Pressurized Silicon Combustion for Pyrotechnic and Energetic Use

Silicon is a classic fuel in pyrotechnic compositions as e.g. delay compositions. However, it is also discussed as a particularly suitable CO2-free energy carrier and as a fuel to replace coal in power plants. The combustion behaviour of silicon powder has been purely studied so far. Many researchers assume a shrink core mechanism with the formation of a passivating oxide layer on the particle surface. Since now no combustion studies on the influence of pressure exists. Thermodynamic for 0.1, 1, and 10 MPa predict increasing adiabatic temperatures and total conversion rates for a wide variation of mixing ratios with increasing atmospheric pressure.