Dynamic properties of outwardly propagating spherical hydrogen-air flames at high temperatures and pressures

Computational experiments on fundamental unstretched laminar burning velocities and flame response to stretch (represented by the Markstein number) of hydrogen-air flames at high temperatures and pressures were conducted in order to understand the dynamics of the flames including hydrogen as an attractive energy carrier in conditions encountered in practical applications such as internal combustion engines. Outwardly propagating spherical premixed flames were considered for a fuel-equivalence ratio of 0.6, pressures of 5 to 50 atm, and temperatures of 298 to 1000 K. For these conditions, ratios of unstretched-to-stretched laminar burning velocities varied linearly with flame stretch (represented by the Karlovitz number), similar to the flames at normal temperature and normal to moderately elevated pressures, implying that the “local conditions” hypothesis can be extended to the practical conditions. Increasing temperatures tended to reduce tendencies toward preferential-diffusion instability behavior (increasing the Markstein number) whereas increasing pressures tended to increase tendencies toward preferential-diffusion instability behavior (decreasing the Markstein number).     

A burning velocity correlation for premixed hydrogen/air/steam flames

In view of safety assessment of containment integrity in nuclear power plants, the structures and burning velocity characteristics of hydrogen/air/steam premixed flames have been analyzed numerically using a detailed chemical mechanism with 19 elementary steps concerning H₂/O₂ reactions. Time integration and the modified Newton method are applied in solving the governing equations and an adaptive grid method is employed to resolve the stiffness. Burning velocities are obtained as a function of hydrogen mole fraction, steam mole fraction, and initial temperature. The effect of carbon monoxide addition on burning velocities are also considered. The calculated burning velocities are generally lower than the existing experimental values. However, they show good qualitative agreement irrespective of the reaction mechanisms used in the computation. Steam is found to have both cooling effect and chemical effect affecting chain-branching reaction and heat release. A correlation on burning velocities is obtained and can be used as an improved relation over a wide range of steam concentration.     

Effects of pressure and carbon dioxide,hydrogen and nitrogen concentration on laminar burning velocities and NO formation of methane-air mixtures

We studied the effects of increasing pressure and adding carbon dioxide, hydrogen and nitrogen to Methane-air mixture on premixed laminar burning velocity and NO formation in experimentally and numerically methods. Equivalence ratio was considered within 0.7 to 1.3 for initial pressure between 0.1 to 0.5 MPa and initial temperature was separately considered 298 K. Mole fractions of carbon dioxide, hydrogen and nitrogen were regarded in mixture from 0 to 0.2. Heat flux method was used for measurement of burning velocities of Methane-air mixtures diluted with CO₂ and N₂. Experimental results were compared to the calculations using a detailed chemical kinetic scheme (GRI-MECH 3.0). The results in atmosphere pressure for Methane-air mixture were calculated and compared with the results of literature. Results were in good agreement with published data in the literature. Then, by adding carbon dioxide and nitrogen to Methaneair mixture, we witnessed that laminar burning velocity was decreased, whereas by increasing hydrogen, the laminar burning velocity was increased. Finally, the results showed that by increasing the pressure, the premixed laminar burning velocity decreased for all mixtures, and NO formation indicates considerable increase, whereas the laminar flame thickness decreases.     

Field emission techniques for studying surface reactions: applying them to NO-H2 interaction with Pd tips

The adsorption of NO and its reaction with H₂ over Pd tips were investigated by means of field ion microscopy (FIM) and pulsed field desorption mass spectrometry (PFDMS) in the 10⁻³ Pa pressure range and at sample temperatures between 400 and 600 K. By varying the H₂ partial pressure while keeping the other control parameters constant, the NO+H₂ reaction over Pd crystallites is shown to exhibit a strong hysteresis effect. The hysteresis region narrows with increase in temperature and the H₂ pressures delimiting this hysteresis decrease as well. Abrupt transformations of the micrographs are observed by FIM from bright to dark patterns and vice versa. These transformations define the hysteresis region. The collected data allow establishing a novel kinetic phase diagram of the NO+H₂/Pd system within the range of temperatures and pressures indicated. The observed features are correlated with a local chemical analysis by means of field pulses. NO⁺ seems to be the dominating imaging species under all conditions. At high relative H₂ pressures (the “hydrogen-side”), H atoms seem to diffuse subsurface. This process is blocked at lower H₂ pressure (the “NO-side”) due to NO_ad and O_ad accumulation on the surface. Probe-hole measurements with field pulses indicate that the Pd surface undergoes oxidation as revealed by the occurrence of PdO₂⁺ species in the mass spectra.     

NO concentrations in laminar premixed CH4/O2/N2 flames with varying equivalence ratio

Number density and concentration of nitric oxide have been investigated in laminar premixed CH₄/O₂/N₂ flames using laser-induced fluorescence technique. Emphasis was placed on quantitative measurements, which were taken in flames at various equivalence ratios ranging from 0.9 ～ 3.0. The flow rate was fixed at 2 SLPM. The NO A-X (0,0) vibrational band around 226 nm was excited using a XeCl excimer-pumped dye laser. By selecting an appropriate NO transition, the interferences from elastic scattering and O₂ fluorescence were minimized. Results show that the maximum NO concentration increased at the range of equivalence ratio from ? = 0.9 to 1.6, decreased from ? = 1.6 to 2.0 and slowly increased with increasing equivalence ratio above ? = 2.0. Also, the maximum NO concentration was at around the reaction zone.     

Laminar flame speeds for n-butanol/air mixtures at elevated pressures and temperatures: An experimental and numerical study

Laminar flame speeds of n-butanol/air premixed flames were measured experimentally and numerically at elevated pressures and temperatures for a wide range of equivalence ratios. Laminar flame speeds were obtained experimentally from the temporal evaluation of the flame front of spherically outwardly propagating flames at zero stress rate. The shadowgraph technique was employed to gain optical access to the constant volume combustion chamber. Flame propagation images were captured by a high-speed camera and MATLAB codes were used to process the images and calculate laminar flame speeds. Flame speeds have been calculated numerically using CHEMKIN-Pro based on a short reaction mechanism for n-butanol oxidation, which was derived from a previously published full reaction mechanism. Numerical predictions were in qualitative agreement with experimental data. The effects of initial pressure and temperature elevation were analyzed. Also, the effect of simultaneous elevation of initial pressures and temperatures is documented. For all experimental conditions, the maximum flame speed was found at around equivalence ratio 1.1. In general, flame speeds decreased with the elevation of initial pressure and increased with initial temperature elevation.

     

Quantification of extinction mechanism in counterflow premixed flames

The extinction mechanisms of stretched premixed flames have been investigated numerically for the fuels of CH₄, C₃H₈, H₂, CO and for the mixture fuels of CH₄+H₂ and CO+H₂ by adopting symmetric double premixed flames in a counterflow configuration. The local equilibrium temperature concept was used as a measure of energy loss or gain in order to quantify the extinction mechanism by preferential diffusion and/or incomplete reaction. The energy loss ratio from preferential diffusion arising from non-unity Lewis number and the loss ratio from incomplete reaction were calculated at various equivalence ratios near flame extinction. The results showed that the extinction of lean H₂, CH₄, CH₄+H₂, CO+H₂, and rich C₃H₈ premixed flames was caused by incomplete reaction due to insufficient reaction time, indicating that the effective Lewis number was smaller than unity, while the effect of preferential diffusion resulted in energy gain. However, the extinction of rich H₂, CH₄, CH₄+H₂, CO+H₂, and lean C₃H₈ premixed flames was affected by the combined effects of preferential diffusion and incomplete reaction indicating that the effective Lewis number was larger than unity. In CO premixed flames, incomplete reaction was dominant in both lean and rich cases due to the effective Lewis number close to unity. The effect of H2 mixing to CO is found to be quite significant as compared to CH₄+H₂ cases, which can alter the flame behavior of CO flames to that of H₂.     

Improvement of flame stability and NOx reduction in hydrogen-added ultra lean premixed combustion

Lean premixed combustion is a well known method in gas turbine combustors that can reduce fuel consumption and decrease flame temperature. In lean premixed flames, flame instabilities can occur because the combustion takes place near the lean flammable limit. For the purpose of increasing flame stability, a small amount of hydrogen was added into a fuel, which has ultra low lean flammable limit. The extinction stretch rate increased and total equivalence ratio at extinction decreased with hydrogen addition; consequently, ultra lean premixed combustion was possible and flame stability could be achieved at low temperature conditions. The NO_x emission increased with hydrogen addition for the same stretch rate and equivalence ratio, but the extinction stretch rate and lean flammability limit was enlarged. Consequently, NO_x emission decreased with hydrogen addition in the near extinction conditions. Hydrogen addition could improve flame stability and reduce NO_x emission in ultra lean premixed combustion. This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Ohchae Kwon Dr. Eun-Seong Cho received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Hanyang University, Korea, in 1996 and 1998, respectively. He then received his Ph.D. degree from Seoul National University, Korea, in 2005. He was a principal engineer of KD Navien research center and currently a research associate at Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands. His research interests include eco-friendly clean combustion technology, new and renewable energy systems. Prof. Suk Ho Chung received his B.S. degree from Seoul National University, Korea, in 1976 and Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University, USA, in 1983. He is a Professor since 1984 in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University in Seoul, Korea. His research interests cover combustion fundamentals, pollutant formation, laser diagnostics, and plasma-assisted combustion.     

NO2 chemiluminescent emission from flames influenced by acoustic noise

The effect of acoustic noise on combustion is investigated from the perspective of NO_x emissions. A robust, plug-in probe that exploits the natural emission signal from the combustion gases, and which can have practical relevance, is used. Acoustically pulsed flames are stabilized on aburner, and NO₂ chemiluminescence is measured with an intensified detector at various frequencies. The results indicate the NO₂ emission increases in noisy flames at certain frequencies more significantly than others. Noise at higher frequencies in the range 0.8≈1 kHz effects the nitrogen chemistry in stoichiometric flames (ϕ=1), but not that in lean flames (ϕ-0.7 and 0.8).     

The effect of chemical structure of dimethyl ether (DME) on NOx formation in nonpremixed counterflow flames

To clarify the effect of chemical structure of Dimethyl ether(DME) on NOx formation in nonpremixed counterflow flame, DME flame was investigated numerically to compare the flame structures and NOx emissions with C₂H₆ and Mixed-fuel. Numerically, the governing equations were solved using the Oppdif code coupled with CHEMKIN package, and DME flames were calculated by Kaiser’s mechanism, while the C₂H₆ flames and Mixed-fuel flames were calculated by the C₃ mechanism. These mechanisms were combined with the modified Miller-Bowman mechanism for the analysis of NOx. Numerical results of nonpremixed counterflow flames show that the EI_NO of DME nonpremixed flame is low as much as 50 % of the C₂H₆ nonpremixed flame. The cause of EI_NO reduction is attributed mainly to the characteristics of partial premixed flame due to the existence of oxygen atom in DME and partly to the O-C bond in DME, instead of C-C bond in hydrocarbon fuels. This paper was presented at the 7th JSME-KSME Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference, Sapporo, Japan, October 2008. Chang-Eon Lee received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Inha University, Korea, in 1983 and 1985, respectively. Then he received his Ph.D. degree from Toyohashi National University of Technology, Japan in 1992. Dr. Lee is currently a Professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering at Inha University in Incheon, Korea. He serves as an Editor of the Journal of the Korean society of combustion and serves as an associate Editor of Transactions of the Korean society of mechanical engineers. Dr. Lee’s research interests include fluid mechanics, combustion and environmental pollution, and total energy.     

A numerical study on extinction and NOx formation in nonpremixed flames with syngas fuel

The flame structure, extinction, and NO_x emission characteristics of syngas/air nonpremixed flames, have been investigated numerically. The extinction stretch rate increased with the increase in the hydrogen proportion in the syngas and with lower fuel dilution and higher initial temperature. It also increased with pressure, except for the case of highly diluted fuel at high pressure. The maximum temperature and the emission index of nitric oxides (EINO_x) also increased in aforementioned conditions. The EINO_x decreased with stretch rate in general, while the decreasing rate was found to be somewhat different between the cases of N₂ and CO₂ dilutions. The reaction paths of NO_x formation were analyzed and represented as NO reaction path diagram. The increase in N radical resulted in larger NO_x production at high initial temperature and pressure. As the pressure increases, EINO_x increases slower due to the third-body recombination. The thermal NO mechanism is weakened for high dilution cases and non-thermal mechanisms prevail. The combustion conditions achieving higher extinction stretch rate can be lead to more NO_x emission, therefore that the selection of optimum operation range is needed in syngas combustion.     

Data-based estimation and simulation of compressible pulsating flow with reverse-flow through an orifice

Highly compressible pulsating flows are often encountered in devices where knowledge of the flow rate is required but elimination of pulsations is not an option. The current work is a continuation of a previous investigation that characterized the orifice discharge coefficient C_d as a function of dimensionless groups based on pulsation characteristics. The experimental apparatus has been rebuilt in the current work to mitigate temperature and vibration problems, allowing pressure and ΔP measurements to be made very close to the test section with 159-mm of nylon tubing. Data was acquired for 77 operating conditions spanning a range of pulsation frequencies, mass flow rates and system pressures. They confirm previously reported low C_d's in 0.20 range (calculated from time-averaged pressures) at some high-pressure low-flow operating conditions. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations of 12 of these data points suggest that the low C_d's result from reverse flow. Flow direction changed several times during each pulsation cycle closely tracking the orifice ΔP. A ‘core-and-sheath’ phenomena was observed for reverse-flow operating conditions: a positive core flow surrounded by a sheath of negative flow transitioned to a negative core and positive sheath several times during each pulsation cycle. The simulations also suggested that velocity profiles at the orifice stay stable and similar to steady-state profiles except for periods of rapid transitions. Based on these results a data-based quasi-steady method of estimating pulsating flow has been proposed. A pair of forward and reverse flow C_d's chosen by the data are used to predict instantaneous forward and reverse flows using the steady-state orifice discharge equation for compressible flow. The instantaneous values are then summed up over the pulsation cycle to estimate average mass flow rate. Average prediction errors were within 6%. A previously proposed method where regression was used to model C_d as a function of dimensionless groupings was shown to produce similar results. Both methods are designed to extract information from experimental data in order to overcome theoretical limitations and experimental error. The data is available upon request for further understanding of the flow physics.     

Numerical modeling for the H2/CO bluff-body stabilized flames

This study investigates the nonpreximed H₂/CO-air turbulent flames numerically. The turbulent combustion process is represented by a reaction progress variables model coupled with the presumed joint probability function. In the present study, the turbulent combustion model is applied to analyze the nonadiabatic flames by introducing additional variable in the transport equation of enthalpy and the radiative heat loss is calculated using a local, geometry independent model. Calculation are compared with experimental data in terms of temperature, and mass fraction of major species, radical, and NO. Numerical results indicate that the lower and higher fuel-jet velocity flames have the distinctly different flame structures and NO formation characteristics in the proximity of the outer core vortex zone. The present model correctly predicts the essential features of flame structure and the characteristics of NO formation in the bluff-body stabilized flames. The effects of nonequilibrium chemistry and radiative heat loss on the thermal NO formation are discussed in detail.     

An experimental study on laminar CH<Subscript>4</Subscript>/O<Subscript>2</Subscript>/N<Subscript>2</Subscript> premixed flames under an electric field

This work investigates the electric field effect on gas temperature, radiative heat flux and flame speed of premixed CH₄/O₂/N₂ flames in order to gain a better insight into the mechanism of controlling the combustion process by electrophysical means. Experiments were performed on laminar Bunsen flames (Re<2200) of lean to rich mixture composition (φ =0.8–1.2) with slight oxygen enrichment (Ω=0.21-0.30). The Schlieren flame angle technique was used to determine the flame speed, and thermocouple measurements at the post flame gas were conducted. The radiative heat flux was measured by using a heat flux meter. At high field strengths, coincident with the appearance and enhancement of flame surface curvatures, an apparent change in flame speed and gas temperature was observed. However, the application of an electric field had no significant effect on flame speed and temperature when the flame geometry was unaltered. This was supported by radiative heat flux showing negligible electric field effects. The modification in flame temperature and flame speed under electric field was attributed to the field-induced flame stretch due to the body forces produced by the ionic winds. This additional flame stretch, coupled with the influence of non-unity Lewis number, accounts for such changes. This reinforces the idea that the action of an electric field on flames with a geometry that remains practically undeformed produces very minimal effect on flame speed, temperature and radiative heat flux. A possible mechanism of combustion control by the application of flame stretch using electric field was introduced.     

Nonlinear acoustic-pressure responses of oxygen droplet flames burning in gaseous hydrogen

A nonlinear acoustic instability of subcritical liquid-oxygen droplet flames burning in gaseous hydrogen environment are investigated numerically. Emphases are focused on the effects of finite-rate kinetics by employing a detailed hydrogen-oxygen chemistry and of the phase change of liquid oxygen. Results show that if nonlinear harmonic pressure oscillations are imposed, larger flame responses occur during the period that the pressure passes its temporal minimum, at which point flames are closer to extinction condition. Consequently, the flame response function, normalized during one cycle of pressure oscillation, increases nonlinearly with the amplitude of pressure perturbation. This nonlinear response behavior can be explained as a possible mechanism to produce the threshold phenomena for acoustic instability, often observed during rocket-engine tests.     

Numerical simulation of the unsteady combustion of solid rocket propellants at a harmonic pressure change

This study focuses on a numerical investigation of the unsteady burning rate of solid propellants at a harmonic pressure change in the combustion chamber of a solid propellant rocket engine. The physico-mathematical model includes the equations of heat transfer and decomposition of the oxidizer in the solid phase and two phases, the dual velocity, and the two-temperature reaction flow of gasification products. The boundary conditions on the solid fuel surface implement the conservation of energy fluxes and the mass of components. We numerically calculate the unsteady burning rate of metallized solid propellant and nitroglycerin powder under a harmonic pressure change in the combustion chamber of a solid propellant rocket engine and determine the dependence of the burning rate amplitude on the frequency of pressure oscillations. The amplitude of the burning rate depends nonmonotonously on the oscillation frequency. With increasing frequency, the amplitude first rises and then declines.

     

Investigations on pressure dependence of Coriolis Mass Flow Meters used at Hydrogen Refueling Stations

In the framework of the ongoing EMPIR JRP 16ENG01 “Metrology for Hydrogen Vehicles” a main task is to investigate the influence of pressure on the measurement accuracy of Coriolis Mass Flow Meters (CFM) used at Hydrogen Refueling Stations (HRS). At a HRS hydrogen is transferred at very high and changing pressures with simultaneously varying flow rates and temperatures. It is clearly very difficult for CFMs to achieve the current legal requirements with respect to mass flow measurement accuracy at these measurement conditions. As a result of the very dynamic filling process it was observed that the accuracy of mass flow measurement at different pressure ranges is not sufficient. At higher pressures it was found that particularly short refueling times cause significant measurement deviations. On this background it may be concluded that pressure has a great impact on the accuracy of mass flow measurement. To gain a deeper understanding of this matter RISE has built a unique high-pressure test facility. With the aid of this newly developed test rig it is possible to calibrate CFMs over a wide pressure and flow range with water or base oils as test medium. The test rig allows calibration measurements under the conditions prevailing at a 70 MPa HRS regarding mass flows (up to 3.6 kg min⁻¹) and pressures (up to 87.5 MPa).     

Ultra High Pressure Tribometer for Testing CO2 Refrigerant at Chamber Pressures up to 2000 psi to Simulate Compressor Conditions

Abstract

The growing interest for using the natural refrigerant carbon dioxide (CO₂) in refrigeration and air-conditioning applications instead of HFC refrigerants, due to environmental concerns, has led to the development of an ultra high pressure tribometer (UHPT) specifically tailored for testing in CO₂ environment. The existing research on tribology related to CO₂ environment has focused on investigations at relatively low chamber pressures due to equipment restrictions. The UHPT is a unique tribometer that has been custom designed and manufactured to allow testing under CO₂ refrigerant at environmental pressures comparable to those found in compressors. A special housing, which surrounds the tribological surfaces subject to testing, is capable of withstanding chamber pressures up to 13.8 MPa (2000 psi) and can be temperature controlled from 0°C to 100°C via a thermal control system. A multi-axis strain gauge force transducer measures the applied load, frictional forces, and moments during friction testing, and computer control permits different loading profiles. Using this machine, experiments were performed at a range of pressures between 1.4 MPa (200 psi) and 6.9 MPa (1000 psi) of CO₂ refrigerant. The results suggest a slightly better tribological performance at higher pressures compared to lower pressures.