Study on lifted flame stabilization under different background pressures
Abstract A numerical experimental investigation is presented for a steady methane lifted-flame and a non-reaction jet flow in a co-flow of hot combustion products from lean premixed air/hydrogen combustion. A pressurized vitiated co-flow burner has been employed to study the methane lifted flame and non-reaction jet flow under different background pressures. The lift-off height has been measured with a high-speed camera, and the central jet flow velocity has been measured by means of a Schlieren imaging system. The experimental results show that the lift-off height decreases for an increment in the background pressure and in the co-flow temperature. As far as the experimental tests on the non-reaction jet flow is concerned, the jet velocity becomes extinct faster as the background pressure rises. The evolution of the jet velocity has been proved to be another important factor that affects the lift-off height under different background pressures, in addition to the fuel autoignition delay. The simulation data led with a RANS/PDF model show that an increment in the background pressure makes the temperatures increase and induces a brighter yellow part of lifted flame, which leads to more soot production. This proves that the flame is not completely premixed. On the other hand, the Schlieren images of a non-reaction jet flow highlight that the flame is partially premixed, since the edge of the jet is not well defined, as the jet penetration increases with time.