scholarly journals RANS- and TFC-Based Simulation of Turbulent Combustion in a Small-Scale Venting Chamber

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 5710
Author(s):  
Justina Jaseliūnaitė ◽  
Mantas Povilaitis ◽  
Ieva Stučinskaitė
Keyword(s):  
Flame Front ◽  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Turbulent Combustion ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Variable Model ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Safety Risks ◽  
Flow Features ◽  
Solid Obstacles

A laboratory-scale chamber is convenient for combustion scenarios in the practical analysis of industrial explosions and devices such as internal combustion engines. The safety risks in hazardous areas can be assessed and managed during accidents. Increased hydrogen usage in renewable energy production requires increased attention to the safety issues since hydrogen produces higher explosion overpressures and flame speed and can cause more damage than methane or propane. This paper reports numerical simulation of turbulent hydrogen combustion and flame propagation in the University of Sydney's small-scale combustion chamber. It is used for the investigation of turbulent premixed propagating flame interaction with several solid obstacles. Obstructions in the direction of flow cause a complex flame front interaction with the turbulence generated ahead of it. For numerical analysis, OpenFOAM CFD software was chosen, and a custom-built turbulent combustion solver based on the progress variable model—flameFoam—was used. Numerical results for validation purposes show that the pressure behaviour and flame propagation obtained using RANS and TFC models were well reproduced. The interaction between larger-scale flow features and flame dynamics was obtained corresponding to the experimental or mode detailed LES modelling results from the literature. The analysis revealed that as the propagating flame reached and interacted with obstacles and the recirculation wake was created behind solid obstacles, leaving traces of an unburned mixture. The expansion of flames due to narrow vents generates turbulent eddies, which cause wrinkling of the flame front.

scholarly journals Simulation of Hydrogen-Air-Diluents Mixture Combustion in an Acceleration Tube with FlameFoam Solver

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (17) ◽  
pp. 5504
Author(s):  
Mantas Povilaitis ◽  
Justina Jaseliūnaitė
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Turbulent Combustion ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Turbulence Models ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Variable Model ◽  
Sst Model

During a severe accident in a nuclear power plant, hydrogen can be generated, leading to risks of possible deflagration and containment integrity failure. To manage severe accidents, great experimental, analytical, and benchmarking efforts are being made to understand combustible gas distribution, deflagration, and detonation processes. In one of the benchmarks—SARNET H2—flame acceleration due to obstacle-induced turbulence was investigated in the ENACCEF facility. The turbulent combustion problem is overly complex because it involves coupling between fluid dynamics, mass/heat transfer, and chemistry. There are still unknowns in understanding the mechanisms of turbulent flame propagation, therefore many methods in interpreting combustion and turbulent speed are present. Based on SARNET H2 benchmark results, a two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation of turbulent hydrogen flame propagation in the ENACCEF facility was performed. Four combustible mixtures with different diluents concentrations were considered—13% H2 and 0%/10%/20%/30% of diluents in air. The aim of this numerical simulation was to validate the custom-built turbulent combustion OpenFOAM solver based on the progress variable model—flameFoam. Furthermore, another objective was to perform parametric analysis in relation to turbulent speed correlations and turbulence models and interpret the k-ω SST model blending function F1 behavior during the combustion process. The obtained results show that in the simulated case all three turbulent speed correlations behave similarly and can be used to reproduce observable flame speed; also, the k-ε model provides more accurate results than the k-ω SST turbulence model. It is shown in the paper that the k-ω SST model misinterprets the sudden parameter gradients resulting from turbulent combustion.

Mechanism of detonation formation as a result of free flame propagation in unconfined space

2019 ◽  
Vol 489 (5) ◽  
pp. 461-464
Author(s):  
A. D. Kiverin ◽  
I. S. Yakovenko ◽  
V. E. Fortov
Keyword(s):  
Shock Waves ◽  
Flame Front ◽  
Flame Propagation ◽  
Linear Stage ◽  
Local Formation ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Detonation Transition

The problem of the detonation formation as a result of unconfined flame propagation is solved numerically. The mechanism of detonation formation is distinguished. It is related to the local formation of shock waves du- ring the linear stage of development of flame front perturbations formed on the surface of the expanding flame front. General criteria of the establishment of the conditions for the detonation transition via the proposed mechanism are formulated.

Shifting of the flame front in a small-scale commercial downdraft gasifier by water injection and exhaust gas recirculation

Fuel ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 303 ◽  
pp. 121297
Author(s):  
A. Zachl ◽  
M. Buchmayr ◽  
J. Gruber ◽  
A. Anca-Couce ◽  
R. Scharler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flame Front ◽  
Water Injection ◽  
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Exhaust Gas ◽  
Downdraft Gasifier ◽  
Gas Recirculation

Identifying Health and Safety Risks for Childcare Workers

AAOHN Journal ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 321-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belinda J. McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Safety Risks ◽  
Health Promotion Programs ◽  
Childcare Workers ◽  
Health And Safety Risks

Childcare workers are exposed to several health and safety risks in their work environment, the most common being infectious diseases, musculoskeletal injuries, accidents, and occupational stress. Pregnant childcare workers have an additional risk of potential harm to the fetus. Occupational health nurses can work collaboratively with childcare workers to reduce these risks and provide workplace health promotion programs. This article explores the occupational health and safety issues for childcare workers and suggests health promotion strategies that could be implemented by occupational health nurses working in this arena.

Modeling an Enclosed, Turbulent Reacting Methane Jet With the Premixed Conditional Moment Closure Method

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Martin ◽  
Aleksandar Jemcov ◽  
Björn de Ruijter
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Combustion ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Reaction Rates ◽  
Moment Closure ◽  
Scalar Dissipation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Conditional Moment ◽  
Progress Variable ◽  
Conditional Moment Closure ◽  
Scale Turbulence

Here the premixed Conditional Moment Closure (CMC) method is used to model the recent PIV and Raman turbulent, enclosed reacting methane jet data from DLR Stuttgart [1]. The experimental data has a rectangular test section at atmospheric pressure and temperature with a single inlet jet. A jet velocity of 90 m/s is used with an adiabatic flame temperature of 2,064 K. Contours of major species, temperature and velocities along with velocity rms values are provided. The conditional moment closure model has been shown to provide the capability to model turbulent, premixed methane flames with detailed chemistry and reasonable runtimes [2]. The simplified CMC model used here falls into the class of table lookup turbulent combustion models where the chemical kinetics are solved offline over a range of conditions and stored in a table that is accessed by the CFD code. Most table lookup models are based on the laminar 1-D flamelet equations, which assume the small scale turbulence does not affect the reaction rates, only the large scale turbulence has an effect on the reaction rates. The CMC model is derived from first principles to account for the effects of small scale turbulence on the reaction rates, as well as the effects of the large scale mixing, making it more versatile than other models. This is accomplished by conditioning the scalars with the reaction progress variable. By conditioning the scalars and accounting for the small scale mixing, the effects of turbulent fluctuations of the temperature on the reaction rates are more accurately modeled. The scalar dissipation is used to account for the effects of the small scale mixing on the reaction rates. The original premixed CMC model used a constant value of scalar dissipation, here the scalar dissipation is conditioned by the reaction progress variable. The steady RANS 3-D version of the open source CFD code OpenFOAM is used. Velocity, temperature and species are compared to the experimental data. Once validated, this CFD turbulent combustion model will have great utility for designing lean premixed gas turbine combustors.

A Reduced-Order Model for the Preliminary Design of Small-Scale Radial Inflow Turbines

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Manfredi ◽  
Marco Alberio ◽  
Marco Astolfi ◽  
Andrea Spinelli
Keyword(s):  
Heat Recovery ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Reduced Order Model ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Preliminary Design ◽  
Order Model ◽  
Reduced Order ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Loss Models

Abstract Power production from waste heat recovery represents an attractive and viable solution to contribute to the reduction of pollutant emissions generated by industrial plants and automotive sector. For transport applications, a promising technology can be identified in bottoming mini-organic Rankine cycles (ORCs), devoted to heat recovery from internal combustion engines (ICE). While commercial ORCs exploiting turbo-expanders in the power range of hundreds kW to several MW are a mature technology, well-established design guidelines are not yet available for turbines targeting small power outputs (below 50 kW). The present work develops a reduced-order model for the preliminary design of mini-ORC radial inflow turbines (RITs) for high-pressure ratio applications, suitable to be integrated in a comprehensive cycle optimization. An exhaustive review of existing loss models, whose development pattern is retraced up to the original approaches, is proposed. This investigation is finalized in a loss models effectiveness analysis performed by testing several correlations over six existing geometries. These test case turbines, operating with different fluids and covering a wide range of target expansion ratio, size, and gross power output, are then employed to carry out the validation procedure, whose results prove the robustness and prediction capability of the proposed reduced-order model.

LO.CO.MO.DIA: Low Cost Monitoring for Diagnostic Purposes of a Small Scale CHP Plant

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Fantozzi ◽  
Umberto Desideri
Keyword(s):  
Data Acquisition ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Combustion Engines ◽  
Performance Indexes ◽  
Data Acquisition Board ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The University ◽  
Maintenance Personnel

Abstract Small scale Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) powered Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants are economically convenient when availability and efficiencies are above specified limits. Nevertheless these plants are often run without a monitoring device capable of data storing and trending and of performance evaluation. This paper describes the setting up of a powerful low-cost monitoring system for the CHP plant that powers the School of Engineering of the University of Perugia. Data acquisition is performed by interfacing a Personal Computer (PC) to existing control panels via, serial port, and to a data acquisition board for those variables that are not measured by existing devices. Performance indexes are then calculated via software. Alarms and controls are stored as well to set up a database for diagnostic purposes. The monitoring itself has already shown its troubleshooting capability in interface to maintenance personnel: history trending of variables speeds up the phase of failure identification because it eliminates those possibilities that are negated by cross referencing values of different variables.

Complex Energy Networks Optimization: Part II — Software Application to a Case Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Ancona ◽  
M. Bianchi ◽  
L. Branchini ◽  
A. De Pascale ◽  
F. Melino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Production ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Optimal Scheduling ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Complex Energy ◽  
Energy Networks ◽  
Energy Network

Abstract In order to increase the exploitation of the renewable energy sources, the diffusion of the distributed generation systems is grown, leading to an increase in the complexity of the electrical, thermal, cooling and fuel energy distribution networks. With the main purpose of improving the overall energy conversion efficiency and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated to fossil fuel based production systems, the design and the management of these complex energy grids play a key role. In this context, an in-house developed software, called COMBO, presented and validated in the Part I of this study, has been applied to a case study in order to define the optimal scheduling of each generation system connected to a complex energy network. The software is based on a non-heuristic technique which considers all the possible combination of solutions, elaborating the optimal scheduling for each energy system by minimizing an objective function based on the evaluation of the total energy production cost and energy systems environmental impact. In particular, the software COMBO is applied to a case study represented by an existing small-scale complex energy network, with the main objective of optimizing the energy production mix and the complex energy networks yearly operation depending on the energy demand of the users. The electrical, thermal and cooling needs of the users are satisfied with a centralized energy production, by means of internal combustion engines, natural gas boilers, heat pumps, compression and absorption chillers. The optimal energy systems operation evaluated by the software COMBO will be compared to a Reference Case, representative of the current energy systems set-up, in order to highlight the environmental and economic benefits achievable with the proposed strategy.

Design and Experimental Results of Small-Scale Rotary Engines

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelvin Fu ◽  
Aaron J. Knobloch ◽  
Fabian C. Martinez ◽  
David C. Walther ◽  
Carlos Fernandez-Pello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Microelectromechanical Systems ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Internal Combustion ◽  
Specific Power ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Efficient Operation ◽  
Rotary Engine ◽  
Rotary Engines

Abstract A research project is currently underway to develop small-scale internal combustion engines fueled by liquid hydrocarbons. The ultimate goal of the MEMS Rotary Internal Combustion Engine Project is to develop a liquid hydrocarbon fueled MEMS-size rotary internal combustion micro-engine capable of delivering power on the order of milli-watts. This research is part of a larger effort to develop a portable, autonomous power generation system with an order of magnitude improvement in energy density over alkaline or lithium-ion batteries. The rotary (Wankel-type) engine is well suited for the fabrication techniques developed in the integrated chip (IC) community and refined by the MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) field. Features of the rotary engine that lend itself to MEMS fabrication are its planar construction, high specific power, and self-valving operation. The project aims at developing a “micro-rotary” engine with an epitrochoidal-shaped housing under 1 mm3 in size and with a rotor swept volume of 0.08 mm3. To investigate engine behavior and design issues, larger-scale “mini-rotary” engines have been fabricated from steel. Mini-rotary engine chambers are approximately 1000 mm3 to 1700 mm3 in size and their displacements range from 78 mm3 to 348 mm3. A test bench for the mini-rotary engine has been developed and experiments have been conducted with gaseous-fueled mini-rotary engines to examine the effects of sealing, ignition, design, and thermal management on efficiency. Preliminary testing has shown net power output of up to 2.7 W at 9300 RPM. Testing has been performed using hydrogen-air mixtures and a range of spark and glow plug designs as the ignition source. Iterative design and testing of the mini-engine has lead to improved sealing designs. These particular designs are such that they can be incorporated into the fabrication of the micro-engine. Design and fabrication of a first generation meso-scale rotary engine has been completed using a SiC molding process developed at Case Western Reserve University. The fabrication of the micro-rotary engine is being conducted in U.C. Berkeley’s Microfabrication Laboratory. Testing of the mini-engine has lead to the conclusion that there are no fundamental phenomena that would prevent the operation of the micro-engine. However, heat loss and sealing issues are key for efficient operation of the micro-engine, and they must be taken into account in the design and fabrication of the micro-rotary engine. The mini-rotary engine design, testing, results and applications will be discussed in this paper.

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