Shock tube study of methyl formate ignition

The autoignition of methyl formate mixed with oxygen/argon and oxygen/nitrogen behind reflected shock waves is studied. Experiments are carried out at average pressures of 2, 4, and 10 atm over a temperature range of 1053-1561 K. The effects of equivalence ratio, dilution, and the nature of the bath gas are investigated. An empirical correlation for the ignition delay is proposed. Using this correlation, methyl formate ignition is compared to published methane and ethane ignition data. It is found that methyl formate ignites more readily than methane but less readily than ethane. The experimental data is also compared with ignition delays predicted by two different methyl formate kinetic mechanisms. It is observed that both mechanisms agree with measured ignition delays at 10 atm but deviate significantly from experimental data at lower pressure. In order to obtain closer agreement between the models and experiment at lower pressures, further analysis of possible fuel consumption pathways and improved estimation of (pressure-dependent) reaction rates should be investigated.