The influence of inert retardants on the combustion of hydrogen-oxygen mixtures under elevated temperatures and pressures

The experimental values of the flammability limits in hydrogen-oxygen-inert diluent (helium argon, carbon dioxide, steam) mixtures at temperatures up to 523 K and pressures up to 2 MPa as well as of the burning velocities of H$_2$–O$_2$–N$_2$ mixtures at 293 K and 4 MPa are reported. An anomalous effect of helium on the lower flammability limit in a hydrogen-oxygen-helium mixture is shown. The synergistic effect observed for helium-carbon dioxide and helium-steam mixtures used as inert retardants is noted. The data are interpretea theoretically on the assumption of the important role of the selective diffusion of hydrogen and helium from the initial mixture to the flame.