Investigation of Turbulence Models Applied to Premixed Combustion Using a Level-Set Flamelet Library Approach

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 701-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulf Engdar ◽  
Per Nilsson ◽  
Jens Klingmann

Most of the common modeling approaches to premixed combustion in engineering applications are either based on the assumption of infinitely fast chemistry or the flamelet assumption with simple chemistry. The level-set flamelet library approach (FLA) has shown great potential in predicting major species and heat release, as well as intermediate and minor species, where more simple models often fail. In this approach, the mean flame surface is tracked by a level-set equation. The flamelet libraries are generated by an external code, which employs a detailed chemical mechanism. However, a model for the turbulent flame speed is required, which, among other considerations, depends on the turbulence intensity, i.e., these models may show sensitivity to turbulence modeling. In this paper, the FLA model was implemented in the commercial CFD program Star-Cd, and applied to a lean premixed flame stabilized by a triangular prism (bluff body). The objective of this paper has been to investigate the impact on the mean flame position, and hence on the temperature and species distribution, using three different turbulent flame speed models in combination with four different turbulence models. The turbulence models investigated are: the standard k-ε model, a cubic nonlinear k-ε model, the standard k-ω model and the shear stress transport (SST) k-ω model. In general, the computed results agree well with experimental data for all computed cases, although the turbulence intensity is strongly underestimated at the downstream position. The use of the nonlinear k-ε model offers no advantage over the standard model, regardless of flame speed model. The k-ω based turbulence models predict the highest turbulence intensity with the shortest flame lengths as a consequence. The Mu¨ller flame speed model shows the least sensitivity to the choice of turbulence model.  

Author(s):  
Ulf Engdar ◽  
Per Nilsson ◽  
Jens Klingmann

Most of the common modeling approaches to premixed combustion in engineering applications are either based on the assumption of infinitely fast chemistry or the flamelet assumption with simple chemistry. The level-set flamelet library approach (FLA) has shown great potential in predicting major species and heat release, as well as intermediate and minor species, where more simple models often fail. In this approach, the mean flame surface is tracked by a level-set equation. The flamelet libraries are generated by an external code, which employs a detailed chemical mechanism. However, a model for the turbulent flame speed is required, which, amongst other considerations, depends on the turbulence intensity, i.e. these models may show sensitivity to turbulence modeling. In this paper, the FLA model was implemented in the commercial CFD program Star-CD, and applied to a lean premixed flame stabilized by a triangular prism (bluff body). The objective of this paper has been to investigate the impact on the mean flame position, and hence on the temperature and species distribution, using three different turbulent flame speed models in combination with four different turbulence models. The turbulence models investigated are: the standard k-ε model, a cubic non-linear k-ε model, the standard k-ω model and the Shear Stress Transport (SST) k-ω model. In general, the computed results agree well with experimental data for all computed cases, although the turbulence intensity is strongly underestimated at the downstream position. The use of the non-linear k-ε model offers no advantage over the standard model, regardless of flame speed model. The k-ω based turbulence models predict the highest turbulence intensity with the shortest flame lengths as a consequence. The Mu¨ller flame speed model shows the least sensitivity to the choice of turbulence model.


2000 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Polifke ◽  
P. Flohr ◽  
M. Brandt

In many practical applications, so-called premixed burners do not achieve perfect premixing of fuel and air. Instead, fuel injection pressure is limited, the permissible burner pressure drop is small and mixing lengths are curtailed to reduce the danger of flashback. Furthermore, internal or external piloting is frequently employed to improve combustion stability, while part-load operation often requires burner staging, where neighboring burners operate with unequal fuel/air equivalence ratios. In this report, an extension of the turbulent flame speed closure (TFC) model for highly turbulent premixed combustion is presented, which allows application of the model to the case of inhomogeneously premixed combustion. The extension is quite straightforward, i.e., the dependence of model parameters on mixture fraction is accounted for by providing appropriate lookup tables or functional relationships to the model. The model parameters determined in this way are adiabatic flame temperature, laminar flame speed and critical gradient. The model has been validated against a test case from the open literature and applied to an externally piloted industrial gas turbine burner with good success.


Author(s):  
Graham Goldin ◽  
Zhuyin Ren ◽  
Hendrik Forkel ◽  
Liuyan Lu ◽  
Venkat Tangirala ◽  
...  

Conventional Flamelet Generated Manifold (FGM) closure of the mean progress variable reaction rate assumes PDF shapes to account for turbulent fluctuations. The FGM parameters are commonly assumed to be statistically independent, and the marginal PDFs invariably require second moments, which are difficult to model accurately and have limited coefficients that can be adjusted to calibrate the simulation. A new model is presented which locates the flame brush with a turbulent flame speed model, and applies the FGM kinetic rate to model kinetically limited processes, such as CO quenching, behind the flame-front. The model is applied to 3D RANS simulations of an equivalence ratio sweep in the GE Entitlement Rig perfectly premixed combustor experiment. Calculating the mean FGM reaction progress source term with standard assumed shape PDFs leads to a narrow flame brush and equilibrium CO outlet emissions. By limiting the mean FGM reaction progress source term by the turbulent flame speed model, the flame brush is broadened and super-equilibrium CO is predicted at the outlet. Good agreement with measurement is obtained with default model coefficients. Since the majority of the mean reaction progress source term is limited by the turbulent flame speed reaction rate, it is demonstrated that the model is relatively insensitive to assumed shape PDFs for the FGM rate, as well as the parameter used to determine the turbulent flame leading edge.


Author(s):  
Eoin M. Burke ◽  
Sajjad Yousefian ◽  
Felix Güthe ◽  
Rory F. D. Monaghan

Abstract The aim of this work is to examine the state-of-the-art turbulent flame speed (ST) correlations and optimize their adjustable parameters to best match a wide range experimental turbulent premixed combustion results. Four correlations based on previous works by Zimont, Kobayashi, Ronney and Muppala have been selected for the present study. Using a Matlab-based Nelder-Mead simplex direct search method, each correlation’s adjustable parameters are optimized such that their mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) is minimized. In addition to the literature correlations, a new empirical correlation is developed using the same search method to define constants and powers in the expression. Two sets of optimized parameters are proposed to account for atmospheric and elevated (0.2–3.0 MPa) pressure flames. Each correlation is tested further, examining their ability to match ST trends for varying equivalence ratio (φ) and turbulent velocity ratio (u′/SL). It was found that a minimum of two correlations and two sets of adjustable parameters are required to accurately account for the entire range of data, thus showing that there is currently no turbulent flame speed correlation that is applicable across all engine-relevant conditions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajjad Yousefian ◽  
Eoin M. Burke ◽  
Felix Güthe ◽  
Rory F. D. Monaghan

Abstract The aim of this work is to examine the state-of-the-art turbulent flame speed (ST) correlations and optimize their adjustable parameters to best match a wide range experimental turbulent premixed combustion results. Based on previous work, four correlations have been selected for this study. Using a matlab-based Nelder–Mead simplex direct search method, each correlation's adjustable parameters are optimized such that their mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) is minimized. In addition to the literature correlations, a new empirical correlation is developed using the same search method to define constants and powers in the expression. Two sets of optimized parameters are proposed to account for atmospheric and elevated (0.2–3.0 MPa) pressure flames. Each correlation is tested further, examining their ability to match ST trends for varying equivalence ratio (φ) and turbulent velocity ratio (u′/SL). It was found that a minimum of two correlations and two sets of adjustable parameters are required to accurately account for the entire range of data, thus showing that there is currently no turbulent flame speed correlation that is applicable across all engine-relevant conditions.


Author(s):  
Girish V. Nivarti ◽  
R. Stewart Cant

Industry-relevant turbulent premixed combustion models continue to rely on empirical expressions for turbulent flame speed in closure modelling for the mean turbulent reaction rate. To date, an accurate sub-model for turbulent flame speed has not been proposed for flows with high turbulence intensities. Experimental studies in the pertinent combustion regime, known as the Thin Reaction Zones (TRZ) regime, are limited by the existing techniques of turbulence generation whereas, until recently, the high computational expense involved in solving such problems has restricted theoretical studies. We investigate the behaviour of premixed flames in the TRZ regime by conducting a parametric 3D Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) study of stoichiometric methane-air mixtures using single-step chemistry in an inflow-outflow configuration. Inflow turbulence intensity is varied while keeping the integral length scale constant across six separate simulations which span altogether a significant portion of the TRZ regime. The resulting variation of turbulent flame speed with turbulence intensity demonstrates the well-known bending phenomenon and conforms with recent experimental observations of freely-propagating premixed flames in this regime. As turbulence intensity is increased, the calculated flame surface exhibits an increasing degree of wrinkling and pocket-formation. In addition, the internal thermo-chemical structure of the flame is greatly affected when the turbulence intensity is more than an order of magnitude higher than the laminar flame speed. These qualitative observations establish the present DNS framework as a powerful tool for capturing turbulence-chemistry interactions that influence the bending phenomenon. Hence, this work forms the basis for further analysis using a detailed chemical description to investigate these interactions and, thereby, improve combustion models of industrial relevance.


Author(s):  
Guido Ku¨nne ◽  
Christian Klewer ◽  
Johannes Janicka

In this work, simulations of a strongly swirled premixed flame at atmospheric pressure were carried out using classical RANS-methods as well as different hybrid RANS/LES approaches. In the context of RANS, a large number of simulations using the k-ε-model were performed to study the impact of sensitivities related to boundary conditions and model parameters. For the transient simulations, the hybrid methods, DES (Detached Eddy Simulation) and SAS (Scale Adaptive Simulation) as implemented in ANSYS-CFX, were employed. These methods were used to avoid the prohibitive computational cost of LES in boundary layers but to resolve the detached eddies to capture the flame turbulence interaction. Combustion modeling in CFX is based on a transport equation for the progress variable combined with a turbulent flame speed closure to treat the chemical source term. In addition, isothermal LES was performed in advance to identify the coherent structures, such as precessing vortex cores, which were observed experimentally.


Author(s):  
Jan A. M. Withag ◽  
Jim B. W. Kok ◽  
Khawar Syed

The main objective of the present study is to demonstrate accurate low frequency transient turbulent combustion modeling. For accurate flame dynamics some improvements were made to the standard TFC combustion model for lean premixed combustion. With use of a 1D laminar flamelet code, predictions have been made for the laminar flame speed and the critical strain rate to improve the TFC (Turbulent Flame Speed Closure) combustion model. The computational fluid dynamics program CFX is used to perform transient simulations. These results were compared with experimental data of Weigand et al [1]. Two different turbulence models have been used for predictions of the turbulent flow.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 78-85
Author(s):  
Mohammed Alhumairi

The turbulent lean premixed combustion simulation is implemented in 4- stroke spark ignition (SI) engine. The Turbulent Flame speed Closure model (TFC) is used in different turbulent flow conditions. The model is tested for a variety of flame configurations such as turbulent flame speed, the heat release from the combustion and turbulent kinetic energy in the radial direction of the cylinder at 15.5 mm below the top dead center TDC point. The simulation performs in the three cases of the (intake / exhaust) valve timing. The exhaust valve case is an essential leverage on the turbulent flame specification. The combustion period is very important factor in SI engine which is controlled especially by the turbulent flame speed. The turbulent flame speed and heat transfer is ascendant less than 10 % and 3% in case of intake and exhaust valves are closed respectively. Moreover, the results show that the brake power enhances less than 4% and more than 40% with increase fuel temperature 60 K and engine speed 3000 rpm respectively.


Author(s):  
Wolfgang Polifke ◽  
Peter Flohr ◽  
Martin Brandt

In many practical applications, so-called premixed burners do not achieve perfect premixing of fuel and air. Instead, fuel injection pressure is limited, the permissible burner pressure drop is small and mixing lengths are curtailed to reduce the danger of flashback. Furthermore, internal or external piloting is frequently employed to improve combustion stability, while part-load operation often requires burner staging, where neighboring burners operate with unequal fuel/air equivalence ratios. In this report, an extension of the Turbulent Flame speed Closure (TFC) model for highly turbulent premixed combustion is presented, which allows application of the model to the case of inhomogeneously premixed combustion. The extension is quite straightforward, i.e. the dependence of model parameters on mixture fraction is accounted for by providing appropriate lookup tables or functional relationships to the model. The model parameters determined in this way are adiabatic flame temperature, laminar flame speed and critical gradient. The model has been validated against a test case from the open literature and applied to an externally piloted industrial gas turbine burner with good success.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document