deflagrationbased

Deflagration-based refers to phenomena or systems in which combustion propagates as a deflagration—a subsonic flame front driven by heat transfer and mass diffusion through the unburned mixture. By contrast, detonation involves a supersonic shock wave that compresses and ignites the fuel–oxidizer mixture. Deflagration-based processes produce pressure rises more gradually and are easier to control, which is why they underpin most everyday energy conversion devices.

Propagating speeds in deflagration-based systems vary with mixture composition, pressure, temperature, and turbulence. Laminar flames can move slowly, while turbulent deflagrations in confined geometries can accelerate to higher, though still subsonic, speeds. In unconfined space they typically remain subsonic, but confinement and turbulence can amplify pressure development and flame speed.

Common examples include internal combustion engines, gas-fired heaters and furnaces, and many forms of flameless or flametasting combustion used in industry and education. In safety contexts, deflagration hazards arise when flammable vapors or dusts mix with air; accidental deflagrations can cause significant damage, and under certain conditions a deflagration may transition to detonation (deflagration-to-detonation transition, DDT), with much more destructive potential.

The concept also appears in theoretical and astrophysical contexts, where deflagration waves describe subsonic burning fronts in stellar environments and can influence models of explosive events. In engineering practice, the term highlights the importance of flame speed, confinement, and mixing in designing safe, efficient combustion systems and preventing unintended rapid pressure buildup.

Overall, deflagration-based describes a class of combustion phenomena and technologies centered on subsonic flame propagation driven primarily by thermal and diffusive transport, distinct from detonation-based processes.