Results for “premixed flames” — Page 3

NASA NTRS1993

Time-dependent Computational Studies of Premixed Flames in Microgravity

This report describes the research performed at the Center for Reactive Flow and Dynamical Systems in the Laboratory for Computational Physics and Fluid Dynamics, at the Naval Research Laboratory, in support of NASA Microgravity Science and Applications Program. The primary focus of this research is on investigating fundamental questions concerning the propagation and extinction of premixed flames in earth gravity and in microgravity environments. Our approach is to use detailed time-dependent, multispecies, numerical models as tools to simulate flames in different gravity environments. The models include a detailed chemical kinetics mechanism consisting of elementary reactions among the eight reactive species involved in hydrogen combustion, coupled to algorithms for convection, thermal conduction, viscosity, molecular and thermal diffusion, and external forces. The external force, gravity, can be put in any direction relative to flame propagation and can have a range of values. Recently more advanced wall boundary conditions such as isothermal and no-slip have been added to the model. This enables the simulation of flames propagating in more practical systems than before. We have used the numerical simulations to investigate the effects of heat losses and buoyancy forces on the structure and stability of flames, to help resolve fundamental questions on the existence of flammability limits when there are no external losses or buoyancy forces in the system, to understand the interaction between the various processes leading to flame instabilities and extinguishment, and to study the dynamics of cell formation and splitting. Our studies have been able to bring out the differences between upward- and downward-propagating flames and predict the zero-gravity behavior of these flames. The simulations have also highlighted the dominant role of wall heat losses in the case of downward-propagating flames. The simulations have been able to qualitatively predict the formation of multiple cells and the cessation of cell-splitting. Our studies have also shown that some flames in a microgravity environment can be extinguished due to a chemical instability and without any external losses. However, further simulations are needed to more completely understand upward-propagating and zero-gravity flames as well as to understand the potential effect of radiative heat losses.

Kailasanath, K.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Premixed flame propagation characteristics in a supersonic airstream

Measured values of flame angles are presented to aid the design of premixed combustion chambers and prediction of flame propagation. Flame spread, velocity, and dependence of burning rate on the properties of unburned flow and on turbulence levels are compared with the measured values. The premixed flame angle is found proportional to the amount of heat released, and correlates readily with the fuel mixture ratio through the rate of heat release or rate of water formation. Finite rate combustion affects flame angle mostly at off-stoichiometric conditions. The pilot affects the flame angle if abundant unburnt fuel is present in the pilot hot gases. Viscosity runs several times over the rated level.

Agnone, A. M.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Turbulent Premixed Flames in Microgravity

The experimental cold-flow facility is now full operational and is currently being used to obtain baseline turbulence data in a Couette flow. The baseline turbulence data is necessary to confirm the capability of the chosen device to generate and maintain the required turbulence intensity. Subsequent reacting flow studies will assume that a similar turbulent flow field exists ahead of the premixed flame. Some modifications and refinements had to be made to enable accurate measurements. It consists of two rollers, one (driven by a motor) which drives a continuous belt and four smaller rollers used to set the belt spacing and tension to minimize belt flutter. The entire assemble is enclosed in a structure that has the dimensions to enable future drop tower experiments of the hot facility. All critical dimensions are the same as the original plans except for the pulley ratio which has been changed to enable a wider operating regime in terms of the Reynolds number. With the current setup, Reynolds numbers as low as 100 and as high as 14,000 can be achieved. This is because the in-between belt spacing can be varied from 1 cm to 7.6 cm, and the belt speed can be accurately varied from .15 m/sec to 3.1 m/sec.

Menon, Suresh↗

NASA NTRS1995

Study of Turbulent Premixed Flame Propagation using a Laminar Flamelet Model

The laminar flamelet concept in turbulent reacting flows is considered applicable to many practical combustion systems (Linan & Williams 1993). For turbulent premixed combustion, the laminar flamelet regime is valid when turbulent Karlovitz number is less than unity, which is equivalent to stating that the characteristic thickness of the flame is less than that of a Kolmogorov eddy; this is known as the Klimov-Williams criterion (Williams 1985). In such a case, the flame maintains its laminar structure, and the effect of turbulent flow is merely to wrinkle and strain the flame front. The propagating wrinkled premixed flame can then be described as an infinitesimally thin surface dividing the unburnt fresh mixture and the burnt product.

Im, H. G.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Dynamics and Structure of Dusty Reacting Flows: Inert Particles in Strained, Laminar, Premixed Flames

A detailed numerical study was conducted on the dynamics and thermal response of inert, spherical particles in strained, laminar, premixed hydrogen/air flames. The modeling included the solution of the steady conservation equations for both the gas and particle phases along and around the stagnation streamline of an opposed-jet configuration, and the use of detailed descriptions of chemical kinetics and molecular transport, For the gas phase, the equations of mass, momentum, energy, and species are considered, while for the particle phase, the model is based on conservation equations of the particle momentum balance in the axial and radial direction, the particle number density, and the particle thermal energy equation. The particle momentum equation includes the forces as induced by drag, thermophoresis, and gravity. The particle thermal energy equation includes the convective/conductive heat exchange between the two phases, as well as radiation emission and absorption by the particle. A one-point continuation method is also included in the code that allows for the description of turning points, typical of ignition and extinction behavior. As expected, results showed that the particle velocity can be substantially different than the gas phase velocity, especially in the presence of large temperature gradients and large strain rates. Large particles were also found to cross the gas stagnation plane, stagnate, and eventually reverse as a result of the opposing gas phase velocity. It was also shown that the particle number density varies substantially throughout the flowfield, as a result of the straining of the flow and the thermal expansion. Finally, for increased values of the particle number density, substantial flame cooling to extinction states and modification of the gas phase fluid mechanics were observed. As also expected, the effect of gravity was shown to be important for low convective velocities and heavy particles. Under such conditions, simulations indicate that the magnitude and direction of the gravitational force can substantially affect the profiles of the particle velocity, number density, mass flux, and temperature.

Egolfopoulos, Fokion N.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Dynamics and Structure of Dusty Reacting Flows: Inert Particles in Strained, Laminar, Premixed Flames

A detailed numerical study was conducted on the dynamics and thermal response of inert spherical particles in strained, laminar, premixed hydrogen/air flames. The modeling included the solution of the steady conservation equations for both the gas and particle phases along and around the stagnation streamline of an opposed-jet configuration, and the use of detailed descriptions of chemical kinetics and molecular transport. For the gas phase, the equations of mass, momentum, energy, and species are considered, while for the particle phase, the model is based on conservation equations of the particle momentum balance in the axial and radial direction, the particle number density, and the particle thermal energy equation. The particle momentum equation includes the forces as induced by drag, thermophoresis, and gravity. The particle thermal energy equation includes the convective/conductive heat exchange between the two phases, as well as radiation emission and absorption by the particle. A one-point continuation method is also included in the code that allows for the description of turning points, typical of ignition and extinction behavior. As expected, results showed that the particle velocity can be substantially different than the gas phase velocity, especially in the presence of large temperature gradients and large strain rates. Large particles were also found to cross the gas stagnation plane, stagnate, and eventually reverse as a result of the opposing gas phase velocity. It was also shown that the particle number density varies substantially throughout the flowfield, as a result of the straining of the flow and the thermal expansion. Finally, for increased values of the particle number density, substantial flame cooling to extinction states and modification of the gas phase fluid mechanics were observed. As also expected, the effect of gravity was shown to be important for low convective velocities and heavy particles. Under such conditions, simulations indicate that the magnitude and direction of the gravitational force can substantially affect the profiles of the particle velocity, number density, mass flux, and temperature.

Egolfopoulos, Fokion N.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Lifted Partially Premixed Flames in Microgravity

Lifted Double and Triple flames are established in the UIC-NASA Partially Premixed microgravity rig. The flames examined in this paper are established above a coannular burner because its axisymmetric geometry allows for future implementation of other non-intrusive optical diagnostic techniques easily. Both burner-attached stable flames and lifted flames are established at normal and microgravity conditions in the drop tower facility.

Lock, Andrew J.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Particulate Emission and Optical Measurements in n-Heptane Low-Swirl Non-Premixed Flames at Elevated Pressures

A series of ground combustion tests conducted at elevated pressures demonstrates in-chamber optical measurements of soot emissions, combined with conventional gaseous and particle emissions sampling techniques. Utilizing a micro-radial-entry counter-swirl (MRX) burner, we successfully stabilized an n-heptane low-swirl, non-premixed spray flame across a wide range of equivalence ratios at pressures reaching 250 psia. Our optical diagnostics feature a temporally gated diffused-backlight illumination extinction imaging (DBI-EI) system, equipped with a 470-nm strobe high-intensity LED array as the illumination source, along with a line-of-sight telecentric camera. By accessing the flame tube, the pulsed DBI-EI provides illuminating optical extinction images, enabling experimental estimation of soot volume fractions within the reaction zone. This imaging technique will allow for real-time observation of soot formation dynamics occurring above the air-blast fuel injector. To further enhance our analysis, we employed simultaneous gaseous and particulate extractive diagnostics, interpreting in-flame particulate information through CO2 sampling, exhaust particle sizing, and particle counting. The processed dataset reveals a promising application of DBI-EI for propulsion emission analysis in high-pressure environments, where optical beam-steering effects can significantly impact results. This report is essential to bridging the divide between in-flame optical diagnostics and exhaust extractive measurements. By achieving an understanding of non-premixed combustion emission characteristics, we attempt to provide invaluable data for computer code validation, advancing the field of combustion research and supporting the development of cleaner, more efficient engines.

high-pressure flame↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Particulate Emission and Optical Measurements in n-Heptane Low-Swirl Non-Premixed Flames at Elevated Pressures

A series of ground combustion tests conducted at elevated pressures demonstrates in-chamber optical measurements of soot emissions, combined with conventional gaseous and particle emissions sampling techniques. Utilizing a micro-radial-entry counter-swirl (MRX) burner, we successfully stabilized an n-heptane low-swirl, non-premixed spray flame across a wide range of equivalence ratios at pressures reaching 250 psia. Our optical diagnostics feature a temporally gated diffused-backlight illumination extinction imaging (DBI-EI) system, equipped with a 470-nm strobe high-intensity LED array as the illumination source, along with a line-of-sight telecentric camera. By accessing the flame tube, the pulsed DBI-EI provides illuminating optical extinction images, enabling experimental estimation of soot volume fractions within the reaction zone. This imaging technique will allow for real-time observation of soot formation dynamics occurring above the air-blast fuel injector. To further enhance our analysis, we employed simultaneous gaseous and particulate extractive diagnostics, interpreting in-flame particulate information through CO2 sampling, exhaust particle sizing, and particle counting. The processed dataset reveals a promising application of DBI-EI for propulsion emission analysis in high-pressure environments, where optical beam-steering effects can significantly impact results. This report is essential to bridging the divide between in-flame optical diagnostics and exhaust extractive measurements. By achieving an understanding of non-premixed combustion emission characteristics, we attempt to provide invaluable data for computer code validation, advancing the field of combustion research and supporting the development of cleaner, more efficient engines.

high-pressure flame↗

NASA NTRS1989

Propagation of a premixed flame in a divided-chamber combustor

Experimental observations on the propagation of lean premixed ethylene-air flames in a divided-chamber combustion vessel have been compared with the results of numerical simulations based on a flame sheet-vortex dynamics model in axisymmetric coordinates. Flame speeds were found to increase from 10-24 cm/s as the equivalence ratio was varied from 0.5-0.65 in the experiments. Using the associated increase in gas velocity with equivalence ratio, the estimated Reynolds number in the experiment was changed from 1870 to 8090. Good agreement between experimental and theoretical results was obtained for the prechamber flame propagation rates and for the spatial and temporal development of the flame in the main combustion chamber at the lowest Reynolds number.

Cattolica, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Optical measurements of soot in premixed flames

Two laser diagnostic techniques were used to measure soot volume fractions, number densities and soot particle radii in premixed propane/oxygen flat flames. The two techniques were two wavelength extinction, using 514.5 to 632.8 nm and 457.9 to 632.8 nm wavelength combinations, and extinction/scattering using 514.5 nm light. The flames were fuel rich and had cold gas velocities varying from 3.4 to 5.5 cm/s. Measurements were made at various heights above the sintered bronze, water colored flat flame burner with the equivalence ratio and cold gas velocity fixed. Also, measurements were made at a fixed height above the burner and fixed cold gas velocity while varying the equivalence ratio. Both laser techniques are based on the same underlying assumptions of particle size distribution and soot optical properties. Full Mie theory was used to determine the extinction coefficients and the scattering efficiencies. Temperature measurements in the flame were made using infrared radiometry and fine wire thermocouples. Good agreement between the two techniques in terms of soot particle radii, number density and volume fraction was found for intensity ratios between 0.1 and 0.8.

Lyons, Valerie J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Propagation of a premixed flame in a divided-chamber combustor

The propagation of premixed ethylene-air mixtures (of 0.5, 0.525, 0.55, and 0.65 equivalence ratios) in a divided-chamber combustor was investigated. The vessel, divided by a small cylindrical prechamber, had optical access (for laser-schlieren videography) and was instrumented by a pressure transducer. For the Reynolds numbers of 1870, 2300, and 2830, the observed spatial development of the laminar flames showed that the flame position and shape could be scaled by a characteristic time, based on the burned gas flame speed and the length of the prechamber. Above a Reynolds number of 4330, this scaling breaks down the appearance of Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. The observed flame propagation was compared with predictions obtained with a numerical model of flame propagation. The calculated spatial and temporal development of the flame in the main combustion chamber agreed with the experimental observations only for the lowest Reynolds number (1870).

Cattolica, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Partially Premixed Flame (PPF) Research for Fire Safety

Incipient fires typically occur after the partial premixing of fuel and oxidizer. The mixing of product species into the fuel/oxidizer mixture influences flame stabilization and fire spread. Therefore, it is important to characterize the impact of different levels of fuel/oxidizer/product mixing on flame stabilization, liftoff and extinguishment under different gravity conditions. With regard to fire protection, the agent concentration required to achieve flame suppression is an important consideration. The initial stage of an unwanted fire in a microgravity environment will depend on the level of partial premixing and the local conditions such as air currents generated by the fire itself and any forced ventilation (that influence agent and product mixing into the fire). The motivation of our investigation is to characterize these impacts in a systematic and fundamental manner.

Puri, Ishwar K.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Laser induced fluorescence measurements and modeling of nitric oxide in high-pressure premixed flames

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) has been applied to the quantitative measurement of nitric oxide (NO) in premixed, laminar, high-pressure flames. Their chemistry was also studied using three current kinetics schemes to determine the predictive capabilities of each mechanism with respect to NO concentrations. The flames studied were low-temperature (1600 less than T less than 1850K) C2H6/O2/N2 and C2H6/O2/N2 flames, and high temperature (2100 less than T less than 2300K) C2H6/O2/N2 flames. Laser-saturated fluorescence (LSF) was initially used to measure the NO concentrations. However, while the excitation transition was well saturated at atmospheric pressure, the fluorescence behavior was basically linear with respect to laser power at pressures above 6 atm. Measurements and calculations demonstrated that the fluorescence quenching rate variation is negligible for LIF measurements of NO at a given pressure. Therefore, linear LIF was used to perform quantitative measurements of NO concentration in these high-pressure flames. The transportability of a calibration factor from one set of flame conditions to another also was investigated by considering changes in the absorption and quenching environment for different flame conditions. The feasibility of performing LIF measurements of (NO) in turbulent flames was studied; the single-shot detection limit was determined to be 2 ppm.

Reisel, John R.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Laminar Non-Premixed Flames of Gaseous Fuel Aboard the International Space Station

From late 2017 to early 2022, six independent studies with flames of gaseous fuels were conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) in the U.S. combustion research facility. An exploration of flames at the extremes of high sooting and high dilution was conducted with a coaxial coflow burner, where the fuel and oxidizer velocities were typically matched. An investigation of electric-field effects also used the same coflow burner as well as a simple gas-jet burner, with a circular electrode mesh, downstream of the burner, at voltages of either polarity up to 10 kV. A study focused on material flammability in a quiescent atmosphere emulated the burning of condensed-phased fuels using cylindrical burners with a flat perforated outlet instrumented to measure the heat flux to the burner, i.e., emulated fuel. Three studies of soot processes, flame dynamics, and low-temperature combustion used porous spherical burners, yielding a nominally one-dimensional flame structure. The objectives and selected findings of each investigation will be briefly discussed after a short review of the advantages of studying combustion in microgravity, earlier ISS research, and the experimental hardware and its operation.

flames↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Laminar Non-Premixed Flames of Gaseous Fuel Aboard the International Space Station

From late 2017 to early 2022, six independent studies with flames of gaseous fuels were conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) in the U.S. combustion research facility. An exploration of flames at the extremes of high sooting and high dilution was conducted with a coaxial coflow burner, where the fuel and oxidizer velocities were typically matched. An investigation of electric-field effects also used the same coflow burner as well as a simple gas-jet burner, with a circular electrode mesh, downstream of the burner, at voltages of either polarity up to 10 kV. A study focused on material flammability in a quiescent atmosphere emulated the burning of condensed-phased fuels using cylindrical burners with a flat perforated outlet instrumented to measure the heat flux to the burner, i.e., emulated fuel. Three studies of soot processes, flame dynamics, and low-temperature combustion used porous spherical burners, yielding a nominally one-dimensional flame structure. The objectives and selected findings of each investigation will be briefly discussed after a short review of the advantages of studying combustion in microgravity, earlier ISS research, and the experimental hardware and its operation.

flames↗

NASA NTRS1993

The structure of particle cloud premixed flames

The aim of this study is to provide a numerical and asymptotic description of the structure of planar laminar flames, propagating in a medium containing a uniform cloud of fuel-particles premixed with air. Attention is restricted here to systems where the fuel-particles first vaporize to form a known gaseous fuel, which is then oxidized in the gas-phase. This program is supported for the period September 14, 1991 to September 13, 1992. Some results of the study is shown in Ref. 1. The work summarized in Ref. 1 was initiated prior to September 14, 1991 and was completed on February 1992. Research performed in addition to that described in Ref. 1 in collaboration with Professor A. Linan, is summarized here.

Seshadri, K.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Turbulent Premixed Flame Propagation in Microgravity

A facility in which turbulent Couette flow could be generated in a microgravity environment was designed and built. To fit into the NASA Lewis drop tower the device had to be very compact. This means that edge effects and flow re-circulation were expected to affect the flow. The flow was thoroughly investigated using LDV and was found to be largely two dimensional away from the edges with constant turbulence intensities in the core. Slight flow asymmetries are introduced by the non symmetric re-circulation of the fluid outside the test region. Belt flutter problems were remedied by adding a pair of guide plates to the belt. In general, the flow field was found to be quite similar to previously investigated Couette flows. However, turbulence levels and associated shear stresses were higher. This is probably due to the confined re-circulation zone reintroducing turbulence into the test section. An estimate of the length scales in the flow showed that the measurements were able to resolve nearly all the length scales of interest. Using a new LES method for subgrid combustion it has been demonstrated that the new procedure is computational feasible even on workstation type environment. It is found that this model is capable of capturing the propagation of the premixed names by resolving the flame in the LES grid within 2-3 grid points. In contrast, conventional LES results in numerical smearing of the flame and completely inaccurate estimate of the turbulent propagation speed. Preliminary study suggests that there is observable effect of buoyancy in the 1g environment suggesting the need for microgravity experiments of the upcoming experimental combustion studies. With the cold flow properties characterized, an identical hot flow facility is under construction. It is assumed that the turbulence properties ahead of the flame in this new device will closely match the results obtained here. This is required since the hot facility will not enable LDV measurements. The reacting flow facility is also being constructed with planned drop tower experiments in mind. Therefore, issues related to safety and structural integrity are being take into account. Further development of the numerical model will also be carried out to include finite-rate kinetics for representative premixed cases. More detail analysis of the flame structure and propagation nature will be investigated. Simulations will also be compared to the flame properties observed in the experiments.

Menon, S.↗