Abstract:
The dependence of the lower flammability limit on the initial temperature is studied experimentally and numerically for upward flame propagation at a pressure of 0.1 MPa. It is shown that the Burgess and Wheeler rule, implying a linear dependence of the lower flammability limit on the initial temperature with the intersection of the temperature axis at the point 1300$^\circ$C, does not hold for N$_2$, CH$_3$OH, CH$_2$O, and CH$_4$. For these substances, the intersection of the temperature axis is at the point 900 $\pm$ 20$^\circ$C. The Burgess and Wheeler rule gives overestimated values of the limit which do not reflect the true conditions of explosion safety.