Darrieus–Landau instability and Markstein numbers of premixed flames in a Hele-Shaw cell

Hydrodynamic flame instabilities are studied in a Hele-Shaw burner. By studying the development of perturbations, starting from a 2D Bunsen flame at the top of the burner, growth rates are measured for propane and methane–air mixtures, and compared to theoretical predictions. It is found that the dispersion relation in a Hele-Shaw cell has the same dependence with wavenumber $\sigma =k?k^2$ as the one predicted in tubes. Markstein numbers relative to fresh gases are obtained for propane and methane flames and compared to the literature.     

Large scale effects in weakly turbulent premixed flames

In this study we numerically investigate large scale premixed flames in weakly turbulent flow fields. A large scale flame is classified as such based on a reference hydrodynamic lengthscale being larger than a neutral (cutoff) lengthscale for which the hydrodynamic or Darrieus–Landau (DL) instability is balanced by stabilizing diffusive effects. As a result, DL instability can develop for large scale flames and is inhibited otherwise. Direct numerical simulations of both large scale and small scale three-dimensional, weakly turbulent flames are performed at constant Karlovitz and turbulent Reynolds number, using two paradigmatic configurations, namely a statistically planar flame and a slot Bunsen flame. As expected from linear stability analysis, DL instability induces its characteristic cusp-like corrugation only on large scale flames. We therefore observe significant morphological and topological differences as well as DL-enhanced turbulent flame speeds in large scale flames. Furthermore, we investigate issues related to reaction rate modeling in the context of flame surface density closure. Thicker flame brushes are observed for large scale flames resulting in smaller flame surface densities and overall larger wrinkling factors.     

Strain rates,flow patterns and flame surface densities in hydrodynamically unstable,weakly turbulent premixed flames

Recent numerical and experimental studies have unveiled a potentially marked difference between the laminar as well as turbulent propagation of premixed flames exhibiting Darrieus–Landau (DL) (or hydrodynamic) instabilities from flames for which instabilities are inhibited. In this study we utilize two-dimensional numerical simulations of slot burner flames as well as experimental Propane–Air Bunsen flames to analyse differences in turbulent propagation, strain rate and induced flow patterns of hydrodynamically stable and unstable flames. We also investigate the effects of hydrodynamic instability on quantities which are directly related to reaction rate closure models, such as flame surface density and stretch factor. A clear enhancement of turbulent flame speed can be observed for unstable flames, generally mitigated at higher turbulence intensity, which is attributed to a flame area increase induced by the characteristic cusp-like DL-induced corrugation, absent in stable flames, which occurs concurrently and in synergy with turbulent wrinkling. Unstable flames also exhibit, both numerically and experimentally, a different correlation between strain rate and flame curvature and are observed to give rise to a channeling of the induced flow in the fresh mixture. Conditionally averaged flame surface density is also observed to attain smaller values in unstable flames, as a result of the thicker turbulent flame brush, indicating that closure models should incorporate instability-related parameters in addition to turbulence-related parameters.     

The stability of laminar explosion flames

The paper presents the results of a fundamental experimental and theoretical study of Darrieus–Landau, thermo-diffusive, instabilities in atmospheric explosions, and, on a smaller scale, in laboratory explosions in closed vessels. Pressure dependencies were sought to exploit the leading role of the Peclet number in the phenomena, so that similar Peclet numbers were achieved in both instances. However, in large atmospheric explosions large Peclet numbers were achieved by the size of the fireball, whereas in the closed vessel explosion it was achieved at a higher pressure by a much smaller flame, but because of the higher pressure, one endowed with a small laminar flame thickness. This study covers a much wider range of fuels and of pressures and the dependencies of the phenomena on both of these were carefully studied, although, for the atmospheric explosions, the data only covered propane and methane. The roles of both Markstein and Peclet numbers become clear and give rise to a more fundamental correlating parameter, a critical Karlovitz number, K_cl, for flame stability. This is based on the flame stretch rate, normalised by its multiplication by the chemical reaction time in a laminar flame. The experimentally measured dependencies of this key parameter on pressure and Markstein number are reported for the first time for so many different fuels. The critical Karlovitz number for flame stability decreases with increase in the strain rate Markstein number. As a result, it is possible to predict the extent of the unstable regime for laminar flames as a function of Ma_sr and pressure. Such data can be used to estimate the severity of large scale atmospheric explosions. As Ma_sr becomes highly negative, the regime of stability is markedly reduced.     

A DNS study of the physical mechanisms associated with density ratio influence on turbulent burning velocity in premixed flames

Data obtained in 3D direct numerical simulations of statistically planar, 1D weakly turbulent flames characterised by different density ratios σ are analysed to study the influence of thermal expansion on flame surface area and burning rate. Results show that, on the one hand, the pressure gradient induced within a flame brush owing to heat release in flamelets significantly accelerates the unburned gas that deeply intrudes into the combustion products in the form of an unburned mixture finger, thus causing large-scale oscillations of the burning rate and flame brush thickness. Under the conditions of the present simulations, the contribution of this mechanism to the creation of the flame surface area is substantial and is increased by σ, thus implying an increase in the burning rate by σ. On the other hand, the total flame surface areas simulated at σ = 7.53 and 2.5 are approximately equal. The apparent inconsistency between these results implies the existence of another thermal expansion effect that reduces the influence of σ on the flame surface area and burning rate. Investigation of the issue shows that the flow acceleration by the combustion-induced pressure gradient not only creates the flame surface area by pushing the finger tip into the products, but also mitigates wrinkling of the flame surface (the side surface of the finger) by turbulent eddies. The latter effect is attributed to the high-speed (at σ = 7.53) axial flow of the unburned gas, which is induced by the axial pressure gradient within the flame brush (and the finger). This axial flow acceleration reduces the residence time of a turbulent eddy in an unburned zone of the flame brush (e.g. within the finger). Therefore, the capability of the eddy for wrinkling the flamelet surface (e.g. the side finger surface) is weakened owing to a shorter residence time.     

Towards a predictive scenario of a burning accident in a mining passage

To reveal the inner mechanisms of a combustion accident in a coalmine, the key stages and characteristics of premixed flame front evolution such as the flame shapes, propagation speeds, acceleration rates, run-up distances and flame-generated velocity profiles are scrutinised. The theories of globally spherical, expanding flames and of finger-flame acceleration are combined into a general analytical formulation. Two-dimensional and cylindrical mining passages are studied, with noticeably stronger acceleration found in the cylindrical geometry. The entire acceleration scenario may promote the total burning rate by up to two orders of magnitude, to a near-sonic value. Starting with gaseous combustion, the analysis is subsequently extended to gaseous-dusty environments. Specifically, combustible dust (e.g. coal), inert dust (e.g. sand), and their combination are considered, and the influence of the size and concentration of the dust particles is quantified. In particular, small particles influence flame propagation more than large ones, and flame acceleration increases with the concentration of a combustible dust, until the concentration attains a certain limit.     

直接驱动球内爆点火的数值模拟

 实现中心点火的基本条件是在内爆中心形成面密度0.3 g/cm²,温度10 keV的点火热斑。减速阶段流体不稳定性的增长,会破坏对称压缩,减小热斑体积,直接破坏点火热斑的形成,对点火构成威胁。在原有LARED-S程序的基础上,加入热核反应和α粒子加热过程程序模块,对直接驱动ICF球内爆过程进行数值模拟研究,1维模拟结果与NIF直接驱动点火靶的设计基本相符,显示α粒子加热对边缘点火起重要作用;2维模拟表明减速阶段流体不稳定性对点火有重要影响。     

直接驱动柱内爆流体力学不稳定性数值模拟

 给出了LARED-S程序对直接驱动柱内爆流体力学不稳定性模拟的物理方程，介绍了一种直接驱动柱内爆靶的结构，给出了模拟中使用活动网格追踪和其他一些需要注意的问题。对OMEGA激光器直接驱动柱内爆实验物理模型进行了简化处理：使用理想气体状态方程，假设烧蚀层、标识层和内部填充材料为同一介质，只在密度上有差别；采用全电离和单温近似，在内爆过程中仅考虑热传导过程而忽略辐射和非局域电子热传导等过程的影响。模拟结果表明：LARED-S程序与LASNEX程序的计算结果基本上符合。     

激光非均匀性对内界面变形影响的数值模拟

 使用LARED-S程序,参照NIF直接驱动DT点火靶,模拟研究了激光非均匀性对高收缩比球内爆内界面变形的影响。2维数值模拟计算表明：直接驱动高收缩比内爆对驱动激光非均匀性非常敏感,内界面流体不稳定性的发展严重破坏靶丸的对称压缩,使中心热斑的体积显著减小。以最大压缩时扰动增长幅度不超过热斑半径的1/3为限,模拟给出不同模数的低阶扰动模(模数小于等于12)对驱动激光均匀性的要求在2.5%～0.25%之间,其中模数在8～10之间的扰动模对激光功率均匀性的要求最严格,约为0.25%。     

Influence of gas compressibility on a burning accident in a mining passage

A recent predictive scenario of a methane/air/coal dust fire in a mining passage is extended by incorporating the effect of gas compressibility into the analysis. The compressible and incompressible formulations are compared, qualitatively and quantitatively, in both the two-dimensional planar and cylindrical-axisymmetric geometries, and a detailed parametric study accounting for coal-dust combustion is performed. It is shown that gas compression moderates flame acceleration, and its impact depends on the type of the fuel, its various thermal-chemical parameters as well as on the geometry of the problem. While the effect of gas compression is relatively minor for the lean and rich flames, providing 5–25% reduction in the burning velocity and thereby justifying the incompressible formulation in that case, such a reduction appears significant, up to 70% for near-stoichiometric methane–air combustion, and therefore it should be incorporated into a rigorous formulation. It is demonstrated that the flame tip velocity remains noticeably subsonic in all the cases considered, which is opposite to the prediction of the incompressible formulation, but qualitatively agrees with the experimental predictions from the literature.     

Numerical simulation of finite disturbances interacting with laminar premixed flames

Compression waves can be generated during combustion processes and subsequently interact with flames to augment their behaviour. The study of these interactions thus far has been limited to shock and expansion waves only. In this study, the interaction of finite compression waves with a perturbed laminar flame is investigated using numerical simulations of the compressible Navier–Stokes equations with single-step chemical kinetics. The interaction is characterised using three independent parameters: the compression wavelength, the pressure ratio of the disturbance, and the perturbation amplitude of the flame interface. The results reveal a wide range of behaviours in terms of flame length and heat release rate that could occur during such an interaction. The results are compared to the classical reactive Richtmyer–Meshkov instability and the role of baroclinic torque and vorticity generation are shown to be primary drivers of the flow instability.     

Numerical simulation of non-viscous liquid pinch-off using a coupled level set-boundary integral method

Simulations of the pinch-off of an inviscid fluid column are carried out based upon a potential flow model with capillary forces. The interface location and the time evolution of the free surface boundary condition are both approximated by means of level set techniques on a fixed domain. The interface velocity is obtained via a Galerkin boundary integral solution of the 3D axisymmetric Laplace equation. A short-time analytical solution of the Raleigh–Taylor instability in a liquid column is available, and this result is compared with our numerical experiments to validate the algorithm. The method is capable of handling pinch-off and after pinch-off events, and simulations showing the time evolution of the fluid tube are presented.