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.     

The perturbation parameter in the problem of large deflection of clamped circular plates

In the problems of large deflection of clamped circular plates under uniformly distributed loads, various perturbation parameters relating to load, deflection, slope of deflection, membrane force, etc, are studied. For a general perturbation parameter, the variational principle is used for the solution of such a problem. The applicable range of these perturbation parameters are studied in detail. In the case of uniformly loaded plate, perturbation parameter relating to central deflection seems to be the best among all others. The method of determination of perturbation solution by means of variational principle can be used to treat a variety of problems, including the large deflection problems under combine loads. This paper is completed under the guidance of Prof. Chien Wei-zang.     

Electronic absorption spectra determination of C60 content in soot produced in hydrocarbon flames

We analyze the possibilities of eliminating hydrocarbon compounds from soot produced in hydrocarbon flames for the purpose of using the method of electronic absorption spectra to measure the content of fullerenes. The sensitivity limit of the spectral-absorption method has been determined. The solubility of C₆₀ in ether has been measured. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 4, pp. 253–256, March–April, 2000.     

Numerical prediction for laminar forced convection heat transfer in parallel-plate channels with streamwise-periodic rod disturbances

A numerical study has been performed for the periodically fully-developed flow in two-dimensional channels with streamwise-periodic round disturbances on its two walls. To accurately describe the round disturbance boundary condition, a body fitted grid was used. The flow and heat transfer have been studied in the range of Reynolds number, Re=50–700, and Prandtl number Pr=0.71. The influences of disturbance parameters and Reynolds number on heat transfer and friction have been investigated in detail. Some of the solutions have been examined using both steady and unsteady finite difference schemes; and the same results have been obtained. The results show that different flow patterns can occur with different deployments of the disturbances. With appropriate configuration of the disturbances, the Nusselt number can reach a value four times greater than in a smooth channel at the same condition, with the penalty of a much greater pressure drop. On the other hand, if the disturbances are not deployed properly, augmentation of heat transfer cannot be acquired. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computing the flow around a moving profile by numerically integrating the Navier–Stokes equations

A vorticity velocity formulation is proposed for the solution of the equations for viscous flow around a moving profile. A non-inertial reference frame is used and the velocities are computed from a Poincaré integral formula. The studies are directed towards the need to understand helicopter blade aerodynamics. Worked examples are given which validate the method and programme for laminar flows, at least for low Reynolds numbers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A moving mesh method in multiblock domains with application to a combustion problem

A moving mesh method for structured grids is presented for general solution domains, which are composed of a number of simply shaped blocks. Its basic idea is to solve moving mesh PDEs by overlapping Schwarz iterations and to connect the meshes in each of the blocks smoothly. A finite element method based upon this moving mesh method is developed for solving time dependent PDEs and validated for the problem of laminar flame propagation in an obstacled channel. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 15: 449–467, 1999     

An experimental study into the effect of injector pressure loss on self-sustained combustion instabilities in a swirled spray burner

Combustion instabilities depend on a variety of parameters and operating conditions. It is known, especially in the field of liquid rocket propulsion, that the pressure loss of an injector has an effect on its dynamics and on the coupling between the combustion chamber and the fuel manifold. However, its influence is not well documented in the technical literature dealing with gas turbine combustion dynamics. Effects of changes in this key design parameter are investigated in the present article by testing different swirlers at constant thermal power on a broad range of injection velocities in a well controlled laboratory scale single injector swirled combustor using liquid fuel. The objective is to study the impact of injection pressure losses on the occurrence and level of combustion instabilities by making use of a set of injectors having nearly the same outlet velocity profiles, the same swirl number and that establish flames that are essentially identical in shape. It is found that combustion oscillations appear on a wider range of operating conditions for injectors with the highest pressure loss, but that the pressure fluctuations caused by thermoacoustic oscillations are greatest when the injector head loss is low. Four types of instabilities coupled by two modes may be distinguished: the first group features a lower frequency, arises when the injector pressure loss is low and corresponds to a weakly coupled chamber-plenum mode. The second group appears in the form of a constant amplitude limit cycle, or as bursts at a slightly higher frequency and is coupled by a chamber mode. Spontaneous switching between these two types of instabilities is also observed in a narrow domain.     

Analysis of steady state polydisperse counterflow spray diffusion flames in the large Stokes number limit

A new mathematical analysis is presented of certain aspects of the behavior of opposed flow polydisperse spray diffusion flames within the framework of a model in which large slip is permitted between the droplets and their host surroundings. The sectional approach is used to model the polydisperse spray. Operating conditions are identified under which the inverses of sectional Stokes numbers are small spray-related parameters to be used in a perturbation analysis of the liquid phase governing equations. The steady state equations and their solutions are similar in form to the equivalent equations considered in previous work of the authors in which dynamical equilibrium of the droplets with the carrier phase was assumed. However, here there is much more mathematical complexity involved in the spray equations solution. A hybrid Eulerian–Lagrangian approach is also suggested to get an insight into the phenomenon of reversal in the motion of the droplets that has been reported in independent experimental and computational research. Computed results based on the analytical solutions up to the 1st order of approximation reveal the influence of large droplet slip on the droplets velocity field and on the spray diffusion flame’s thermal field, for which appreciable heterogeneous combustion can occur under the operating conditions considered.     

Benzene formation in premixed fuel-rich 1,3-butadiene flames

Detailed kinetic modeling and flame-sampling molecular-beam time-of-flight mass spectrometry are combined to unravel important pathways leading to the formation of benzene in a premixed laminar low-pressure 1,3-butadiene flame. The chemical kinetic model developed is compared with new experimental results obtained for a rich (? = 1.8) 1,3-butadiene/O₂/Ar flame at 30 Torr and with flame data for a similar but richer (? = 2.4) flame reported by Cole et al. [Combust. Flame 56 (1) (1984) 51-70]. The newer experiment utilizes photoionization by tunable vacuum-ultraviolet synchrotron radiation, which allows for the identification and separation of combustion species by their characteristic ionization energies. Predictions of mole fractions as a function of distance from the burner of major combustion intermediates and products are in overall satisfactory agreement with experimentally observed profiles. The accurate predictions of the propargyl radical and benzene mole fractions permit an assessment of potential benzene formation pathways. The results indicate that C₆H₆ is formed mainly by the C₃H₃ + C₃H₃ and i-C₄H₅ + C₂H₂ reactions, which are roughly of equal importance. Smaller contributions arise from C₃H₃ + C₃H₅. However, given the experimental and modeling uncertainties, other pathways cannot be ruled out.     

Polydisperse effects in jet spray flames

A laminar jet polydisperse spray diffusion flame is analysed mathematically for the first time using an extension of classical similarity solutions for gaseous jet flames. The analysis enables a comparison to be drawn between conditions for flame stability or flame blow-out for purely gaseous flames and for spray flames. It is found that, in contrast to the Schmidt number criteria relevant to gas flames, droplet size and initial spray polydispersity play a critical role in determining potential flame scenarios. Some qualitative agreement for lift-off height is found when comparing predictions of the theory and sparse independent experimental evidence from the literature.