Effects of hydrogen addition and nitrogen dilution on the laminar flame characteristics of premixed methane–air flames

The effect of hydrogen addition and nitrogen dilution on laminar flame characteristics was investigated. The spherical expanding flame technique, in a constant volume bomb, was employed to extract laminar flame characteristics. The mole fraction of hydrogen in the methane–hydrogen mixture was varied from 0 to 1 and the mole fraction of nitrogen in the total mixture (methane–hydrogen–air–diluent) from 0 to 0.35. Measurements were performed at an initial pressure of 0.1 MPa and an initial temperature of 300 K. The mixtures investigated were under stoichiometric conditions. Based on experimental measurements, a new correlation for calculating the laminar burning velocity of methane–hydrogen–air–nitrogen mixtures is proposed. The laminar burning velocity was found to increase linearly with hydrogen mass fraction for all dilution ratios while the burned gas Markstein length decreases with the increase in hydrogen amount in the mixture except for high hydrogen mole fractions (>0.6). Nitrogen dilution has a nonlinear reducing effect on the laminar burning velocity and an increasing effect on the burned gas Markstein length. The experimental results and the proposed correlation obtained are in good agreement with literature values.     

Experimental and numerical study on laminar burning characteristics of premixed methane–hydrogen–air flames

An experimental and numerical study on laminar burning characteristics of the premixed methane–hydrogen–air flames was conducted at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The unstretched laminar burning velocity and the Markstein length were obtained over a wide range of equivalence ratios and hydrogen fractions. Moreover, for further understanding of the effect of hydrogen addition on the laminar burning velocity, the sensitivity analysis and flame structure were performed. The results show that the unstretched laminar burning velocity is increased, and the peak value of the unstretched laminar burning velocity shifts to the richer mixture side with the increase of hydrogen fraction. Three regimes are identified depending on the hydrogen fraction in the fuel blend. They are: the methane-dominated combustion regime where hydrogen fraction is less than 60%; the transition regime where hydrogen fraction is between 60% and 80%; and the methane-inhibited hydrogen combustion regime where hydrogen fraction is larger than 80%. In both the methane-dominated combustion regime and the methane-inhibited hydrogen combustion regime, the laminar burning velocity increases linearly with the increase of hydrogen fraction. However, in the transition regime, the laminar burning velocity increases exponentially with the increase of hydrogen fraction in the fuel blends. The Markstein length is increased with the increase of equivalence ratio and is decreased with the increase of hydrogen fraction. Enhancement of chemical reaction with hydrogen addition is regarded as the increase of H, O and OH radical mole fractions in the flame. Strong correlation is found between the burning velocity and the maximum radical concentrations of H and OH in the reaction zone of the premixed flames.     

Numerical study on laminar burning velocity and NO formation of premixed methane–hydrogen–air flames

Numerical study on laminar burning velocity and NO formation of the premixed methane–hydrogen–air flames was conducted at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The unstretched laminar burning velocity, adiabatic flame temperature, and radical mole fractions of H, OH and NO are obtained at various equivalence ratios and hydrogen fractions. The results show that the unstretched laminar burning velocity is increased with the increase of hydrogen fraction. Methane-dominated combustion is presented when hydrogen fraction is less than 40%, where laminar burning velocity is slightly increased with the increase of hydrogen addition. When hydrogen fraction is larger than 40%, laminar burning velocity is exponentially increased with the increase of hydrogen fraction. A strong correlation exists between burning velocity and maximum radical concentration of H + OH radicals in the reaction zone of premixed flames. High burning velocity corresponds to high radical concentration in the reaction zone. With the increase of hydrogen fraction, the overall activation energy of methane–hydrogen mixture is decreased, and the inner layer temperature and Zeldovich number are also decreased. All these factors contribute to the enhancement of combustion as hydrogen is added. The curve of NO versus equivalence ratio shows two peaks, where they occur at the stoichiometric mixture due to Zeldovich thermal-NO mechanism and at the rich mixture with equivalence ratio of 1.3 due to the Fenimore prompt-NO mechanism. In the stoichiometric flames, hydrogen addition has little influence on NO formation, while in rich flames, NO concentration is significantly decreased. Different NO formation responses to stretched and unstretched flames by hydrogen addition are discussed.     

The effect of hydrogen addition on premixed laminar acetylene–hydrogen–air and ethanol–hydrogen–air flames

In the present work, the laminar premixed acetylene–hydrogen–air and ethanol–hydrogen–air flames were investigated numerically. Laminar flame speeds, the adiabatic flame temperatures were obtained utilizing CHEMKIN PREMIX and EQUI codes, respectively. Sensitivity analysis was performed and flame structure was analyzed. The results show that for acetylene–hydrogen–air flames, combustion is promoted by H and O radicals. The highest flame speed (247 cm/s) was obtained in mixture with 95% H₂–5% C₂H₂ at λ = 1.0. The region between 0.95 < X_H2 < 1.0 was referred to as the acetylene-accelerating hydrogen combustion since the flame speed increases with increase the acetylene fraction in the mixture. Further increase in the acetylene fraction decreases the H radicals in the flame front. In ethanol–hydrogen–air mixtures, the mixture reactivity is determined by H, OH and O radicals. For X_H2 < 0.6, the flame speed in this regime increases linearly with increasing the hydrogen fraction. For X_H2 > 0.8, the hydrogen chemistry control the combustion and ethanol addition inhibits the reactivity and reduces linearly the laminar flame speed. For 0.6 < X_H2 < 0.8, the laminar flame speed increases exponentially with the increase of hydrogen fraction.     

Measurements of the laminar burning velocity of hydrogen–air premixed flames

Experimental and numerical studies on laminar burning velocities of hydrogen–air mixtures were performed at standard pressure and room temperature varying the equivalence ratio from 0.8 to 3.0. The flames were generated using a contoured slot-type nozzle burner (4 mm × 10 mm). Measurements of laminar burning velocity were conducted using particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) combined with Schlieren photography. This technique provides the information of instantaneous local burning velocities in the whole region of the flame front, and laminar burning velocities were determined using the mean value of local burning velocities in the region of non-stretch. Additionally, average laminar burning velocities were determined using the angle method and compared with the data obtained with the PTV method. Numerical calculations were also conducted using detailed reaction mechanisms and transport properties.     

A study on methane–air premixed flames interacting with syngas–air premixed flames

Numerical study on the interaction between methane–air and syngas–air premixed flames is conducted according to equivalence ratio and global strain rate in detailed chemistry. This study targets at understanding of an interacting combustion system as an alternative retrofit concept where one can modify the existing facilities minimally in industrial and power plant burners in order to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide. It is seen that methane premixed flame interacting with syngas premixed flame can be sustained even over the rich flammable limit of single methane premixed flame. The inspection of detailed flame structure such as the distributions of major species and chain carrier radicals, flame separation distance, spatial flow velocity, and spatial distribution of the rate of production and consumption of CH₄, H₂, and CO is also conducted to depict the flame interactions. The importance of global strain rate and thus the flame separation distance in the enhanced burning of methane premixed flame is also stressed through the inspection of the consumption rates of H₂, CO, and CH₄. Anomalous phenomena such as the migration of premixed flame cross the stagnation plane and the nearly constant flame separation distance are also discussed.     

A study on flame interaction between methane/air and nitrogen-diluted hydrogen–air premixed flames

Numerical and experimental studies are conducted to grasp downstream interactions between premixed flames stratified with two different kinds of fuel mixture. The selected fuel mixtures are methane and a nitrogen-diluted hydrogen with composition of 30% H₂ + 70% N₂. Extinction limits are determined for methane/air and (30% H₂ + 70% N₂)/air over the entire range of mixture concentrations. These extinction limits are shown to be significantly modified due to the interaction such that a mixture much beyond the flammability limit can burn with the help of a stronger flame. The lean extinction limit shows both the slanted segments of lower and upper branches due to the strong interaction with Lewis numbers of deficient reactant less than unity, while the rich extinction limit has a square shape due to the weak interaction with Lewis numbers of deficient reactant larger than unity. The regimes of negative flame speed show an asymmetric aspect with a single wing shape. The negative flame always appears only when methane is weak. The extent of interaction depends on the separation distance between the flames, which are the functions of the mixtures’ concentrations, the strain rate, the Lewis numbers, and the preferential diffusions of the penetrated hydrogen from the nitrogen-diluted hydrogen flame. The important role of preferential diffusion effects of hydrogen in the flame interaction is also discussed.     

Flame characteristics of hydrogen-enriched methane–air premixed swirling flames

The effect of hydrogen addition in methane–air premixed flames has been examined from a swirl-stabilized combustor under unconfined flame conditions. Different swirlers have been examined to investigate the effect of swirl intensity on enriching methane–air flame with hydrogen in a laboratory-scale premixed combustor operated at 5.81 kW. The hydrogen-enriched methane fuel and air were mixed in a pre-mixer and introduced into the burner having swirlers of different swirl vane angles that provided different swirl strengths. The combustion characteristics of hydrogen-enriched methane–air flames at fixed thermal load but different swirl strengths were examined using particle image velocimetry (PIV), OH chemiluminescence, gas analyzers, and micro-thermocouple diagnostics to provide information on flow field, combustion generated OH radical and gas species concentration, and temperature distribution, respectively. The results show that higher combustibility of hydrogen assists to promote faster chemical reaction, raises temperature in the reaction zone and reduces the recirculation flow in the reaction zone. The upstream of flame region is more dependent on the swirl strength than the effect of hydrogen addition to methane fuel. At lower swirl strength condition the NO concentration in the reaction zone reduces with increase in hydrogen content in the fuel mixture. Higher combustibility of hydrogen accelerates the flow to reduce the residence time of hot product gases in the high temperature reaction zone. At higher swirl strength the NO concentration increases with increase in hydrogen content in the fuel mixture. The effect of dynamic expansion of the gases with hydrogen addition appears to be more dominant to reduce the recirculation of relatively cooler gases into the reaction zone. NO concentration also increases with decrease in the swirl strength.     

Effects of hydrogen and steam addition on laminar burning velocity of methane–air premixed flame: Experimental and numerical analysis

Effects of hydrogen enrichment and steam addition on laminar burning velocity of methane–air premixed flame were studied both experimentally and numerically. Measurements were carried out using the slot burner method at 1 bar for fresh gases temperatures of 27 °C and 57 °C and for variable equivalence ratios going from 0.8 to 1.2. The hydrogen content in the fuel was varied from 0% to 30% in volume and the steam content in the air was varied from 0 to 112 g/kg (0–100% of relative humidity). Numerical calculations were performed using the COSILAB code with the GRI-Mech 3.0 mechanism for one-dimensional premixed flames. The calculations were implemented first at room temperature and pressure and then extended to higher temperatures (up to 917 K) and pressures (up to 50 bar). Measurements of laminar burning velocities of methane–hydrogen–air and methane–air–steam agree with the GRI-Mech calculations and previous measurements from literature obtained by different methods. Results show that enrichment by hydrogen increases of the laminar burning velocity and the adiabatic flame temperature. The addition of steam to a methane–air mixture noticeably decreases the burning velocity and the adiabatic flame temperature. Modeling shows that isentropic compression of fresh gases leads to the increase of laminar burning velocity.     

Effects of hydrogen and carbon dioxide on the laminar burning velocities of methane–air mixtures

The effects of different mole fractions of hydrogen and carbon dioxide on the combustion characteristics of a premixed methane–air mixture are experimentally and numerically investigated. The laminar burning velocity of hydrogen-methane-carbon dioxide-air mixture was measured using the spherically expanding flame method at the initial temperature and pressure of 283 K and 0.1 MPa, respectively. Additionally, numerical analysis is conducted under steady 1D laminar flow conditions to investigate the adiabatic flame temperature, dominant elementary reactions, and NO formation. The measured velocities correspond with those estimated numerically. The results show that increasing the carbon dioxide mole fraction decreases the laminar burning velocity, attributed to the carbon dioxide dilution, which decreases the thermal diffusivity and flame temperature. Conversely, the velocity increases with the thermal diffusivity as the hydrogen mole fraction increases. Moreover, the hydrogen addition leads to chain-branching reactions that produce active H, O, and OH radicals via the oxidation of hydrocarbons, which is the rate-determining reaction. Furthermore, an increase in the mole fractions of hydrogen and carbon dioxide decreases the NO production amount.     

Effects of initial pressure and hydrogen concentration on laminar combustion characteristics of diluted natural gas–hydrogen–air mixture

In this study, the experiment study about the laminar burning velocity and the flame stability of CO₂ diluted natural gas–hydrogen–air mixture was conducted in a constant volume combustion vessel by using the high-speed schlieren photography system. The unstretched laminar burning velocity and the Markstein length at different hydrogen fractions, dilution ratios and equivalence ratios and with different initial pressures were obtained. The flame stability was studied by analyzing the Markstein length, the flame thickness, the density ratio and the flame propagation schlieren photos. The results showed that the unstretched laminar burning velocity would be reduced with the increase of the initial pressure and dilution ratio and would be increased with the increase of the hydrogen fraction of the mixture. Meanwhile, the Markstein length would be increased with the increase of the equivalence ratio and the dilution ratio. Slight flaws occurred at the early stage. At a specific equivalence ratio, a higher initial pressure and hydrogen fraction would cause incomplete combustion.     

Effect of initial pressure on flame–shock interaction of hydrogen–air premixed flames

By utilizing a newly designed constant volume combustion bomb (CVCB), turbulent flame combustion phenomena are investigated using hydrogen–air mixture under the initial pressures of 1 bar, 2 bar and 3 bar, including flame acceleration, turbulent flame propagation and flame–shock interaction with pressure oscillations. The results show that the process of flame acceleration through perforated plate can be characterized by three stages: laminar flame, jet flame and turbulent flame. Fast turbulent flame can generate a visible shock wave ahead of the flame front, which is reflected from the end wall of combustion chamber. Subsequently, the velocity of reflected shock wave declines gradually since it is affected by the compression wave formed by flame acceleration. In return, the propagation velocity of turbulent flame front is also influenced. The intense interaction between flame front and reflected shock can be captured by high-speed schlieren photography clearly under different initial pressures. The results show that the propagation velocity of turbulent flame rises with the increase of initial pressure, while the forward shock velocities show no apparent difference. On the other hand, the reflected shock wave decays faster under higher initial pressure conditions due to the faster flame propagation. Moreover, the influence of initial pressure on pressure oscillations is also analyzed comprehensively according to the experimental results.     

Effects of hydrogen addition on oblique detonations in methane–air mixtures

As a low-carbon fuel, methane has been used in various engines; however, the studies on its application in hypersonic propulsion are few. Here, oblique detonation waves (ODWs) in methane–air mixtures have been simulated to facilitate methane applications in shock-induced combustion ramjets. The shortcoming of using methane in hypersonic air-breathing propulsions has been presented via examining initiation distance of ODWs. Results demonstrate that ODWs are difficult to be initiated in the methane–air mixture, and similar to normal detonations studies before, this leads to a long initiation length; therefore, methane-fueled ODW is only applicable for high flight Mach number (M₀). To broaden the M₀ regime, hydrogen has been added to methane to decrease the initiation length. An increasing in the hydrogen percentage leads to the nonlinear decrease of the initiation length, and the initiation structures also vary simultaneously. To elaborate the physical mechanism of the initiation length variation, a theoretical model of the initiation length for fuel blends has been proposed. Meanwhile, the advantages of methane fuel in ODW-based propulsion have been discussed by analyzing on the effects of hydrogen addition on the total pressure.     

Turbulent burning velocity of hydrogen–air premixed propagating flames at elevated pressures

Lewis number represents the thermo-diffusive effects on laminar flames. That of hydrogen–air mixture varies extensively with the equivalence ratio due to the high molecular diffusivity of hydrogen. In this study, the influences of pressure and thermo-diffusive effects on spherically propagating premixed hydrogen–air turbulent flames were studied using a constant volume fan-stirred combustion vessel. It was noted that the ratio of the turbulent to unstretched laminar burning velocity increased with decreasing equivalence ratio and increasing mixture pressure. Turbulent burning velocity was dominated by three factors: (1) purely hydrodynamic factor, turbulence Reynolds number, (2) relative turbulence intensity to reaction speed, the ratio of turbulence intensity to unstretched laminar burning velocity, and (3) sensitivity of the flame to the stretch due to the thermo-diffusive effects, Lewis and Markstein numbers. A turbulent burning velocity correlation in terms of Reynolds and Lewis numbers is presented.     

Effects of ammonia substitution on combustion stability limits and NOx emissions of premixed hydrogen–air flames

The combustion stability limits and nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions of burner-stabilized premixed flames of ammonia (NH₃)-substituted hydrogen (H₂)–air mixtures at normal temperature and pressure are studied to evaluate the potential of partial NH₃ substitution to improve the safety of H₂ use. The effects of NH₃ substitution, nitrogen (N₂) coflow and mixture injection velocity on the stability limits and NO_x emissions of NH₃–H₂–air flames are experimentally determined. Results show a reduction of stability limits with NH₃ substitution and coflow, supporting the potential of NH₃ as a carbon-free, green additive in H₂–air flames and indicating a different tendency from that for no coflow condition. The NO_x emission index is almost constant even with enhanced NH₃ substitution, though the absolute value of NO_x emissions increases in general. At fuel-rich conditions, the NO_x emission index decreases with increasing mixture injection velocity and the existence of coflow. The thermal deNO_x process in the post-flame region is involved in reducing NO_x emissions for the fuel-rich flames.     

Effects of diluents on cellular instabilities in outwardly propagating spherical syngas–air premixed flames

Experiments were conducted in a constant pressure combustion chamber using schlieren system to investigate the effects of carbon dioxide–nitrogen–helium diluents on cellular instabilities of syngas–air premixed flames at room temperature and elevated pressures. The cellular instabilities for the diluted syngas–air flames were interpreted and evaluated in the viewpoint of the hydrodynamic and diffusional-thermal instabilities. Laminar burning velocities and Markstein lengths were calculated by analyzing high-speed schlieren images at various diluent concentrations and equivalence ratios. The measured unstretched laminar burning velocities were compared with the predicted results computed using the PREMIX code with the kinetic mechanism developed by Sun et al. Also, experimentally measured Peclet numbers were compared with the predicted results for fuel–lean flames. Experimental results showed substantial reduction of the laminar burning velocities and of the Markstein lengths with the diluent additions in the fuel blends. Effective Lewis numbers of helium-diluted syngas–air flames increased but those of carbon dioxide- and nitrogen-diluted syngas–air flames decreased in increase of diluents in the reactant mixtures. With helium diluent, the propensity for cells formation was significantly diminished, whereas the cellular instabilities for carbon dioxide- and nitrogen-diluted syngas–air flames were not suppressed.     

Burning rates and surface characteristics of hydrogen-enriched turbulent lean premixed methane–air flames

The burning rates and surface characteristics of hydrogen-enriched turbulent lean premixed methane–air flames were experimentally studied by laser tomography visualization method using a V-shaped flame configuration. Turbulent burning velocity was measured and the variation of flame surface characteristics due to hydrogen addition was analyzed. The results show that hydrogen addition causes an increase in turbulent burning velocity for lean premixed CH₄–air mixtures when turbulent level in unburned mixture is not changed. Moreover, the increase of turbulent burning velocity is faster than that of the corresponding laminar burning velocity at constant equivalence ratio, suggesting that the kinetics effect is not the sole factor that results in the increase in turbulent burning velocity when hydrogen is added. The further analysis of flame surface characteristics and brush thickness indicates that hydrogen addition slightly decreases local flame surface density, but increases total flame surface area because of the increased flame brush thickness. The increase in flame brush thickness that results in the increase in total surface area may contribute to the faster increase in turbulent burning velocity, when hydrogen is added. Besides, the stretched local laminar burning velocity may be enhanced with the addition of hydrogen, which may also contribute to the faster increase rate of turbulent burning velocity. Both the variation in flame brush thickness and the enhancement in stretched local laminar burning velocity are due to the decreased fuel Lewis number when hydrogen is added. Therefore, the effects of fuel Lewis number and stretch should be taken into account in correlating burning velocity of turbulent premixed flames.     

Study of interaction of entrained coal dust particles in lean methane–air premixed flames

This study investigates the interaction of micron-sized coal particles entrained into lean methane–air premixed flames. In a typical axisymmetric burner, coal particles are made to naturally entrain into a stream of the premixed reactants using an orifice plate and a conical feeder setup. Pittsburgh seam coal dust, with particle sizes in the ranges of 0–25 μm, 53–63 μm, and 75–90 μm, is used. The effects of different coal dust concentrations (10–300 g/m³) entrained into the mixture of methane–air at three lean equivalence ratios, ?, of 0.75, 0.80 and 0.85, on the laminar burning velocity are studied experimentally. The laminar burning velocity of the coal dust–methane–air mixture is determined by taking high quality shadowgraph images of the resulting flames and processing them using the cone-angle method. The results show that the laminar burning velocity reduces with the addition of coal dust having particle sizes in the ranges of 53–63 μm and 75–90 μm, irrespective of the equivalence ratio values. However, burning velocity promotion is observed for one case with particle size in the range of 0–25 μm at an equivalence ratio of 0.75. Two competing effects are considered to explain these trends. The first effect is due to volatile release, which increases the overall equivalence ratio and thus, the flame temperature and burning velocity. The second is the heat sink effect that the coal particles take up to release the volatiles. This process reduces the flame temperature and accordingly the burning velocity also. A mathematical model is developed considering these effects and it is seen to successfully predict the change of laminar burning velocity for various cases with different dust concentrations and equivalence ratios of the gas mixture. Furthermore, the implication of this study to coal mine safety is discussed.     

Measurements of laminar burning velocities and onset of cellular instabilities of methane–hydrogen–air flames at elevated pressures and temperatures

An experimental study on laminar burning velocities and onset of cellular instabilities of the premixed methane–hydrogen–air flames was conducted in a constant volume combustion vessel at elevated pressures and temperatures. The unstretched laminar burning velocity and Markstein length were obtained over a wide range of hydrogen fractions. Besides, the effects of hydrogen addition, initial pressure and initial temperature on flame instabilities were analyzed. The results show that the unstretched flame propagation speed and the unstretched laminar burning velocity are increased with the increase of initial temperature and hydrogen fraction, and they are decreased with the increase of initial pressure. Early onset of cellular instability is presented and the critical radius and Markstein length are decreased with the increase of initial pressure, indicating the increase of hydrodynamic instability with the increase of initial pressure. Flame instability is insensitive to initial temperature compared to initial pressure. With the increase of hydrogen fraction, significant decrease in critical radius and Markstein length is presented, indicating the increase in both diffusional-thermal and hydrodynamic instabilities as hydrogen fraction is increased.