Flame balls dynamics in divergent channel

A three-dimensional reaction-diffusion model for lean low-Lewis-number premixed flames with radiative heat losses propagating in divergent channel is studied numerically. Effects of inlet gas velocity and heat-loss intensity on flame structure at low Lewis numbers are investigated. It is found that continuous flame front exists at small heat losses and the separate flame balls settled within restricted domain inside the divergent channel at large heat losses. It is shown that the time averaged flame balls coordinate may be considered as important characteristic analogous to coordinate of continuous flame stabilized in divergent channel.     

Characteristics of combustion in a narrow channel with a temperature gradient

Characteristics of premixed combustion in a heated channel with an inner diameter smaller than the conventional quenching distance of the employed mixture were investigated experimentally, analytically, and numerically. A cylindrical quartz tube with an inner diameter of 2 mm was used as a model channel. The downstream part of the tube was heated by an external heat source, and hence the temperature gradient in the axial direction was formed in the middle of the tube. Flat and stationary conventional premixed flames were stabilized at a point in this temperature gradient. In addition to these flames, various other flames that exhibit dynamic behaviors such as cyclic oscillatory motions, and repetitive ignition and extinction were also observed experimentally. These flames with large amplitude oscillatory motion might be utilized as a heat source with high speed temporal temperature variations in microsystems for future application. Another stable flame region in extremely low speed criteria at a mixture velocity of 2–3 cm/s was also experimentally confirmed. This flame was inferred to be an example of mild combustion, and it might also be used as a mild heat source for microdevices. The overall stability criteria of these flame regimes were analytically examined, and the detailed structure of each flame on the stable solution branches was numerically examined by employing 1D computation with detailed chemistry. The two results qualitatively agreed with each other and clarified the mechanism of the present various flames and their dynamic characteristics.     

The importance of thermal radiation transfer in laminar diffusion flames at normal and microgravity

The importance of radiation heat loss in laminar and turbulent diffusion flames at normal gravity has been relatively well recognized in recent years. There is currently lack of quantitative understanding on the importance of radiation heat loss in relatively small scale laminar diffusion flames at microgravity. The effects of radiation heat transfer and radiation absorption on the structure and soot formation characteristics of a coflow laminar ethylene/air diffusion flame at normal- and microgravity were numerically investigated. Numerical calculations were conducted using GRI-Mech 3.0 combustion chemistry without the NO_x mechanism and complex thermal and transport properties, an acetylene based soot formation model, and a statistical narrow-band correlated-k non-grey gas radiation model. Radiation heat transfer and radiation absorption in the microgravity flame were found to be much more important than their counterparts at normal gravity. It is important to calculate thermal radiation transfer accurately in diffusion flame modelling under microgravity conditions.     

Nonlinear simulations of combustion instabilities with a quasi-1D Navier-Stokes code

As lean premixed combustion systems are more susceptible to combustion instabilities than non-premixed systems, there is an increasing demand for improved numerical design tools that can predict the occurrence of combustion instabilities with high accuracy. The inherent nonlinearities in combustion instabilities can be of crucial importance, and we here propose an approach in which the one-dimensional (1D) Navier-Stokes and scalar transport equations are solved for geometries of variable cross-section. The focus is on attached flames, and for this purpose a new phenomenological model for the unsteady heat release from a flame front is introduced. In the attached flame method (AFM) the heat release occurs over the full length of the flame. The nonlinear code with the use of the AFM approach is validated against analytical results and against an experimental study of thermoacoustic instabilities in oxy-fuel flames by Ditaranto and Hals [Combustion and Flame 146 (2006) 493-512]. The numerical simulations are in accordance with the experimental measurements and the analytical results and both the frequencies and the amplitudes of the resonant acoustic pressure modes are reproduced with good accuracy.     

An experimental and numerical study on the adequacy of CH as a flame marker in premixed methane flames

The CH radical is frequently used as a flame marker because it is relatively short-lived and is present over a narrow region in flames. Discontinuities in the CH field are thus often interpreted as localized extinction of the flame. Recently, however, the adequacy of CH laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) as a flame marker was questioned by an experimental study of flame–vortex interactions in highly N₂-diluted premixed methane flames. We demonstrate both experimentally and numerically that anomalies in the transient response of CH in this earlier study were due to reactant composition variations in the vortex. In addition, we evaluate the adequacy of CH LIF as a flame marker over a much broader range of conditions. Previous numerical studies showed that heat release rate correlates reasonably well with peak [HCO] and the concentration product [OH][CH₂O], but poorly with [CH], in highly N₂-diluted premixed methane flames. Here, the correlation between heat release rate and CH is investigated both experimentally, by performing simultaneous measurements of CH, OH, and CH₂O LIF, and numerically. We consider undiluted and N₂-diluted premixed methane flames over a range of strain rates and stoichiometries. Results are reported for flames subjected to unsteady stretch and reactant composition variations. For all N₂-dilution levels considered, the peak CH LIF signal correlates poorly with heat release rate when the stoichiometry of the reactant mixture changes from rich to lean. However, when flames are subjected to stretch, the correlation between CH and heat release rate improves as the N₂-dilution level decreases. The correlation is reasonably good for undiluted flames with equivalence ratios of 0.8 < Φ < 1.2. This result is particularly encouraging, given the relevance of undiluted flames to practical applications, and it motivates further investigation of the parameter space for which difficulties may exist in using CH as a flame marker.     

The two-dimensional structure of low strain rate counterflow nonpremixed-methane flames in normal and microgravity

The structure and extinction of low strain rate nonpremixed methane–air flames was studied numerically and experimentally. A time-dependent axisymmetric two-dimensional (2D) model considering buoyancy effects and radiative heat transfer was developed to capture the structure and extinction limits of normal gravity (1-g) and zero gravity (0-g) flames. For comparison with the 2D modelling results, a one-dimensional (1D) flamelet computation using a previously developed numerical code was exercised to provide information on the 0-g flames. A 3-step global reaction mechanism was used in both the 1D and 2D computations to predict the measured extinction limit and flame temperature. Photographic images of flames undergoing the process of extinction were compared with model calculations. The axisymmetric numerical model was validated by comparing flame shapes, temperature profiles, and extinction limits with experiments and with the 1D computational results. The 2D computations yielded insight into the extinction mode and flame structure. A specific maximum heat release rate was introduced to quantify the local flame strength and to elucidate the extinction mechanism. The contribution by each term in the energy equation to the heat release rate was evaluated to investigate the multi-dimensional structure and radiative extinction of the 1-g flames. Two combustion regimes depending on the extinction mode were identified. Lateral heat loss effects and multi-dimensional flame and flow structure were also found. At low strain rates in 1-g flames (‘regime A’), the flame is extinguished from the weak outer edge of the flame, which is attributed to a multi-dimensional flame structure and flow field. At high strain rates, (‘regime B’), the flame extinction initiates near the flame centreline owing to an increased diluent concentration in the reaction zone, similar to the extinction mode of 1D flames. These two extinction modes can be clearly explained by consideration of the specific maximum heat release rate.     

Effects of equivalence ratio variation on lean,stratified methane–air laminar counterflow flames

The effects of equivalence ratio variations on flame structure and propagation have been studied computationally. Equivalence ratio stratification is a key technology for advanced low emission combustors. Laminar counterflow simulations of lean methane–air combustion have been presented which show the effect of strain variations on flames stabilized in an equivalence ratio gradient, and the response of flames propagating into a mixture with a time-varying equivalence ratio. ‘Back supported’ lean flames, whose products are closer to stoichiometry than their reactants, display increased propagation velocities and reduced thickness compared with flames where the reactants are richer than the products. The radical concentrations in the vicinity of the flame are modified by the effect of an equivalence ratio gradient on the temperature profile and thermal dissociation. Analysis of steady flames stabilized in an equivalence ratio gradient demonstrates that the radical flux through the flame, and the modified radical concentrations in the reaction zone, contribute to the modified propagation speed and thickness of stratified flames. The modified concentrations of radical species in stratified flames mean that, in general, the reaction rate is not accurately parametrized by progress variable and equivalence ratio alone. A definition of stratified flame propagation based upon the displacement speed of a mixture fraction dependent progress variable was seen to be suitable for stratified combustion. The response times of the reaction, diffusion, and cross-dissipation components which contribute to this displacement speed have been used to explain flame response to stratification and unsteady fluid dynamic strain.     

Minimum ignition energy and propagation dynamics of laminar premixed cool flames

Laminar premixed cool flames, induced by the coupling of low-temperature chemistry and convective-diffusive transport process, have recently attracted extensive interest in combustion and engine research. In this work, numerical simulations have been conducted using a recently developed open-source reacting flow platform reactingFOAM-SCT, to investigate the minimum ignition energy (MIE) and propagation dynamics of premixed cool flames in a 1D spherical coordinate. Results have shown that when ignition energy is below the MIE of regular hot flames, a class of cool flames could be initiated, which allow much wider flammability limits, both lean and rich, compared to hot flames. Furthermore, the overall cool flame propagation dynamics exhibit intrinsic similarity to those of hot flames, in that, they begin with an ignition kernel propagation regime, followed by two transition regimes, and eventually reach a normal flame propagation regime. However, a spherical expanding cool flame responds completely differently to stretch. Specifically, a regular outwardly propagating hot spherical flame accelerates with increasing stretch rate when the mixture Le < 1 and decelerates when Le > 1. However, it is found that a cool flame always tends to decelerate with increasing stretch rate regardless of mixture composition, exhibiting unique flame aerodynamic characteristic. This research discovers novel features of premixed cool flame initiation and propagation dynamics and sheds light on flame transition, spark-ignition system design, and advanced engine combustion control.     

Flow characterization and dilution effects of N_2 and CO_2 on premixed CH_4/air flames in a swirl-stabilized combustor

Numerically-aided experimental studies are conducted on a swirl-stabilized combustor to investigate the dilution effects on flame stability, flame structure, and pollutant emissions of premixed CH4/air flames. Our goal is to provide a systematic assessment on combustion characteristics in diluted regimes for its application to environmentally-friendly approaches such as biogas combustion and exhanst-gas recirculation technology. Two main diluting species, N2 and CO2, are tested at various dilution rates. The results obtained by means of optical diagnostics show that five main flame regimes can be observed for Nz-diluted flames by changing excess air and dilution rate. CO2-diluted flames follow the same pattern evolution except that all the domains are shifted to lower excess air. Both N2 and CO2 dilution affect the lean blow- out （LBO） limits negatively. This behavior can be counter-balanced by reactant preheating which is able to broaden the flammability domain of the diluted flames. Flame reactivity is degraded by increasing dilution rate. Meanwhile, flames are thickened in the presence of both diluting species. NOx emissions are significantly reduced with dilution and proved to be relevant to flame stability diagrams： slight augmentation in NOx emission profiles is related to transitional flame states where instability occurs. Although dilution results in increase in CO emissions at certain levels, optimal dilution rates can still be proposed to achieve an ideal compromise.     

Stationary combustion regimes and extinction limits of one-dimensional stretched premixed flames in a gap between two heat conducting plates

Stationary combustion regimes, their linear stability and extinction limits of stretched premixed flames in a narrow gap between two heat conducting plates are studied by means of numerical simulations in the framework of one-dimensional thermal-diffusion model with overall one-step reaction. Various stationary combustion modes including normal flame (NF), near-stagnation plane flame (NSF), weak flame (WF) and distant flame (DF) are detected and found to be analogous to the same-named regimes of conventional counterflow flames. For the flames stabilized in the vicinity of stagnation plane at moderate and large stretch rates (which are NF, NSF and WF) the effect of channel walls is basically reduced to additional heat loss. For distant flame characterized by large flame separation distance and small stretch rates intensive interphase heat transfer and heat recirculation are typical. It is shown that in mixture content / stretch rate plane the extinction limit curve has ε-shape, while for conventional counterflow flames it is known to be C-shaped. This result is quite in line with recent experimental findings and is explained by extension of extinction limits at small stretch rates at the expense of heat recirculation. Analysis of the numerical results makes possible to reveal prime mechanisms of flame quenching on different branches of ε-shaped extinction limit curve. Namely, two upper limits are caused by stretch and heat loss. These limits are direct analogs of the upper and lower limits on conventional C-shaped curve. Two other limits are related with weakening of heat recirculation and heat dissipation to the burner. Thus, the present study provides a satisfactory explanation for the recent experimental observations of stretched flames in narrow channel.     

Simulations of laminar non-premixed flames of kerosene with hot combustion products as oxidiser

The effects of hot combustion product dilution in a pressurised kerosene-burning system at gas turbine conditions were investigated with laminar counterflow flame simulations. Hot combustion products from a lean (φ = 0.6) premixed flame were used as an oxidiser with kerosene surrogate as fuel in a non-premixed counterflow flame at 5, 7, 9 and 11 bar. Kerosene-hot product flames, referred to as ‘MILD’, exhibit a flame structure similar to that of kerosene–air flames, referred to as ‘conventional’, at low strain rates. The Heat Release Rate (HRR) of both conventional and MILD flames reflects the pyrolysis of the primary and intermediate fuels on the rich side of the reaction zone. Positive HRR and OH regions in mixture fraction space are of similar width to conventional kerosene flames, suggesting that MILD flames are thin fronts. MILD flames do not exhibit typical extinction behaviour, but gradually transition to a mixing solution at very high rates of strain (above A = 160, 000 s^?1 for all pressures). This is in agreement with literature that suggests heavily preheated and diluted flames have a monotonic S-shaped curve. Despite these differences in comparison with kerosene–air flames, MILD flames follow typical trends as a function of both strain and pressure. Further still, the peak locations of the overlap of OH and CH₂O mass fractions in comparison with the peak HRR indicate that the pixel-by-pixel product of OH- and CH₂O-PLIF signals is a valid experimental marker for non-premixed kerosene MILD and conventional flames.     

Analytical study of stretched ultra-lean premixed flames within porous inert media

It has been shown both theoretically and experimentally that combustion within porous inert media can extend the flammability limits of reactant mixtures for unstretched stationary premixed flames. However little attention has been given to flames within porous media submitted to stretch conditions. This work presents a closed form approximate analytical solution for the problem of ultra-lean premixed flames within porous inert media subjected to small stretch rates in an impinging flow configuration against a constant temperature wall. The solution is obtained using the method of matched asymptotic expansions taking advantage of the large difference between the solid- and gas-phase thermal conductivities. The model allows for thermal nonequilibrium between the phases and is able to predict the flame temperature, velocity and position as function of the stretch rate. The results show that within porous media low stretch rates may increase the flame temperature, further extending the lean flammability limit of the reactant mixture when compared to planar flames. The model is restricted to low porosities, low stretch rates, low heat losses and intense interphase heat transfer.     

Flame structure analysis and flamelet progress variable modelling of strained coal flames

Strained two-phase pulverised coal flames in a counterflow configuration are investigated numerically. Three operating conditions with different coal-to-primary-air ratios and inlet velocities were evaluated in order to establish different flame regimes. At first, the two-phase flow of the fully resolved reference cases is calculated solving the transport equation for the species and directly evaluating the reaction rates. Different flame structures are identified using the heat release rate and the chemical explosive mode as markers, showing that complex structures with a combination of lean premixed and non-premixed flames can be observed in strained counterflow coal flames. In addition to the fully resolved simulation, the suitability of the Flamelet-Progress Variable (FPV) model is investigated. Both premixed and non-premixed tables are employed. At first, the suitability of the look-up tables is evaluated by means of an a priori analysis, using the fully resolved simulations as reference solutions, showing that the non-premixed flamelet table correctly predicts the structure of the strained coal flames, while the premixed table shows sensible deviations in terms of temperature and species, especially at rich conditions. Finally, the a posteriori analysis shows that the fully coupled FPV model with a non-premixed flamelet look-up table can accurately predict strained coal flames.     

Dynamics of triple-flames in ignition of turbulent dual fuel mixture: A direct numerical simulation study

Pilot-ignited dual fuel combustion involves a complex transition between the pilot fuel autoignition and the premixed-like phase of combustion, which is challenging for experimental measurement and numerical modelling, and not sufficiently explored. To further understand the fundamentals of the dual fuel ignition processes, the transient ignition and subsequent flame development in a turbulent dimethyl ether (DME)/methane-air mixing layer under diesel engine-relevant conditions are studied by direct numerical simulations (DNS). Results indicate that combustion is initiated by a two-stage autoignition that involves both low-temperature and high-temperature chemistry. The first stage autoignition is initiated at the stoichiometric mixture, and then the ignition front propagates against the mixture fraction gradient into rich mixtures and eventually forms a diffusively-supported cool flame. The second stage ignition kernels are spatially distributed around the most reactive mixture fraction with a low scalar dissipation rate. Multiple triple flames are established and propagate along the stoichiometric mixture, which is proven to play an essential role in the flame developing process. The edge flames gradually get close to each other with their branches eventually connected. It is the leading lean premixed branch that initiates the steady propagating methane-air flame. The time required for the initiation of steady flame is substantially shorter than the autoignition delay time of the methane-air mixture under the same thermochemical condition. Temporal evolution of the displacement speed at the flame front is also investigated to clarify the propagation characteristics of the combustion waves. Cool flame and propagation of triple flames are also identified in this study, which are novel features of the pilot-ignited dual fuel combustion.     

Ultra-lean hydrogen-enriched oscillating flames behind a heat conducting bluff-body: Anomalous and normal blow–off

This paper presents a numerical study of ultra-lean hydrogen-methane flames stabilized behind a rectangular, highly conducting metallic bluff body acting as a flame holder. Using high fidelity numerical simulations, we show that lean inverted steady flames exist below normal flammability limits. They have distinct stabilization mechanism from pure methane flames. These flames are blown-off for sufficiently small velocities, a phenomenon called anomalous blow-off. At even leaner conditions oscillating ultra–lean hydrogen-methane flames can be established. These oscillating flames exist within a rather small range of equivalence ratios and inflow velocities, and move to mean locations closer to the flame holder as the reactant flow is increased. We show that the oscillations are associated with the shedding of flame balls from the downstream end of a “residual flame” that remains attached. Unlike their steady counterparts, the oscillating flames exhibit blow-off at both low velocities (anomalous blow-off) and at sufficiently high inflow velocities (normal blow-off). We show that normal blow-off is linked to heat losses to the flame holder.     

A LES-CMC formulation for premixed flames including differential diffusion

A finite volume large eddy simulation–conditional moment closure (LES-CMC) numerical framework for premixed combustion developed in a previous studyhas been extended to account for differential diffusion. The non-unity Lewis number CMC transport equation has an additional convective term in sample space proportional to the conditional diffusion of the progress variable, that in turn accounts for diffusion normal to the flame front and curvature-induced effects. Planar laminar simulations are first performed using a spatially homogeneous non-unity Lewis number CMC formulation and validated against physical-space fully resolved reference solutions. The same CMC formulation is subsequently used to numerically investigate the effects of curvature for laminar flames having different effective Lewis numbers: a lean methane–air flame with Le_eff = 0.99 and a lean hydrogen–air flame with Le_eff = 0.33. Results suggest that curvature does not affect the conditional heat release if the effective Lewis number tends to unity, so that curvature-induced transport may be neglected. Finally, the effect of turbulence on the flame structure is qualitatively analysed using LES-CMC simulations with and without differential diffusion for a turbulent premixed bluff body methane–air flame exhibiting local extinction behaviour. Overall, both the unity and the non-unity computations predict the characteristic M-shaped flame observed experimentally, although some minor differences are identified. The findings suggest that for the high Karlovitz number (from 1 to 10) flame considered, turbulent mixing within the flame weakens the differential transport contribution by reducing the conditional scalar dissipation rate and accordingly the conditional diffusion of the progress variable.     

Effect of Lewis number on premixed laminar lean-limit flames stabilized on a bluff body

In this paper, we present a study on the effect of Lewis number, Le, on the stabilization and blow-off of laminar lean limit premixed flames stabilized on a cylindrical bluff body. Numerical simulations and experiments are conducted for propane, methane and two blends of hydrogen with methane as fuel gases, containing 20% and 40% of hydrogen by volume, respectively. It is found that the Le?>?1 flame blows-off via convection from the base of the flame (without formation of a neck) when the conditions for flame anchoring are not fulfilled. Le?≤?1 flames exhibit a necking phenomenon just before lean blow-off. This necking of the flame front is a result of the local reduction in mass burning rates causing flame merging and quenching of the thin flame tube formed. The structure of these flames at the necking location is found to be similar to tubular flames. It is found that extinction stretch rates for tubular flames closely match values at the neck location of bluff-body flames of corresponding mixtures, suggesting that excessive flame stretch is directly responsible for blow-off of the studied Le?≤?1 flames. After quenching of the neck, the upstream part forms a steady and stable residual flame in the wake of the bluff body while the downstream part is convected away.     

Control of oscillating combustion and noise based on local flame structure

To control combustion oscillations, the characteristics of an oscillating swirl injection premixed flame have been investigated, and control of oscillating combustion and noise based on local flame structure has been conducted. The r.m.s. value of pressure fluctuations and noise level show significantly large values between = 0.8 and 1.1. The beating of pressure fluctuations is observed for the large oscillating flame conditions in this combustor. Relationship between beating of pressure fluctuations and local flame structure was observed by the simultaneous measurement of CH/OH planar laser induced fluorescence and pressure fluctuations. The local flame structure and beating of pressure fluctuations are related and the most complicated flame is formed in the middle pressure fluctuating region of beating. The beating of pressure fluctuations, which plays important roles in noise generation and nitric oxide emission in this combustor, could be controlled by injecting secondary fuel into the recirculating region of oscillating flames. Injecting secondary fuel prevented lean blowout, and low NO_x combustion was also achieved even for the case of pure methane injection as a secondary fuel. By injecting secondary fuel into the recirculating region near the swirl injector, the flame lifted from the swirl injector and its reaction region became uniform and widespread, hence resulting in low nitric oxide emission. Secondary mixture injection, fuel diluted with air, is not effective for control of combustion oscillations suppression and lean blowout prevention.     

Numerical study of sporadic combustion waves in straight channels of different diameters

The dynamics of flames propagating in straight channels filled with a stationary low-Lewis-number premixed gas mixture is studied numerically. A method for determining the propagation velocity of a sporadic combustion wave consisted of separate flame spots is proposed. Dependencies of the sporadic combustion wave propagation velocity, the residual fuel concentration and the number of flame spots on the channel size and the value of radiation heat losses are obtained. Analysis of numerical results show that for the channels of diameter exceeding some value the number of separate cup-like fragments constituting sporadic combustion wave is proportional to the channel cross-sectional area. At smaller diameters, the number of flame spots changes insignificantly and is one or two. It is shown that one of the universal characteristics of the sporadic combustion wave depending only on mixture properties but independent on system geometry is the area necessary to accommodate one reacting spot. Flame velocity which is another fundamental combustion characteristic is found to be almost independent on channel size starting from some critical diameter. This diameter, however, depends on mixture properties or radiative heat loss intensity and corresponds to the sporadic flame containing from several to ten reacting spots. Thus, the main properties of sporadic combustion waves in wide channels can be determined by numerical modeling of the flame propagation in the relatively narrow channels in which the flame consists of 1–10 cup-like fragments.