Low pressure premixed CH4/air flames with forced periodic mixture fraction oscillations: experimental approach

An experimental setup for the generation and investigation of periodic equivalence ratio oscillations in laminar premixed flames is presented. A special low-pressure burner was developed which generates stable flames in a wide pressure range down to 20 mbar and provides the possibility of rapid mixture fraction variations. The technical realization of the mixture fraction variations and the characteristics of the burner are described. 1D laser Raman scattering was applied to determine the temperature and concentration profiles of the major species through the flame front in correlation to the phase-angle of the periodic oscillation. OH* chemiluminescence was detected to qualitatively analyze the response of the flame to mixture fraction variations by changing shape and position. Exemplary results from a flame at p=69 mbar, forced at a frequency of 10 Hz, are shown and discussed. The experiments are part of a cooperative research project including the development of kinetic models and numerical simulation tools with the aim of a better understanding and prediction of periodic combustion instabilities in gas turbines. The focus of the current paper lies on the presentation of the experimental realization and the measuring techniques.     

Premixed flame response to equivalence ratio perturbations

This paper studies the heat-release oscillation response of premixed flames to oscillations in reactant stream fuel/air ratio. Prior analyses have studied this problem in the linear regime and have shown that heat release dynamics are controlled by the superposition of three processes: flame speed, heat of reaction, and flame surface area oscillations. Each contribution has somewhat different dynamics, leading to complex frequency and mean fuel/air ratio dependencies. The present work extends these analyses to include stretch and non quasi-steady effects on the linear flame dynamics, as well as analysis of nonlinearities in flame response characteristics. Because the flame response is controlled by a superposition of multiple processes, each with a highly nonlinear dependence upon fuel/air ratio, the results are quite rich and the key nonlinearity mechanism varies with mean fuel/air ratio, frequency, and amplitude of excitation. In the quasi-steady framework, two key mechanisms leading to heat-release saturation have been identified. The first of these is the flame-kinematic mechanism, previously studied in the context of premixed flame response to flow oscillations and recently highlighted by Birbaud et al. (Combustion and Flame 154 (2008), 356–367). This mechanism arises due to fluctuations in flame position associated with the oscillations in flame speed. The second mechanism is due to the intrinsically nonlinear dependence of flame speed and mixture heat of reaction upon fuel/air ratio oscillations. This second mechanism is particularly dominant at perturbation amplitudes that cause the instantaneous stoichiometry to oscillate between lean and rich values, thereby causing non-monotonic variation of local flame speed and heat of reaction with equivalence ratio.     

微尺度扩散火焰特性的数值解析

本文以均匀空气流中圆管形成的甲烷射流扩散火焰为对象,用数值解析的方法研究了微尺度扩散火焰的火焰结构和燃烧特性。燃烧反应采用甲烷/空气一步总包反应,喷管壁面采用绝热条件。在Re一定情况下,改变喷口尺寸和喷口流速考察了微扩散火焰的结构和火焰熄灭的尺度效应。数值结果表明,随着喷口直径的增大,微火焰的上方出现回流; Re=12条件下,在喷口直径=0.07 mm时存在熄灭极限;稳定燃烧区的最小发热率约为0.5 W;微尺度条件下,Da数对火焰结构和火焰的熄灭有一定的影响。     

Aspects of oscillating flames

Photography and chemieluminescence from CH radicals have been used to identify the reaction zones and quantify the areas and shapes of kerosene-fuelled flames with swirl numbers of 0.7 and 0.8 and an overall equivalence ratio of 0.25. The air flow was oscillated at a frequency of 350 Hz and the results suggest that the oscillations caused a sequence of vortex rings at the burner exit and that these distorted the reaction zone and increased its area in the near burner region leading to an overall shorter flame. For the swirl number of 0.7, the flame was lifted and the oscillations led to an increase in the average lift off length whereas the higher swirl number caused an attached flame with and without oscillations. The stretch rate, evaluated from the variation of the flame area in time, was higher for the lifted flame suggesting that lift off was caused by local extinction.     

Effect of fuel mixture fraction and velocity perturbations on the flame transfer function of swirl stabilized flames

A novel methodology is developed to decompose the classic Flame Transfer Function (FTF) used in the thermo-acoustic stability analysis of lean premix combustors into contributions of different types. The approach is applied, in the context of Large Eddy Simulation (LES), to partially-premixed and fully-premixed flames, which are stabilized via a central recirculation zone as a result of the vortex breakdown phenomenon. The first type of decomposition is into contributions driven by fuel mixture fraction and dynamic velocity fluctuations. Each of these two contributions is further split into the components of turbulent flame speed and flame surface area. The flame surface area component, driven by the pure dynamic velocity fluctuation, which is shown to be a dominant contribution to the overall FTF, is also additionally decomposed over the coherent flow structures using proper orthogonal decomposition. Using a simplified model for the dynamic response of premixed flames, it is shown that the distribution of the FTF, as obtained from LES, is closely related to the characteristics of the velocity field frequency response to the inlet perturbation. Initially, the proposed method is tested and validated with a well characterized laboratory burner geometry. Subsequently, the method is applied to an industrial gas turbine burner.     

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.     

Premixed turbulent flame front structure investigation by Rayleigh scattering in the thin reaction zone regime

Premixed turbulent flames of methane–air and propane–air stabilized on a bunsen type burner were studied using planar Rayleigh scattering and particle image velocimetry. The fuel–air equivalence ratio range was from lean 0.6 to stoichiometric for methane flames, and from 0.7 to stoichiometric for propane flames. The non-dimensional turbulence rms velocity, u′/S_L, covered a range from 3 to 24, corresponding to conditions of corrugated flamelets and thin reaction zones regimes. Flame front thickness increased slightly with increasing non-dimensional turbulence rms velocity in both methane and propane flames, although the flame thickening was more prominent in propane flames. The probability density function of curvature showed a Gaussian-like distribution at all turbulence intensities in both methane and propane flames, at all sections of the flame.The value of the term Dκ, the product of molecular diffusivity evaluated at reaction zone conditions and the flame front curvature, has been shown to be smaller than the magnitude of the laminar burning velocity. This finding questions the validity of extending the level set formulation, developed for corrugated flames region, into the thin reaction zone regime by increasing the local flame propagation by adding the term Dκ to laminar burning velocity.     

Influence of Burner Geometry on Heat Transfer Characteristics of Methane/Air Flame Impinging on Flat Surface

An experimental study has been conducted to find the heat transfer characteristics of methane/air flames impinging normally to a flat surface using different burner geometries. The burners used were of nozzle, tube, and orifice type each with a diameter of 10 mm. Due to different exit velocity profiles, the flame structures were different in each case. Because of nearly flat velocity profile, the flame spread was more in case of orifice and nozzle burners as compared to tube burner. Effects of varying the value of Reynolds number (600–2500), equivalence ratio (0.8–1.5) and dimensionless separation distance (0.7–8) on heat transfer characteristics on the flat plate have been investigated for the tube burner. Different flame shapes were observed for different impingement conditions. It has been observed that the heat transfer characteristics were intimately related to flame shapes. Heat transfer characteristics were discussed for the cases when the flame inner reaction cone was far away, just touched, and was intercepted by the plate. Negative heat fluxes at the stagnation point were observed when the inner reaction cone was intercepted by the plate due to impingement of cool un-burnt mixture directly on the surface. Different heat transfer characteristics were observed for different burner geometries with similar operating conditions. In case of tube burner, the maximum heat flux is around the stagnation point and decay is faster in the radial direction. In case of nozzle and orifice burner, the heat transfer distribution is more uniform over the surface.     

On the global structure and asymptotic stability of low-stretch diffusion flame: Forced convection

The present work analyzes cylindrical diffusion flames (Tsuji burner) under low stretch condition, considering fuel injection also from the backward region of the burner. To highlight the fundamental aspects of this flame, some assumptions are imposed, like constant thermodynamic and transport coefficients, unitary Lewis number and no radiative heat loss. It is also considered potential flow model and incompressible Navier–Stokes model. Despite the simplicity of the former model, results from both models show good agreement. Also, an asymptotic analysis describing the problem far from the burner is able to capture the most important mechanisms controlling the flame, then the flame shape is determined and the dependence of the characteristic length scales on Peclet number (based on the burner properties), free stream velocity and stoichiometry is revealed. The results show that the flame width is proportional to the mass stoichiometric coefficient and reciprocal to the Peclet number the 1/4 power and free stream velocity the 3/4 power, and that the flame height is proportional to the square of the mass stoichiometric coefficient and to the square root of the ratio of Peclet number to free stream velocity. In addition, an asymptotic stability analysis reveals low-stretch flame extinction to be caused by reduction in fuel and oxidizer concentrations, which provides the range of the stoichiometric coefficient for stable regime, and at the same time the range of heat released.     

Influences of stoichiometry on steadily propagating triple flames in counterflows

Most studies of triple flames in counterflowing streams of fuel and oxidizer have been focused on the symmetric problem in which the stoichiometric mixture fraction is 1/2. There then exist lean and rich premixed flames of roughly equal strengths, with a diffusion flame trailing behind from the stoichiometric point at which they meet. In the majority of realistic situations, however, the stoichiometric mixture fraction departs appreciably from unity, typically being quite small. With the objective of clarifying the influences of stoichiometry, attention is focused on one of the simplest possible models, addressed here mainly by numerical integration. When the stoichiometric mixture fraction departs appreciably from 1/2, one of the premixed wings is found to be dominant to such an extent that the diffusion flame and the other premixed flame are very weak by comparison. These curved, partially premixed flames are expected to be relevant in realistic configurations. In addition, a simple kinematic balance is shown to predict the shape of the front and the propagation velocity reasonably well in the limit of low stretch and low curvature.     

Scaling relations for the length of coaxial oxy-flames with and without swirl

An extensive experimental study is carried out to analyze scaling laws for the length of methane oxy-flames stabilized on a coaxial injector. The central methane fuel stream is diluted with N₂, CO₂ or He. The annular air stream is enriched with oxygen and can be impregnated with swirl. Former studies have shown that the stoichiometric mixing length of relatively short flames is controlled by the mixing process taking place in the vicinity of the injector outlet. This property has been used to derive scaling laws at large values of the stoichiometric mixture fraction. It is shown here that the same relation can be extended to methane oxy-flames characterized by small values of the stoichiometric mixture fraction. Flame lengths are determined with OH* chemiluminescence measurements over more than 1000 combinations of momentum ratio, annular swirl level and composition of the inner and outer streams of the coaxial injector. It is found that the lengths of all the flames investigated without swirl collapse on a single line, whose coefficients correspond to within 15% of flame lengths obtained for fuel and oxidizer streams at much larger stoichiometric mixture fractions. This relation is then extended to the case of swirling flames by including the contribution of the tangential velocity in the flow entrainment rate and is found to well reproduce the mixing degree of the two co-axial streams as long as the flow does not exhibit a vortex breakdown bubble. At higher swirl levels, when the flow features a central recirculation region, the flame length is found to also directly depend on the oxygen enrichment in the oxidizer stream.     

Flame structure and flame spread rate over a solid fuel in partially premixed atmospheres

We have investigated the downward flame spread over a thin solid fuel. Hydrogen, methane, or propane, included in the gaseous product of pyrolysis reaction, is added in the ambient air. The fuel concentration is kept below the lean flammability limit to observe the partially premixing effect. Both experimental and numerical studies have been conducted. Results show that, in partially premixed atmospheres, both blue flame and luminous flame regions are enlarged, and the flame spread rate is increased. Based on the flame index, a so-called triple flame is observed. The heat release rate ahead of the original diffusion flame is increased by adding the fuel, and its profile is moved upstream. Here, we focus on the heat input by adding the fuel in the opposed air, which could be a direct factor to intensify the combustion reaction. The dependence of the flame spread rate on the heat input is almost the same for methane and propane/air mixtures, but larger effect is observed for hydrogen/air mixture. Since the deficient reactant in lean mixture is fuel, the larger effect of hydrogen could be explained based on the Lewis number consideration. That is, the combustion is surely intensified for all cases, but this effect is larger for lean hydrogen/air mixture (Le < 1), because more fuel diffuses toward the lean premixed flame ahead of the original diffusion flame. Resultantly, the pyrolysis reaction is promoted to support the higher flame spread rate.     

Characteristics and structure of inverse flames of natural gas

Characteristics and structure of nominally non-premixed flames of natural gas are investigated using a burner that employs simultaneously two distinct features: fuel and oxidiser direct injection, and inverse fuel and oxidiser delivery. At low exit velocities, the result is an inverse diffusion flame that has been noted in the past for its low NO_x emissions, soot luminosity, and narrow stability limits. The present study aimed at extending the burner operating range, and it demonstrated that the inverse flame exhibits a varying degree of partial premixing dependent on the discharge nozzle conditions and the ratio of inner air jet and outer fuel jet velocities. These two variables affect the flame length, temperature distributions, and stability limits. Temperature measurements and Schlieren visualisation show areas of enhanced turbulent mixing in the shear region and the presence of a well-mixed reaction zone on the flame centreline. This reaction zone is enveloped by an outer diffusion flame, yielding a unique double-flame structure. As the fuel–air equivalence ratio is decreasing with an increase in the inner jet velocity, the well-mixed reaction zone extends considerably. These findings suggest a method for establishing a flame of uniform high temperature by optimising the coaxial nozzle geometry and flow conditions. The normalised flame length is decreasing exponentially with the air/fuel velocity ratio. Measurements demonstrate that the inverse flame stability limits change qualitatively with varying degree of partial premixing. At the low premixing level, the flame blow-out is a function of the inner and outer jet velocities and the nozzle conditions. The flame blow-out at high degree of partial premixing occurs abruptly at a single value of the inner air jet velocity, regardless of the fuel jet velocity and almost independent of the discharge nozzle conditions.     

Unsteady deflagration speed of an auto-ignitive dimethyl-ether (DME)/air mixture at stratified conditions

The propagation speed of an auto-ignitive dimethyl-ether (DME)/air mixture at elevated pressures and subjected to monochromatic temperature oscillations is numerically evaluated in a one-dimensional statistically stationary configuration using fully resolved numerical simulations with reduced kinetics and transport. Two sets of conditions with temperatures within and slightly above the negative temperature coefficient (NTC) regime are simulated to investigate the fundamental aspects of auto-ignition and flame propagation along with the transition from auto-ignitive deflagration to spontaneous propagation regimes under thermal stratification. Contrary to the standard laminar flame speed, the steady propagation speed of an auto-ignitive front is observed to scale proportionally to its level of upstream reactivity. It is shown that this interdependence is primarily influenced by the characteristic residence time and the homogeneous auto-ignition delay. Furthermore, the unsteady reaction front in either of the two cases responds distinctly to the imposed stratification. Specifically, the results in both cases show that the dynamic flame response depends on the mean temperature at the flame base T_b and the time-scale of thermal stratification. It is also found that, based on T_b and the propensity of the mixture to two-stage chemistry, the instantaneous peak propagation speed and the overall time taken to achieve that speed differs considerably. A displacement speed analysis is carried out to elucidate the underlying combustion modes that are responsible for such a variation in flame response.     

Lean or ultra-lean stretched planar methane/air flames

Lean premixed combustion has potential advantages of reducing pollutants and improving fuel economy. In some lean engine concepts, the fuel is directly injected into the combustion chamber resulting in a distribution of lean fuel/air mixtures. In this case, very lean mixtures can burn when supported by hot products from more strongly burning flames. This study examines the downstream interaction of opposed jets of a lean-limit CH₄/air mixture vs. a lean H₂/air flame. The CH₄ mixtures are near or below the lean flammability limit. The flame composition is measured by laser-induced Raman scattering and is compared to numerical simulations with detailed chemistry and molecular transport including the Soret effect. Several sub-limit lean CH₄/air flames supported by the products from the lean H₂/air flame are studied, and a small amount of CO₂ product (around 1% mole fraction) is formed in a “negative flame speed” flame where the weak CH₄/air mixture diffuses across the stagnation plane into the hot products from the H₂/air flame. Raman scattering measurements of temperature and species concentration are compared to detailed simulations using GRI-3.0, C₁, and C₂ chemical kinetic mechanisms, with good agreement obtained in the lean-limit or sub-limit flames. Stronger self-propagating CH₄/air mixtures result in a much higher concentration of product (around 6% CO₂ mole fraction), and the simulation results are sensitive to the specific chemical mechanism. These model-data comparisons for stronger CH₄/air flames improve when using either the C₂ or the Williams mechanisms.     

Dynamics of an edge-flame in the corner region of two mutually perpendicular streams

The stabilization and dynamics of an edge-flame in the corner region of two mutually perpendicular streams, one of fuel and the other of oxidizer, is studied within the context of a diffusive-thermal model, with an imposed flow satisfying the Navier-Stokes equations. The formulation allows for non-unity Lewis numbers and finite rate chemistry with an Arrhenius dependence on temperature. Two flow configurations, corresponding to inlet velocity profiles of uniform speed and of constant strain, have been examined. The results identify the dependence of the flame standoff distance on the flow as well as on the properties of the mixture, including the Damköhler D and Lewis numbers. For high flow rates, or small enough D, sufficient pre-mixing occurs in front of the edge-flame, which consequently takes on a tribrachial structure consisting of two premixed branches, one lean and one rich, with a trailing diffusion flame sheet. For large D, however, there is no enough premixing and the chemical reaction occurs in a small kernel very close to the corner, much like a local thermal explosion; further downstream the reaction occurs along a diffusion flame sheet that extends along the symmetry axis. The present results also predict the onset of spontaneous oscillations when the Lewis numbers are sufficiently large provided the flow rate is sufficiently high, or D reduced below a critical value. Oscillations are first sustained when D is reduced below criticality, but depending on the flow conditions, they are either damped leading to flame re-stabilization, or amplified leading to blow-off.     

Triple flame: Inherent asymmetries and pentasectional character

A two-dimensional triple-flame numerical model of a laminar combustion process reflects flame asymmetric structural features that other analytical models do not generate. It reveals the pentasectional character of the triple flame, composed of the central pure diffusion-flame branch and the fuel-rich and fuel-lean branches, each of which is divided into two sections: a near-stoichiometric section and a previously unreported near-flammability-limits section with combined diffusion and premixed character. Results include propagation velocity, fuel and oxidiser mass fractions, temperature and reaction rates. Realistic stoichiometric ratios and reaction orders match experimental planar flame characteristics. Constant density, a one-step reaction, and a mixture fraction gradient at the inlet as the simulation parameter are imposed. The upstream equivalence ratio or the upstream reactant mass fractions are linear or hyperbolic functions of the transverse coordinate. The use here of experimental kinetics data differs from previous analytical works and results in flame asymmetry and different flammability limits. Upstream mixture composition gradient affects propagation velocity, flame curvature, diffusion flame reaction rate, and flammability limits. Flammability limits extend beyond those of a planar flame due to transverse heat and mass diffusion causing the pentasectional character.     

Stability and emissions control using air injection and H2 addition in premixed combustion

We experimentally study lean premixed combustion stabilized behind a backward-facing step. For a propane–air mixture, the lean blowout limit is associated with strong pressure fluctuation arising simultaneously with strong flame–vortex interactions, which have been shown to constitute the mechanism of heat release dynamics in this flow. A high-speed air jet, issuing from a small slot and injected perpendicular to the main flow near the step, is used to disrupt this mechanism. For momentum ratio of jet to main flow below unity, the jet dilutes the mixture, further destabilizing the flame or leading to complete blowout. Above unity, the flame becomes more stable, and the pressure oscillations are suppressed. Flow visualization and OH*/CH* chemiluminescence measurements show that a strong jet produces a more compact flame that is less driven by the wake vortex, anchored closer to the step, and deflected upwards away from the lower wall of the channel. This renders the flame less vulnerable to heat loss and strong strains, which improves its stability and extends the flammability limit. Adding hydrogen to the main fuel improves the flame stability over the entire range of the air jet mass flow, with better results for momentum ratio larger than 1; H₂ pulls the flame further upstream, away from the shear zone and the unsteady vortex. NO_x emission benefits from the air jet, while, with H₂ addition, NO_x concentration is higher in the products as the overall burning temperature rises. However, hydrogen addition enables extending the flammability limit further by increasing air supply in the primary stream, hence achieving lower NO_x. The study suggests a simpler, almost passive, multi-objective combustion control technique and indicates that hydrogen addition can be a successful in situ approach for NO_x reduction.     

Phase-resolved laser Raman scattering and laser Doppler velocimetry applied to periodic instabilities in a gas turbine model combustor

The understanding of periodic flame instabilities belongs to the major challenges in modern combustion research and technology and is of special importance for lean premixed gas turbine combustion. This paper presents experimental investigations in a gas turbine model combustor using laser diagnostic techniques. A partially premixed CH₄/air flame operated at a thermal power of 10 kW at atmospheric pressure and an overall equivalence ratio of 0.75, which exhibited thermoacoustic oscillations at a frequency of 290 Hz, was investigated. Phase-locked laser Raman scattering was applied in order to determine the major species concentrations, temperature, and mixture fraction. In addition, laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) was used separately for the measurement of the axial and radial velocity components. The measurements revealed pronounced phase-dependent variations of the velocity and the temperature, species, and mixture fraction distributions. The combined Raman and LDV results also enabled the determination of molecular species fluxes which showed that the fuel and air supply rates both varied during an oscillation cycle by ±33% but with a phase shift of 80 between them. The correlations between temperature and mixture fraction revealed strong deviations from equilibrium composition and temperature, and their phase-dependent changes reflected the transport and mixing processes near the nozzle. The emphasis of the paper lies on the demonstration of the potential of phase-locked laser Raman scattering for the study of phenomena of periodic flame instabilities. PACS 33.20; 39.30; 47.27; 47.70; 82.33; 82.40