Effects of H2-Enrichment on the Propagation Characteristics of CH4-Air Flames

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro M. Briones ◽  
Suresh K. Aggarwal ◽  
Vishwanath R. Katta
Keyword(s):  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Laminar Flame ◽  
Mixture Fraction ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Tangential Component ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Axial Position ◽  
Stoichiometric Mixture ◽  
Jet Mixing ◽  
Flame Curvature

The propagation of H2-enriched CH4-air triple flames in a nonpremixed jet is investigated numerically. The flames are ignited in a nonuniform jet-mixing layer downstream of the burner. A comprehensive, time-dependent computational model is used to simulate the transient ignition and flame propagation phenomena. The model employs a detailed description of methane-air chemistry and transport properties. Following ignition a well-defined flame is formed that propagates upstream towards the burner along the stoichiometric mixture fraction line. As the flame propagates upstream, the flame speed, which is defined as the normal flamefront velocity at the leading edge with respect to the local gas velocity, increases above or decreases below to the corresponding unstretched laminar flame speed of the stoichiometric planar premixed flame. Although the flame curvature varies as a function of axial position, the flame curvature remains nearly constant for a given flame. As hydrogen is added to the fuel stream the flame curvature during flame propagation remains nearly constant. During the flame propagation process, the hydrodynamic stretch dominates over the curvature-induced stretch. Hydrogen increases the heat release and the component of the velocity perpendicular to the flame increases across the surface, whereas the tangential component remains unchanged. This jump in the perpendicular velocity component bends the velocity vector toward the stoichiometric mixture fraction line. This redirection of the flow is accommodated by the divergence of the streamlines ahead of the flame, resulting in the decrease of the velocity and increase in the hydrodynamic stretch.

Optical and Numerical Investigations of Flame Propagation in a Heavy Duty Spark Ignited Natural Gas Engine

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinlong Liu ◽  
Christopher Ulishney ◽  
Cosmin E. Dumitrescu
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Laminar Flame ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Combustion Efficiency ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Laminar Flame Speed ◽  
Heavy Duty ◽  
Piston Chamber

Abstract Increasing the natural gas (NG) use in heavy-duty engines is beneficial for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from power generation and transportation. However, converting compression ignition (CI) engines to NG spark ignition operation can increase methane emissions without expensive aftertreatment, thereby defeating the purpose of utilizing a low carbon fuel. The widely accepted explanation for the low combustion efficiency in such retrofitted engines is the lower laminar flame speed of natural gas. In addition, diesel engine’s larger bowl size compared to the traditional gasoline engines increases the flame travel length inside the chamber and extends the combustion duration. However, optical measurements performed in this study suggested that a fast-propagating flame was developed inside the cylinder even at extremely lean operation. This was supported by a three-dimensional numerical simulation, which indicated that the squish region of the bowl-in-piston chamber generated a high turbulence intensity inside the bowl. However, the flame propagation experienced a sudden 2.25x reduction in speed when transiting from the bowl to the squish region. Such a phenomenon was caused by the large decrease in the turbulence intensity inside the squish region during the combustion process. Moreover, the squish volume trapped an important fuel fraction, and it is this fraction that experienced a slow and inefficient burning process during the expansion stroke. This resulted in increased methane emissions and reduced combustion efficiency. Overall, it was the specifics of the combustion process inside a bowl-in-piston chamber not the methane’s slow laminar flame speed that contributed to the low methane combustion efficiency for the retrofitted engine. The results suggest that optimizing the chamber shape is paramount to boost engine efficiency and decrease its emissions.

The theory of flame phenomena with a chain reaction

1956 ◽  
Vol 249 (957) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Zone ◽  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Reaction Rate ◽  
Laminar Flame ◽  
Combustible Mixture ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Spontaneous Ignition ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Hydrazine Decomposition ◽  
A Chain

For single-step reactions there is a unique relation between reaction rate and reactedness for a given combustible mixture at a specified pressure and initial temperature. This paper examines whether the relation is still unique when chain reactions are present, by considering three types of flame—spontaneous ignition, laminar-flame propagation, and the homogeneous steady-flow reaction zone—with a chain-reaction scheme proposed by Adams & Stocks for the decomposition of hydrazine. It is found that the relation is not unique but that similarities exist between the relation for laminar-flame propagation and the relation for the homogeneous reaction zone. Incidentally, a general method of calculating laminar-flame speeds with reaction schemes of arbitrary complexity is presented. When applied to the hydrazine decomposition flame the predictions of the theory are in fair agreement with experimental results. In particular, the variation of flame speed with temperature is correctly predicted. It is shown that the use of the Karman-Penner 'steady-state assumption' would lead to an overestimate of the flame speed. Consideration of the changes which would result if the chain reaction should branch shows that there would once again tend to be a unique reaction rate versus reactedness relation, and that the laminar-flame speed would be increased by a factor of about three for the hottest flame considered but by larger factors for cooler flames.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of flame stabilisation at low lifted height in a turbulent lifted slot-jet flame

2015 ◽  
Vol 777 ◽  
pp. 633-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahram Karami ◽  
Evatt R. Hawkes ◽  
Mohsen Talei ◽  
Jacqueline H. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Mixture Fraction ◽  
Turbulent Transport ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Basic Structure ◽  
Plane Motion ◽  
Flame Propagation Velocity ◽  
Jet Flame ◽  
The Rich

A turbulent lifted slot-jet flame is studied using direct numerical simulation (DNS). A one-step chemistry model is employed with a mixture-fraction-dependent activation energy which can reproduce qualitatively the dependence of the laminar burning rate on the equivalence ratio that is typical of hydrocarbon fuels. The basic structure of the flame base is first examined and discussed in the context of earlier experimental studies of lifted flames. Several features previously observed in experiments are noted and clarified. Some other unobserved features are also noted. Comparison with previous DNS modelling of hydrogen flames reveals significant structural differences. The statistics of flow and relative edge-flame propagation velocity components conditioned on the leading edge locations are then examined. The results show that, on average, the streamwise flame propagation and streamwise flow balance, thus demonstrating that edge-flame propagation is the basic stabilisation mechanism. Fluctuations of the edge locations and net edge velocities are, however, significant. It is demonstrated that the edges tend to move in an essentially two-dimensional (2D) elliptical pattern (laterally outwards towards the oxidiser, then upstream, then inwards towards the fuel, then downstream again). It is proposed that this is due to the passage of large eddies, as outlined in Su et al. (Combust. Flame, vol. 144 (3), 2006, pp. 494–512). However, the mechanism is not entirely 2D, and out-of-plane motion is needed to explain how flames escape the high-velocity inner region of the jet. Finally, the time-averaged structure is examined. A budget of terms in the transport equation for the product mass fraction is used to understand the stabilisation from a time-averaged perspective. The result of this analysis is found to be consistent with the instantaneous perspective. The budget reveals a fundamentally 2D structure, involving transport in both the streamwise and transverse directions, as opposed to possible mechanisms involving a dominance of either one direction of transport. It features upstream transport balanced by entrainment into richer conditions, while on the rich side, upstream turbulent transport and entrainment from leaner conditions balance the streamwise convection.

scholarly journals Laminar flame speed of soy and canola biofuels

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 75-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan-Sebastián Gómez-Meyer ◽  
Subramanyam R Gollahalli ◽  
Ramkumar N. Parthasarathy ◽  
Jabid-Eduardo Quiroga
Keyword(s):  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Equivalence Ratio ◽  
Laminar Flame ◽  
Turbulent Flames ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Thermochemical Property ◽  
Laminar Flame Speed ◽  
Hot Air ◽  
Maximum Value ◽  
Canola Oils

In this article, the flame speed values determined experimentally for laminar premixed flames of the vapors of two biofuels in air are presented. The laminar flame speed is a fundamental thermochemical property of fuels, and is essential for analyzing the flame propagation in practical devices, even those employing turbulent flames. The fuels obtained from transesterification of soy and canola oils are tested. Also, the diesel flames are studied to serve as a baseline for comparison. The experiments are performed with a tubular burner; pre-vaporized fuel is mixed with hot air and is ignited. The flame speed is determined at fuel-equivalence ratios of 1; 1,1 and 1,2 by recording the geometry of the flame. The experimental results show that the flame speed of biofuels is lower by about 15% than that of diesel. Also, the maximum value of flame speed is obtained at an equivalence ratio of approximately 1,1.

Modeling of Inhomogeneously Premixed Combustion With an Extended TFC Model

2000 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Polifke ◽  
P. Flohr ◽  
M. Brandt
Keyword(s):  
Laminar Flame ◽  
Mixture Fraction ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Flame Temperature ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Premixed Combustion ◽  
Combustion Stability ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Turbulent Flame Speed ◽  
Functional Relationships

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.

Modeling of Inhomogeneously Premixed Combustion With an Extended TFC Model

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Polifke ◽  
Peter Flohr ◽  
Martin Brandt
Keyword(s):  
Laminar Flame ◽  
Mixture Fraction ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Flame Temperature ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Premixed Combustion ◽  
Combustion Stability ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Turbulent Flame Speed ◽  
Functional Relationships

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.

Generating Laminar Flame Speed Libraries for Autoignition Conditions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karthik V. Puduppakkam ◽  
Abhijit U. Modak ◽  
Cheng Wang ◽  
Devin Hodgson ◽  
Chitralkumar V. Naik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Laminar Flame ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Laminar Flame Speed ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fuel Effects ◽  
Propagation Properties ◽  
Operating Points

Abstract With advanced gas turbine combustor and internal combustion engine designs, autoignition can happen alongside flame propagation. Laminar flame speeds are required to model flame propagation. Determining laminar flame speeds using simulation assumes flames are freely propagating, an assumption that is not valid when autoignition does occur. From a CFD modeling viewpoint however, it is useful to have extrapolated laminar flame-speed values over a wide range of conditions, to allow CFD to operate smoothly and avoid discontinuities while calculating flame-propagation properties. In this work we focus on developing an approach for generating laminar flame-speed libraries under both nonigniting and autoigniting conditions. Following a test of whether autoignition occurs, laminar flame speeds are either modeled or extrapolated. The details of the approach implemented and its validation are explained. We assess the accuracy of the extrapolation employed by calculating relevant coefficients based on flame speeds from nearby operating points. Recommendations are made for the time scales to be used in determining autoignition occurrence. Fuel effects are also explored in this context.

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