Using the tabulated diffusion flamelet model ADF-PCM to simulate a lifted methane-air jet flame

Two formulations of a turbulent combustion model based on the approximated diffusion flame presumed conditional moment (ADF-PCM) approach [J.-B. Michel, O. Colin, D. Veynante, Combust. Flame 152 (2008) 80-99] are presented. The aim is to describe autoignition and combustion in nonpremixed and partially premixed turbulent flames, while accounting for complex chemistry effects at a low computational cost. The starting point is the computation of approximate diffusion flames by solving the flamelet equation for the progress variable only, reading all chemical terms such as reaction rates or mass fractions from an FPI-type look-up table built from autoigniting PSR calculations using complex chemistry. These flamelets are then used to generate a turbulent look-up table where mean values are estimated by integration over presumed probability density functions. Two different versions of ADF-PCM are presented, differing by the probability density functions used to describe the evolution of the stoichiometric scalar dissipation rate: a Dirac function centered on the mean value for the basic ADF-PCM formulation, and a lognormal function for the improved formulation referenced ADF-PCMχ. The turbulent look-up table is read in the CFD code in the same manner as for PCM models. The developed models have been implemented into the compressible RANS CFD code IFP-C3D and applied to the simulation of the Cabra et al. experiment of a lifted methane jet flame [R. Cabra, J. Chen, R. Dibble, A. Karpetis, R. Barlow, Combust. Flame 143 (2005) 491-506]. The ADF-PCMχ model accurately reproduces the experimental lift-off height, while it is underpredicted by the basic ADF-PCM model. The ADF-PCMχ model shows a very satisfactory reproduction of the experimental mean and fluctuating values of major species mass fractions and temperature, while ADF-PCM yields noticeable deviations. Finally, a comparison of the experimental conditional probability densities of the progress variable for a given mixture fraction with model predictions is performed, showing that ADF-PCMχ reproduces the experimentally observed bimodal shape and its dependency on the mixture fraction, whereas ADF-PCM cannot retrieve this shape.     

Turbulent lifted flames in a vitiated coflow investigated using joint PDF calculations

The joint velocity-turbulence frequency-composition PDF method is applied to a lifted turbulent jet flame with H₂/N₂ fuel issuing into a wide coflow of lean combustion products, which are at a temperature of 1045 K. Model calculations with detailed chemistry are performed using three existing mixing models (IEM, MC, and EMST) and two chemistry mechanisms (the Mueller and Li mechanisms). Numerically accurate results are obtained and compared with the experimental data. Recent experiments have shown that the stabilization height of this lifted flame is very sensitive to the coflow temperature, much more than to the inlet velocity profile or the initial temperature of the fuel. One percent (i.e., 10 K) change in the coflow temperature (which is well within the experimental uncertainty) can double the lift-off height. The joint PDF calculations capture this sensitivity very well and are in good agreement with the measurements for the velocity, mixture fraction, and species. The three mixing models give relatively similar results, implying that the cases studied here are mainly controlled by chemical kinetics. The Li mechanism results in earlier ignition than the Mueller mechanism and hence gives shorter lift-off heights over the whole test range. The joint PDF calculations generally give better agreement with the measurements than previous composition PDF calculations [A.R. Masri et al., Combust. Theory Modelling 8 (2004) 1-22]. A new parallel algorithm, involving domain partitioning of particles, has been implemented to facilitate these computations.     

Ignition kernel formation and lift-off behaviour of jet-in-hot-coflow flames

The stabilisation region of turbulent non-premixed flames of natural gas mixtures burning in a hot and diluted coflow is studied by recording the flame luminescence with an intensified high-speed camera. The flame base is found to behave fundamentally differently from that of a conventional lifted jet flame in a cold air coflow. Whereas the latter flame has a sharp interface that moves up and down, ignition kernels are continuously being formed in the jet-in-hot-coflow flames, growing in size while being convected downstream. To study the lift-off height effectively given these highly variable flame structures, a new definition of lift-off height is introduced. An important parameter determining lift-off height is the mean ignition frequency density in the flame stabilisation region. An increase in coflow temperature and the addition of small quantities of higher alkanes both increase ignition frequencies, and decrease the distance between the jet exit and the location where the first ignition kernels appear. Both mechanisms lower the lift-off height. An increase in jet Reynolds number initially leads to a significant decrease of the location where ignition first occurs. Higher jet Reynolds numbers (above 5000) do not strongly alter the location of first ignition but hamper the growth of flame pockets and reduce ignition frequencies in flames with lower coflow temperatures, leading to larger lift-off heights.     

Propagation and stability characteristics of laminar lifted diffusion flame base

Numerical calculations of the flame propagation speed and the Damköhler number (Da) at laminar lifted flame base were carried out. The results are intended for further understanding the propagation and the Damköhler mechanisms for flame stabilization, with the former based on a tribrachial flame propagating against the local flow velocity and the latter based on the competition between the reaction time and local residence time of the peak reaction zone. Propane fuel without and with dilution (40% helium and argon, by volume) was used, while the reaction scheme adopted was the one-step irreversible Arrhenius kinetics (see Li et al., Combust. Flame 157 (2010) 1484–1495) which proved successful in predicting the flame lift-off height and effects of thermal expansion and multi-component diffusion. The results reported in this paper show that the flame base propagation speed is up to approximately four times of the one-dimensional stoichiometric flame speed of the fuels used, depending on where the propagation front is defined. These results are compared with previously published experimental and theoretical results from laminar and turbulent diffusion flames. It is found that the flame base propagation speed (V_p) increases in the downstream direction as a result of increasing jet velocity (V_o) under most flame conditions, providing a stabilizing mechanism. However, there exist conditions where V_p decreases while the flame stabilizes. The flame base Damköhler number (Da) always increases as the flame liftoff height increases (resulting from increasing jet velocity). Da is here defined as ratio of peak reaction rate of the reaction kernel (RR) to the flame stretch rate (k) determined at the intersection of the reaction kernel (approximately coinciding with the 2000 K isotherm) and the stoichiometric contour. The value of Da appears to be of the order of 10^?3 for the three fuels studied, and the increasing trend of Da with the lift-off height also helps to explain the flame stabilization.     

Simulations of combustion oscillation and flame dynamics in a strut-based supersonic combustor

This paper numerically investigated the dynamic characteristics of combustion in a model scramjet. Three-dimensional compressible large eddy simulation was performed on a hydrogen fueled combustor and pressure fluctuations were recorded. The analysis of pressure data showed that the combustion processes are intrinsically unstable under supersonic air inflow conditions. Flame dynamics were convinced by the fluctuations in flame lift-off distance away from the strut base. Combined with the corresponding time interval, instantaneous flame speed was calculated. Results indicated that pressure oscillations at different locations show difference in amplitude, frequency, and the underlying control mechanism. Flame front oscillation analysis showed that the flame–shock interaction in the strut recirculation zone was responsible for the combustion instability. Flame dynamics were compared with low-speed turbulent lifted flames. The transition between flame propagation just after the strut and shock-induced combustion in the subsonic bubble at the intersection of two wall-reflected oblique shocks made for the flame stabilization.     

A new approach to model turbulent lifted CH4/air flame issuing in a vitiated coflow using conditional moment closure coupled with an extinction model

In this article, conditional moment closure model (CMC) with detailed chemistry is used to model lifted turbulent methane flame in a high temperature and vitiated coflow and to predict flame lift-off height. The flow and mixing field are predicted by a 2D in-house code employing a k–ε turbulence model (RANS) with modified constant C_ε2. The first-order CMC model on its own could not capture the behavior of the lifted flame. Large eddy simulations (LES) coupled with second-order CMC model would be a promising alternative but the objective here was to improve low-cost simulations based on RANS and first-order CMC to address realistic problems. Hence, an extinction model has been incorporated in the first-order CMC to improve its predictions and is referred in this paper as CMCE. In the CMCE model, flame is assumed to be extinguished when the ratio of flow time scale to the chemical time scale falls below a critical value. Predicted lift-off height by the CMCE model agrees very well with the experimental results. There is a significant improvement in temperature and species distributions in both axial and radial directions with the implementation of the CMCE model. Further, the model is extended to predict the flame lift-off height for various coflow temperatures and jet velocities by using scaling ratios. With these modifications, the lift-off heights predicted by the CMCE model match well with the experimental results for a wide range of jet velocities and coflow temperatures. Results from both CMC and CMCE models are compared against the experimental data to show the importance of the extinction model. Flame stabilization process indicates that flame stabilizes on the contour of mean stoichiometric mixture fraction where axial mean velocity equals the turbulent burning velocity.     

可控活化热氛围下柴油喷雾自燃特性的研究

利用可控活化热氛围燃烧试验系统,结合连续喷射系统对柴油燃料在高温热氛围下的自燃特性进行了研究,并利用高速摄影技术,得出柴油燃料喷雾在不同协流温度下的滞燃期、自燃点位置以及稳定火焰起升高度。结果表明,随协流温度的升高,柴油喷雾滞燃期减小,自燃点位置至喷嘴口距离减小。协流温度低于1022K时,不能形成稳定的起升火焰;协流温度处于1022～1074K范围内,火焰起升高度随温度升高急剧降低,而起升高度的均方差也较大。温度继续增加时,起升高度变化趋缓,火焰稳定。     

Flame stabilization in a lifted non-premixed turbulent hydrogen jet with coaxial air

To understand hydrogen jet liftoff height, the stabilization mechanism of turbulent lifted jet flames under non-premixed conditions was studied. The objectives were to determine flame stability mechanisms, to analyze flame structure, and to characterize the lifted jet at the flame stabilization point. Hydrogen flow velocity varied from 100 to 300 m/s. Coaxial air velocity was regulated from 12 to 20 m/s. Simultaneous velocity field and reaction zone measurements used, PIV/OH PLIF techniques with Nd:YAG lasers and CCD/ICCD cameras. Liftoff height decreased with increased fuel velocity. The flame stabilized in a lower velocity region next to the faster fuel jet due to the mixing effects of the coaxial air flow. The non-premixed turbulent lifted hydrogen jet flames had two types of flame structure for both thin and thick flame base. Lifted flame stabilization was related to local principal strain rate and turbulent intensity, assuming that combustion occurs where local flow velocity and turbulent flame propagation velocity are balanced.     

DQMOM based PDF transport modeling for turbulent lifted nitrogen-diluted hydrogen jet flame with autoignition

The Direct-Quadrature Method of Moment (DQMOM) based PDF transport approach has been adopted to simulate turbulent lifted nitrogen-diluted hydrogen jet flame with vitiated coflow. In this study, the joint composition PDF is approximated using the multi-environment PDF consisting of the combination of weights and abscissas on composition and physical space. The micro mixing is represented by the IEM model. To numerically simulate the auto-ignition process and conditional fluctuations on composition space, all composition vector including species mass fraction and enthalpy are directly integrated with DVODE solver. In terms of the lift-off height, mean and rms of temperature, species mass fractions, and probability density function, the predicted profiles are reasonably well agreed with experimental data. Numerical results clearly indicate that the present DQMOM based PDF transport model has the capability to predict the autoignition, flame lift-off and stabilization process in the turbulent H₂/N₂ lifted jet flame.     

Analysis of autoignition of a turbulent lifted H2/N2 jet flame issuing into a vitiated coflow

Due to energy crisis and concern regarding the environmental emission, hydrogen as an alternative clean fuel has received more attention. To develop new devices or upgrade the conventional combustion systems for hydrogen flames, fundamental concepts necessary for burner design need to be investigated. In the present work, characteristics of flame stabilization for a turbulent lifted H₂/N₂ jet flame issuing into a hot coflow of lean combustion are investigated using the Scalar probability density function (PDF) approach. Calculations are carried out for different coflow temperatures, concentrations of species and equivalence ratio. Reaction rate analyses are used to investigate the dominant chemistry at the flame base for a variety of conditions. The results show the occurrence of autoignition at the flame base that is responsible for the stabilization of the lifted turbulent flame. The coflow temperature plays an important role in the relative contribution of elementary reactions and the determination of the dominant chemistry at the flame base. This leads to a high sensitivity of lift-off height to the coflow temperature. Oxygen and water content in the hot coflow could affect the ignition process and lift-off height depending on the dominant chemistry at the flame base. Furthermore, the effect of oxygen content in hot coflow is found to be very important on the reactions controlling the high temperature combustion.     

The behaviour of lifted oxy-fuel flames in burners with separated jets

Oxy-fuel combustion in separated-jet burners has been proven to increase thermal efficiency and to have a potential for NOx emission reduction. This paper presents an investigation into confined, turbulent, oxy-flames generated by a burner consisting of a central natural gas jet surrounded by two oxygen jets. The study is focused on the identifying the influence of burner parameters on the flame characteristics and topology, namely stability, lift-off height and flame length. The effects of the natural gas and oxygen jet exit velocities, the distance separating the jets and the deflection of oxygen jets towards the natural gas jet are examined. The OH chemiluminescence. Results show that the lift-off heights increase when jet exit velocities and the distance separating the jets are increased. The deflection of oxygen jets decreases the lift-off height and increases the volume of flame in the transversal plane. The flame length increases principally with the oxygen exit velocity and the separation distance, and decreases considerably when the angle of oxygen jets is increased.     

基于FGM模型的同轴射流非预混火焰大涡模拟

采用直接数值模拟方法对二甲醚(Dimethyl Ether,DME)射流推举燃烧进行了研究（DNS）,分析了DME射流推举火焰结构、燃烧模式和推举稳定机理。数值模拟工况条件为：燃料由狭缝射出,初始温度500 K,射流速度138 m/s;伴流空气的初始温度1 000 K,流速3 m/s,压力为0506 6 MPa。研究表明：DME射流推举火焰与传统的边火焰有很大不同,在射流核心区内存在1条低温放热分支以及紧随其后的中温着火分支,并且推举稳定点位于贫燃侧;DME湍流射流推举火焰包含冷焰反应区(Cool Flame Zone,CFZ)、中温反应区(Intermediate Temperature Zone,ITZ)、富燃高温区(High Temperature Rich Burn Zone,HTR)以及贫燃高温区(High Temperature Lean Burn Zone,HTL)4种模式;在CFZ与ITZ区内湍流混合占主导,并且湍流混合会抑制低温放热;在HTR与HTL区内放热速率占主导地位,但是湍流会显著增强超贫燃区间内的高温放热速率;大部分热量在HTL和HTR区产生,而CFZ和ITZ区对总体产热的贡献微乎其微,但是所产生的中低温组分加快了高温着火过程;射流推举稳定性由贫燃侧的高温自着火反应机制所控制。     

二甲醚湍流射流推举火焰的燃烧机理研究

对长、宽、高为650 mm×400 mm×12 mm的半闭口狭窄矩形通道（海伦-肖装置）内的甲烷/空气层流预混火焰传播过程进行了实验研究,探究当量比φ在0.6~1.2范围内、火焰传播角度ω在垂直向下-90°至垂直向上90°区间对火焰前锋轮廓发展及非标准层流火焰速度的影响。结果表明：火焰在通道内的传播分为热膨胀、准稳态传播和端壁效应3个阶段,每个阶段具有各自不同的前锋轮廓特征。由于瑞利-泰勒不稳定性机制的作用,所有当量比工况下向上传播的火焰均在准稳态传播阶段中呈现出明显的锋面褶皱与胞状结构;对向下传播的火焰而言,其在贫燃工况（φ为0.6,0.8）下的胞状不稳定性得到了有效抑制,而在当量比φ=1.0及富燃工况（φ=1.2）下,该稳定性效应并不显著。火焰瞬时速度与标准层流速度的比值Ui/UL,在φ=0.6的极贫燃工况与其他当量比工况下展现出明显不同的发展特性,极贫燃工况火焰向上传播时（ω=90°）,Ui/UL随着传播过程的进行一直增大,直到火焰触碰壁面末端熄灭,整个过程Ui/UL与火焰传播方向呈正相关关系;而对于其他当量比工况,Ui/UL在传播过程中均先升高后下降,火焰触碰壁面末端熄灭前其值趋于稳定,其平均速度与标准层流速度的比值Ua/UL在水平传播（ω=0°）时达到最大值。     

Lifted methane-air jet flames in a vitiated coflow

The present vitiated coflow flame consists of a lifted jet flame formed by a fuel jet issuing from a central nozzle into a large coaxial flow of hot combustion products from a lean premixed H₂/air flame. The fuel stream consists of CH₄ mixed with air. Detailed multiscalar point measurements from combined Raman-Rayleigh-LIF experiments are obtained for a single base-case condition. The experimental data are presented and then compared to numerical results from probability density function (PDF) calculations incorporating various mixing models. The experimental results reveal broadened bimodal distributions of reactive scalars when the probe volume is in the flame stabilization region. The bimodal distribution is attributed to fluctuation of the instantaneous lifted flame position relative to the probe volume. The PDF calculation using the modified Curl mixing model predicts well several but not all features of the instantaneous temperature and composition distributions, time-averaged scalar profiles, and conditional statistics from the multiscalar experiments. A complementary series of parametric experiments is used to determine the sensitivity of flame liftoff height to jet velocity, coflow velocity, and coflow temperature. The liftoff height is found to be approximately linearly related to each parameter within the ranges tested, and it is most sensitive to coflow temperature. The PDF model predictions for the corresponding conditions show that the sensitivity of flame liftoff height to jet velocity and coflow temperature is reasonably captured, while the sensitivity to coflow velocity is underpredicted.     

Turbulent lifted flames of H2/N2 fuel issuing into a vitiated coflow investigated using Lagrangian Intermittent Modelling

This paper reports results of numerical simulations of a turbulent lifted jet flame of hydrogen–nitrogen mixtures including the effects of the autoignition. The impact of burned gases on the flame stabilization is analysed under the conditions of a laboratory jet flame in a vitiated coflow. In this study, mass flow rate, temperature and exact chemical composition of hot products mixed with air sent toward the turbulent flame base are fully determined. The effects of both non-infinitely fast chemistry and partially premixed combustion are taken into account within a Lagrangian intermittent framework. Detailed chemistry effects are incorporated through the use of a tabulation delay. The concept of residence time of the particles and the transport equation for the mean scalar dissipation rate are included. Numerical simulation of the turbulent diluted jet flame of H₂/N₂ studied by Cabra and his co-workers at Berkeley University is performed and satisfactory results are obtained: the flame liftoff height is reasonably captured and the predictions display a reasonable agreement with respect to experimental data.     

On the similitude between lifted and burner-stabilized triple flames: a numerical and experimental investigation

We have investigated lifted triple flames and addressed issues related to flame stabilization. The stabilization of nonpremixed flames has been argued to result due to the existence of a premixing zone of sufficient reactivity, which causes propagating premixed reaction zones to anchor a nonpremixed zone. We first validate our simulations with detailed measurements in more tractable methane–air burner-stabilized flames. Thereafter, we simulate lifted flames without significantly modifying the boundary conditions used for investigating the burner-stabilized flames. The similarities and differences between the structures of lifted and burner-stabilized flames are elucidated, and the role of the laminar flame speed in the stabilization of lifted triple flames is characterized. The reaction zone topography in the flame is as follows. The flame consists of an outer lean premixed reaction zone, an inner rich premixed reaction zone, and a nonpremixed reaction zone where partially oxidized fuel and oxidizer (from the rich and lean premixed reaction zones, respectively) mix in stoichiometric proportion and thereafter burn. The region with the highest temperatures lies between the inner premixed and the central nonpremixed reaction zone. The heat released in the reaction zones is transported both upstream (by diffusion) and downstream to other portions of the flame. Measured and simulated species concentration profiles of reactant (O₂, CH₄) consumption, intermediate (CO, H₂) formation followed by intermediate consumption and product (CO₂, H₂O) formation are presented. A lifted flame is simulated by conceptualizing a splitter wall of infinitesimal thickness. The flame liftoff increases the height of the inner premixed reaction zone due to the modification of the upstream flow field. However, both the lifted and burner-stabilized flames exhibit remarkable similarity with respect to the shapes and separation distances regarding the three reaction zones. The heat-release distribution and the scalar profiles are also virtually identical for the lifted and burner-stabilized flames in mixture fraction space and attest to the similitude between the burner-stabilized and lifted flames. In the lifted flame, the velocity field diverges upstream of the flame, causing the velocity to reach a minimum value at the triple point. The streamwise velocity at the triple point is ≈0.45 m s⁻¹ (in accord with the propagation speed for stoichiometric methane–air flame), whereas the velocity upstream of the triple point equals 0.7 m s⁻¹, which is in excess of the unstretched flame propagation speed. This is in agreement with measurements reported by other investigators. In future work we will address the behavior of this velocity as the equivalence ratio, the inlet velocity profile, and inlet mixture fraction are changed.     

Large-eddy simulation of turbulent autoigniting hydrogen lifted jet flame with a multi-regime flamelet approach

In this work, the combustion model is focused on to describe a multitude of reaction regimes that are deemed to affect the flame stabilization. For this purpose, an efficient flame indicator is formulated to differentiate the differing flame structures and make use of flamelet chemistry that accounts for autoignition and multi-regime reactions. The large eddy simulation with this methodology is carried out to compute a turbulent lifted hydrogen-nitrogen flame in vitiated coflow. The canonical flame models of a laminar premixed flame and an unsteady counterflowing flame have been used to simulate the flamelet structure at different regimes. Present model improves the prediction of mean and rms profiles for temperature and species mass fraction in the comparison with experiments and a reference simulation, adopting the single-regime flamelet. The computed results also demarcate the formation of a triple flame structure at the flame base, where combustion develops into the premixed reaction that extends to the fuel-lean and rich branches. The counterflow mixing mode with autoignition is identified as the major mechanism for stabilization and is responsible for the propagating premixed zone above the liftoff height. The developed multi-regime flamelet approach properly accounts for the interactive different modes of burning.     

Strained flamelets for turbulent premixed flames II: Laboratory flame results

The predictive ability of strained flamelets model for turbulent premixed flames is assessed using Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) calculations of laboratory flames covering a wide range of conditions. Reactant-to-product (RtP) opposed flow laminar flames parametrised using the scalar dissipation rate of reaction progress variable are used as strained flamelets. Two turbulent flames: a rod stabilised V-flame studied by Robin et al. [Combust. Flame 153 (2008) 288-315] and a set of pilot stabilised Bunsen flames studied by Chen et al. [Combust. Flame 107 (1996) 223-244] are calculated using a single set of model parameters. The V-flame corresponds to the corrugated flamelets regime. The strained flamelet model and an unstrained flamelet model yield similar predictions which are in good agreement with experimental measurements for this flame. On the other hand, for the Bunsen flames which are in the thin reaction zones regime, the unstrained flamelet model predicts a smaller flame brush compared to experiment. The predictions of the strained flamelets model allowing for fluid-dynamics stretch induced attenuation of the chemical reaction are in good agreement with the experimental data. This model predictions of major and minor species are also in good agreement with experimental data. The results demonstrate that the strained flamelets model using the scalar dissipation rate can be used across the combustion regimes.     

Imaging of diluted turbulent ethylene flames stabilized on a Jet in Hot Coflow (JHC) burner

The spatial distributions of the hydroxyl radical (OH), formaldehyde (H₂CO), and temperature imaged by laser diagnostic techniques are presented using a Jet in Hot Coflow (JHC) burner. The measurements are of turbulent nonpremixed ethylene jet flames, either undiluted or diluted with hydrogen (H₂), air or nitrogen (N₂). The fuel jet issues into a hot and highly diluted coflow at two O₂ levels and a fixed temperature of 1100 K. These conditions emulate those of moderate or intense low oxygen dilution (MILD) combustion. Ethylene is an important species in the oxidation of higher-order hydrocarbon fuels and in the formation of soot. Under the influence of the hot and diluted coflow, soot is seen to be suppressed. At downstream locations, surrounding air is entrained which results in increases in reaction rates and a spatial mismatch between the OH and H₂CO surfaces. In a very low O₂ coflow, a faint outline of the reaction zone is seen to extend to the jet exit plane, whereas at a higher coflow O₂ level, the flames visually appear lifted. In the flames that appear lifted, a continuous OH surface is identified that extends to the jet exit. At the “lift-off” height a transition from weak to strong OH is observed, analogous to a lifted flame. H₂CO is also seen upstream of the transition point, providing further evidence of the occurrence of preignition reactions in the apparent lifted region of these flames. The unique characteristics of these particular cases has led to the term transitional flame.