L1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21242 A1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21242 P1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 30%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21242 F2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 55.2 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21242 F3 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 55.2 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21242 F4 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 55.2 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21242 P2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 30%stream | 55.2 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21256 A1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 A2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 A3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 A4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 A5 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 C1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 F1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 221 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21256 B1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 C2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 H1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 H2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 H3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 H4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 H5 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 K1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 M1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21256 J1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 221 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21265 A1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21265 A2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21265 A3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21265 A4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21265 A5 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21265 C1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21265 C2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21265 C3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21265 F1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21265 F2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 331 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21265 F3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 331 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21265 F4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 331 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21265 H1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 40%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21265 H2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 40%stream | 331 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21265 J1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 70%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21265 K1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 45%stream | 331 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21265 H3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 40%stream | 331 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21270 A1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21270 A2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21270 A3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21270 A4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21270 C1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21270 H1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21270 H2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21270 H3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21270 H4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21270 H5 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 110 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21277 A1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21277 H1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21277 J1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 55.2 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21277 K1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 30%stream | 55.2 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21277 K2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 30%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21277 J2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21%stream | 55.2 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21277 C1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21277 C2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21277 L1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21277 F1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21277 F2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21277 M1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 85%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21277 N1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 50%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21277 P1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 30%stream | 55.2 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21088A1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 94.4 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21088 B1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 39% | 94.4 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21088 C1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 38.6% | 94.4 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21088 D1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 38.3% | 94.4 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21088 F1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 38% | 94.4 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21088 G1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 38% | 94.4 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21088 H1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 37.6% | 94.4 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21088 J1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 37.3% | 94.4 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21088 K1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 37% | 94.4 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21088 H2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 36.5% | 94.4 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21088 M4 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 21% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21088 L1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 21% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21088 N1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 18% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21088 P1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 18% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21102A1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.6% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21102 C1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.3% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21102 B1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.1% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21102 C2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.8% | 101 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21102 C3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.6% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21102 C4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.3% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21102 C5 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.3% | 101 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21102 C6 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.1% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21102 C7 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.1% | 101 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21102 C8 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.1% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21102 M1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 23.4% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21102 M2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 23.4% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21102 M3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 23.3% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21102 M4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 23.3% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21102 M5 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 23.3% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21102 M6 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 23.3% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21106A4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.3% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21106 B1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.5% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21106 C1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 37.7% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21106 D1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 36.9% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21106 F1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 35.9% | 50.7 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21106 F2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 35.4% | 50.7 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21106 F3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 35.4% | 50.7 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21106 F4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 35.4% | 50.7 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21106 F5 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 35.3% | 50.7 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21106 G6 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21106 G7 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 20.9% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21106 G9 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 20.7% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21106 H1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 20.7% | 50.7 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21106 H2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 20.7% | 50.7 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21112A1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 39.5% | 94.4 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21112 A2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 94.4 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21112 A3 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 39.1% | 94.4 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21112 A4 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 38.7% | 94.4 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21112 A5 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 38% | 94.4 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21112 C1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 37.8% | 94.4 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21112 C2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 37.7% | 94.4 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21112 A6 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 37.7% | 94.4 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21112 C3 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 36.6% | 94.4 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21112 C4 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 36.6% | 94.4 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21112 C5 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 36.6% | 94.4 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21112 C6 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 36.6% | 94.4 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21112 F1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.3% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21112 F2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.3% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21112 F3 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.2% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21112 F4 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.2% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21112 F5 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.2% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21112 H1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.2% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21112 H2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.2% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21112 H3 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125A1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.5% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 A2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.5% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21125 A3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 A4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 A5 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 A6 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 A7 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 A8 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 A9 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 H1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 H2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 H3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 H4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 J1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 H5 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 K1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21125 K2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.9% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21125 K3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.4% | 101 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21125 D1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21125 D2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21125 D3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 D4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 D5 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21125 D6 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21130A1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 A2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 A3 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 203 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21130 A4 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 203 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21130 A5 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 A6 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 203 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21130 A7 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 203 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21130 A8 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 203 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21130 A9 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 M1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 M2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.1% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 M3 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 G1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.7% | 304 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21130 G2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.7% | 304 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 G3 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.7% | 304 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 G4 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.7% | 304 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21130 G5 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.7% | 304 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21130 G6 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.7% | 304 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 G7 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.7% | 304 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 N1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.7% | 304 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 N2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.7% | 304 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 N3 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.6% | 304 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 N4 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.6% | 304 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21130 N5 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21.6% | 304 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21137A1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 40% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21137 A2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 39.7% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21137 A3 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 39.5% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21137 B1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 39% | 101 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21137 B2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 37.1% | 101 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21137 A4 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 35.7% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21137 A5 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 35.6% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21137 A6 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 35.4% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21137 A7 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 35.2% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21137 D1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 21% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21137 D2 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 20.9% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21137 C1 | Test | propane | spherical burner | 20.9% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21153A1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 38.9% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21153 A2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 37.6% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21153 A3 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 36.4% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21153 F1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 34.1% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21153 A4 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 33.5% | 50.7 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21153 A5 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 33.2% | 50.7 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21153 C1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 39.9% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21153 C2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 39.7% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21153 C3 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 39.5% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21153 G1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 39.2% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21153 C4 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 38.9% | 203 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21153 C5 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 38.4% | 203 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21153 C6 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 38.4% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21153 C7 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 38.2% | 203 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21162A1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 40% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21162 A2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 39.5% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21162 A3 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 39% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21162 B1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 37.9% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21162 A4 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 37.2% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21162 C1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 21% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21162 C2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 21% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21162 C3 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 20.9% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21162 C4 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 20.9% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21162 C5 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 20.8% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21162 D1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 20.8% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21162 F1 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 20.7% | 101 kPa | did not ignite | ||
| 21162 F2 | Test | ethane | spherical burner | 20.7% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21174 A1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.9% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21174 A2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.3% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21174 A3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 37.9% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21174 A4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 37.2% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21174 B1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 35.5% | 50.7 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21174 C1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.9% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21174 C2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.7% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21174 C3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.5% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21174 C4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21174 D1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.2% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21174 F1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.1% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21174 C5 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39% | 203 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21174 C6 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.9% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21174 F2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.5% | 203 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21174 F3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.5% | 203 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21174 F4 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.4% | 203 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21291 A1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.9% | 203 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21291 C1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.4% | 203 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21291 C2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.9% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21291 B1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.8% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21291 H1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.7% | 203 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21291 H2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.6% | 203 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21291 D1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.8% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21291 G1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 39.5% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21291 G2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.8% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21291 J1 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.5% | 101 kPa | flow terminated | ||
| 21291 J2 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.3% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished | ||
| 21291 J3 | Test | n-butane | spherical burner | 38.1% | 101 kPa | self-extinguished |
How the table was read, and what was repaired
CFI-G - inverse flames
PSI-159_Experimental table_CFI-G_Inverse Flames.csv
154 rows in the file, 154 kept as records.
sha256 d4d44f8b9896936728748e34d1b6ad0812032a92fa5289599b708c138e3a9b39 · fetched 2026-11-11
CFI-G - normal flames
PSI-159_Experimental table_CFI-G_Normal Flames.csv
179 rows in the file, 179 kept as records.
sha256 d95a621c3fbd27d204dd32ed29fa17d68f2b779d6a523cde8479ed7ebaa5251a · fetched 2026-11-11
NASA's description
Objectives
1. Plan and support flight testing on the International Space Station (ISS). 2. Determine the conditions for which cool diffusion flames occur for propane, n-butane, and n-pentane; normal and inverse flames; and a broad range of Zst, Tad, and fluent flow rate. 3. Support the flight tests with advanced CFD simulations. 4. Identify or develop a chemical kinetics mechanism that yields good agreement between the CFD predictions and the ISS measurements. 5. Disseminate the results as widely as possible.
Approach
Perform spherical diffusion flame tests aboard the International Space Station. Consider multiple fuels, a range of reactant dilutions, flow rates, and pressures for normal and inverse convection directions. Observe the flames with a broad suite of cameras, radiometers, photomultiplier tubes, and thermocouples.
Hypothesis
The hypotheses of this research are that testing aboard the ISS can demonstrate the following for the first time, contributing to an improved understanding of cool flame kinetics. 1. Steady-state cool diffusion flames on spherical porous burners. 2. Cool diffusion flames burning propane, n-butane, and n-pentane. 3. Cool diffusion flames for a wide range of Zst, Tad, and pressures. 4. Inverse cool diffusion flames. 5. Cool diffusion flames for which a decrease in fluent flow rate will cause extinction, whereas an increase will cause a transition to a hot diffusion flame, with oscillation possible between hot and cool flames.
Research impacts and Earth benefits
Combustion provides 86% of the world’s energy and an even higher fraction of the energy used for transportation. The internal combustion engines used for transportation generally have thermal efficiencies of 38% or lower because of thermal losses. These efficiencies may increase to 60% if future engines can take advantage of ultra-lean combustion. However, this progress is being impeded by the limited understanding of the chemistry of cool flames. Research into cool diffusion flames (whose peak temperatures are 500 – 1000 K) has grown exponentially since they were discovered in 2012. The measurements performed for this project will help to test and advance cool flame kinetics mechanisms. This should facilitate the development of more efficient internal combustion engines.
Publications
2 listed in PSI, 2 with a DOI.
- Spherical gas-fueled cool diffusion flamesKim Minhyeng, Waddell Kendyl A., Sunderland Peter B., Nayagam Vedha, Stocker Dennis P., Dietrich Daniel L., Ju Yiguang, Williams Forman A., Irace Phillip, Axelbaum Richard L.
- Cool diffusion flames in a stably stratified stagnation flowWaddell Kendyl A., Lee Han Ju, Nayagam Vedha, Axelbaum Richard L., Sunderland Peter B.
Hardware and raw data
2.1 TB of raw data on PSI: reports 1, raw data 3,749, metadata 1, experimental table 2, engineering documents 1, representative image(s) 2. FlameLens reads the experimental table, not the raw video or sensor files.
On Earth
Cleaner combustion: Cool-flame kinetics for more efficient, ultra-lean engines.
“This should facilitate the development of more efficient internal combustion engines.”