Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “FLAMES”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,081 records · Page 60
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2011

Fuel effects on flame lift-off under diesel conditions

An apparent relation between the lift-off length under diesel conditions and the ignition quality of a fuel has previously been reported. To cast light on the underlying mechanism, the current study aims to separate flame lift-off effects of the chemical ignition delay from those of other fuel properties under diesel conditions. Flame lift-off was measured in an optical diesel engine by high-speed video imaging of OH-chemiluminescence. Fuel and ambient-gas properties were varied during the experiment. Only a weak correlation was found between ignition delay and lift-off length. The data indicate that this correlation is due to a common, stronger correlation with the ambient oxygen concentration. The chemical ignition delay and the fuel type had similar, weak effects on the lift-off length. A recently proposed mechanism for lift-off stabilization was used to interpret the results. It assumes that reactants approaching the lift-off position of the jet are mixed with high-temperature products found along the edges of the flame, which trigger autoignition. In this picture, the fuel effect is most likely due to differences in the amount of mixing with high-temperature products that is required for autoignition. In the current experiment, all lift-off effects seem to arise from variations in the reactant and product temperatures, induced by fuel and ambient properties. (author)

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2010

Extremely weak hydrogen flames

Hydrogen jet diffusion flames were observed near their quenching limits. These involved downward laminar flow of hydrogen from a stainless steel hypodermic tube with an inside diameter of 0.15 mm. Near their quenching limits these flames had hydrogen flow rates of 3.9 and 2.1 {mu}g/s in air and oxygen, respectively. Assuming complete combustion, the associated heat release rates are 0.46 and 0.25 W. To the authors' knowledge, these are the weakest self-sustaining steady flames ever observed. (author)

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2014

An experimental and modeling study of propene oxidation. Part 2: Ignition delay time and flame speed measurements

Experimental data obtained in this study (Part II) complement the speciation data presented in Part I, but also offer a basis for extensive facility cross-comparisons for both experimental ignition delay time (IDT) and laminar flame speed (LFS) observables. To improve our understanding of the ignition characteristics of propene, a series of IDT experiments were performed in six different shock tubes and two rapid compression machines (RCMs) under conditions not previously studied. This work is the first of its kind to directly compare ignition in several different shock tubes over a wide range of conditions. For common nominal reaction conditions among these facilities, cross-comparison of shock tube IDTs suggests 20–30% reproducibility (2σ) for the IDT observable. The combination of shock tube and RCM data greatly expands the data available for validation of propene oxidation models to higher pressures (2–40 atm) and lower temperatures (750–1750 K). Propene flames were studied at pressures from 1 to 20 atm and unburned gas temperatures of 295–398 K for a range of equivalence ratios and dilutions in different facilities. The present propene–air LFS results at 1 atm were also compared to LFS measurements from the literature. With respect to initial reaction conditions, the present experimental LFS cross-comparison is not as comprehensive as the IDT comparison; however, it still suggests reproducibility limits for the LFS observable. For the LFS results, there was agreement between certain data sets and for certain equivalence ratios (mostly in the lean region), but the remaining discrepancies highlight the need to reduce uncertainties in laminar flame speed experiments amongst different groups and different methods. Moreover, this is the first study to investigate the burning rate characteristics of propene at elevated pressures (>5 atm). Finally, IDT and LFS measurements are compared to predictions of the chemical kinetic mechanism presented in Part I and good agreement is observed.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2015

Kinetic modeling of particle size distribution of soot in a premixed burner-stabilized stagnation ethylene flame

A detailed model of soot formation is proposed, which consists of a gas-phase kinetic model for the pyrolysis and oxidation of selected hydrocarbon fuels and a kinetic mechanism of soot nucleation and mass/size growth through coagulation and surface reactions. The gas-phase model (Ranzi et al., 2012) was expanded to include the chemistry of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) up to four-to-five ring PAHs, with a modular and hierarchical approach. The discrete sectional approach was employed to solve the size evolution of the particle size distribution function (PSDF). Analogy and similarity rules were employed to describe heterogeneous reaction kinetics of soot surface reactions. A variable collision efficiency was assumed for the coalescence of small soot particles. Larger particles were assumed to undergo aggregation. The predicted PSDFs are found to be in reasonably good agreement with the experimental data for nascent soot measured in an atmospheric-pressure premixed ethylene–oxygen–argon flame in the burner-stabilized stagnation flame configuration. Sensitivity analyses of the PSDF, number density, and volume fraction were carried out with respect to the rate parameters of addition reactions of acetylene, PAHs, resonantly stabilized radical reactions, and coalescence and aggregation. The findings demonstrate that the reaction of PAHs and acetylene with soot surfaces and the kinetics of coalescence and aggregation exhibit dominant effects on the detailed and global soot properties for the flame studied, in agreement with conclusions of a large range of previous modeling studies.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

5 kHz thermometry in a swirl-stabilized gas turbine model combustor using chirped probe pulse femtosecond CARS. Part 1: Temporally resolved swirl-flame thermometry

Single-laser-shot temperature measurements at 5 kHz were performed in a gas turbine model combustor using femtosecond (fs) coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS). The combustor was operated at two conditions; one exhibiting a low level of thermoacoustic instability and the other a high level of instability. Measurements were performed at 73 locations within each flame in order to resolve the spatial flame structure and compare to previously published studies. The measurement procedures, including the procedure for calibrating the laser system parameters, are discussed in detail. Despite the high turbulence levels in the combustor, signals were obtained on virtually every laser shot, and these signals were strong enough for spectral fitting analysis for determination of flames temperatures. The spatial resolution of the single-laser shot temperature measurements was approximately 600 µm, the precision was approximately ±2%, and the estimated accuracy was approximately ±3%. The dynamic range was sufficient for temperature measurements ranging from 300 K to 2200 K, although some detector saturation was observed for low temperature spectra. Here these results demonstrate the usefulness of fs-CARS for the investigation of highly turbulent combustion phenomena. In a companion paper, the time-resolved fs CARS data are analyzed to provide insight into the temporal dynamics of the gas turbine model combustor flow field.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2016

A priori filtered chemical source term modeling for LES of high Karlovitz number premixed flames

Assumptions behind closure models for the filtered source term are studied a priori using results from DNS of turbulent n-heptane/air premixed flames at varying Karlovitz numbers. Simulations with both detailed chemistry and tabulated chemistry, as well as unity and non-unity Lewis numbers, are used to determine if finite-rate chemistry and differential diffusion effects affect the filtered chemical source terms. While the unfiltered source term shows large fluctuations, the filtered source terms from detailed chemistry and tabulated chemistry are in good agreement at sufficiently large filter widths (Δ ≳ l F ). Using the concept of optimal estimators, it is shown that a tabulation approach using the filtered progress variable and its variance can predict accurately the filtered chemical source terms. Finally, the filtered source terms from the DNS are compared to predictions from two commonly assumed sub-filter probability density function models. Both models show deviations from the filtered DNS source terms but predict accurately the mean turbulent flame speed. In conclusion, the results illustrate the potential of using simple tabulated chemistry approaches based on presumed PDFs for LES of premixed flames in the thin and distributed reaction zones regimes.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2026

PET waste- and bio-derived imine vitrimers for shape-memory, intrinsic flame-retardant, and recyclable carbon fiber composites

Developing circular multifunctional vitrimers and carbon fiber–reinforced polymers (CFRPs) that are simultaneously recyclable, mechanically robust, and intrinsically flame retardant remains a major challenge. Here, in this study, we report multifunctional vitrimers and their carbon fiber–reinforced vitrimer (CFRV) composites, where the vitrimer design integrates closed-loop recyclability, enhanced interfacial adhesion, and intrinsic flame retardancy within a single materials platform. The vitrimer matrix is synthesized from post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste and a vanillin-derived phosphorus-containing crosslinker, forming an imine-based network. The resulting vitrimer resin exhibits high tensile strength, thermal healability, repeated reprocessability, programmable shape memory, and rapid chemical depolymerization under mild conditions. Amine-functionalized carbon fibers significantly improve fiber–matrix interfacial bonding, yielding CFRVs with tensile strengths up to 789 MPa and complete recovery of structurally intact fibers after chemical recycling. The phosphorus-rich aromatic network further imparts intrinsic flame retardancy, enabling self-extinguishing behavior without external additives. This work advances a materials design paradigm for next-generation multifunctional, sustainable vitrimers and CFRVs, while simultaneously addressing the recycling challenges associated with both plastic and CFRP waste.

Bio-derived crosslinker↗
DOE OSTI2017

Analysis of operator splitting errors for near-limit flame simulations

High-fidelity simulations of ignition, extinction and oscillatory combustion processes are of practical interest in a broad range of combustion applications. Splitting schemes, widely employed in reactive flow simulations, could fail for stiff reaction–diffusion systems exhibiting near-limit flame phenomena. The present work first employs a model perfectly stirred reactor (PSR) problem with an Arrhenius reaction term and a linear mixing term to study the effects of splitting errors on the near-limit combustion phenomena. Analysis shows that the errors induced by decoupling of the fractional steps may result in unphysical extinction or ignition. The analysis is then extended to the prediction of ignition, extinction and oscillatory combustion in unsteady PSRs of various fuel/air mixtures with a 9-species detailed mechanism for hydrogen oxidation and an 88-species skeletal mechanism for n-heptane oxidation, together with a Jacobian-based analysis for the time scales. The tested schemes include the Strang splitting, the balanced splitting, and a newly developed semi-implicit midpoint method. Results show that the semi-implicit midpoint method can accurately reproduce the dynamics of the near-limit flame phenomena and it is second-order accurate over a wide range of time step size. For the extinction and ignition processes, both the balanced splitting and midpoint method can yield accurate predictions, whereas the Strang splitting can lead to significant shifts on the ignition/extinction processes or even unphysical results. With an enriched H radical source in the inflow stream, a delay of the ignition process and the deviation on the equilibrium temperature are observed for the Strang splitting. On the contrary, the midpoint method that solves reaction and diffusion together matches the fully implicit accurate solution. The balanced splitting predicts the temperature rise correctly but with an over-predicted peak. For the sustainable and decaying oscillatory combustion from cool flames, both the Strang splitting and the midpoint method can successfully capture the dynamic behavior, whereas the balanced splitting scheme results in significant errors.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

Deep learning-based model for progress variable dissipation rate in turbulent premixed flames

A deep neural network (DNN) based large eddy simulation (LES) model for progress variable dissipation rate in turbulent premixed flames is presented. The DNN model is trained using filtered data from direct numerical simulations (DNS) of statistically planar turbulent premixed flames with n-heptane as fuel. Training data was comprised of flames with varying turbulence levels leading to a range of Karlovitz numbers. Through a-priori tests the DNN model is shown to predict the subfilter contribution to progress variable dissipation rate accurately over a range of filter widths and for all Karlovitz numbers examined in this study. Superior performance of the DNN model relative to an established physics-based model is also demonstrated. Additionally, transferability of the DNN model is highlighted by a-priori evaluation of the model using filtered DNS data from multiple cases with different Karlovitz numbers and fuel species than those that were used for training the model.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Process Engineering to Increase the Layered Phase Concentration in the Immediate Products of Flame Spray Pyrolysis

Flame-spray-pyrolysis (FSP) is a robust and scalable process to synthesize particles at the commodity-scale. FSP has been used to produce the precursor powders which were converted to the layered structure $(R\bar{3m} \text { phase})$ by a postannealing step in making nickel-rich cathode materials (NCMs). Theoretically, the high flame temperature (normally >1500 K) in FSP can provide adequate energy for the phase conversion from rock-salt to layered structures and potentially enables one-step synthesis. However, the high flame temperature is a critical issue to cause lithium loss and structural degradation, preventing the formation of the layered phase. Here, guided by the gaseous nucleation theory, we implemented several FSP processes with different solution recipes. The layered phase concentration in the as-burned products can be increased with the solution enthalpies. By adding a rapid quench step to suppress the lithium loss and phase degradation, the layered phase can be further increased. This work contributes new ideas to innovating process regarding the process efficiency and throughput of manufacturing cathode materials at a large scale.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Nanotechnology finding its way into flame retardancy

Nanotechnology is one of the key technologies of the 21{sup st} century. The exploitation of 'new' effects that arise from materials structured on the nano-scale has also been proposed successfully for flame retardancy of polymers since the end of the 90s. Of all of the approaches these include, at this time the use of nanocomposites offers the best potential for industrial application, also some other ideas are sketched, such as using electrospun nanofibers mats or layer-by-layer deposits as protection coatings, as well as sub-micrometer multilayer coatings as effective IR-mirrors. The general phenomena, inducing a flow limit in the pyrolysing melt and changing the fire residue, are identified in nanocomposites. Key experiments are performed such as quasi online investigation of the protection layer formation to understand what is going on in detail. The flame retardancy mechanisms are discussed and their impact on fire behaviour quantified. With the latter, the presentation pushes forward the state of the art. For instance, the heat shielding is experimentally quantified for a layered silicate epoxy resin nanocomposite proving that it is the only import mechanism controlling the reduction in peak heat release rate in the investigated system for different irradiations. The flame retardancy performance is assessed comprehensively illuminating not only the strengths but also the weak points of the concepts. Guidelines for materials development are deduced and discussed. Apart from inorganic fillers (layered silicate, boehmite, etc.) not only carbon nanoobjects such as multiwall carbon nanotubes, multilayer graphene and graphene are investigated, but also nanoparticles that are more reactive and harbor the potential for more beneficial interactions with the polymer matrix.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Temperature measurement of axisymmetric flames under the influence of magnetic field using Talbot interferometry

Combustion process control is related with ecological improvement and the problem of energy efficiency; hence it has a wide interest at both economical and scientific levels. Application of a magnetic field is one of the most promising methods of combustion control. The presence of magnetic field induces the changes in flame behavior. The effect of uniform magnetic field developed by permanent magnet is studied by Talbot interferometry using circular gratings. Experimental results show a small decrease in flame temperature and increase in flame dimensions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Velocity and Reactive Scalar Dissipation Spectra in Turbulent Premixed Flames

Dissipation spectra of velocity and reactive scalars—temperature and fuel mass fraction—in turbulent premixed flames are studied using direct numerical simulation data of a temporally evolving lean hydrogen-air premixed planar jet (PTJ) flame and a statistically stationary planar lean methane-air (SP) flame. Furthermore, the equivalence ratio in both cases was 0.7, the pressure 1 atm while the unburned temperature was 700 K for the hydrogen-air PTJ case and 300 K for methane-air SP case, that resulted in data sets with a density ratio of 3 and 5, respectively. The turbulent Reynolds numbers for the cases ranged from 200 to 428.4, the Damköhler number from 3.1 to 29.1, and the Karlovitz number from 0.1 to 4.5. The dissipation spectra collapse when normalized by the respective Favre-averaged dissipation rates. But, the normalized dissipation spectra in all the cases deviate noticeably from those predicted by classical scaling laws for constant-density turbulent flows and bear a clear influence of the chemical reactions on the dissipative range of the energy cascade.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Examination of probability distribution of mixture fraction in LES/FDF modelling of a turbulent partially premixed jet flame

An accurate prediction of the probability density function (PDF) of the mixture fraction is crucial to the prediction of combustion since mixing plays an important role in turbulent non-premixed and partially premixed flames. This work provides an assessment of the large-eddy simulation (LES)/filtered density function (FDF) method for the prediction of the PDF of the mixture fraction. The advantage of the LES/FDF method is that it provides the full predictions of the statistical distribution of scalars including the mixture fraction. The predictive accuracy of the method for the PDF is yet to be fully validated. Assessing the prediction of the PDF of the mixture fraction, a conserved scalar, is an important starting point. The Sydney/Sandia inhomogeneous inlet jet flame is used as a test case. A quick comparison shows that the LES/FDF predicted PDF shapes of the mixture fraction deviate significantly from the commonly presumed Beta-PDF as well as from the experimental data in the flame. Here, to examine the source of the discrepancy, we clarify the different PDF definitions used in the comparison among the predictions, measurements, and the presumed shape PDFs. The discrepancy observed from the comparison is largely reconciled by clarifying the difference between the PDFs that are examined. The PDF of the resolved mixture fraction is shown to be close to the Beta-PDF in both the measurements and predictions, while the PDF directly deduced from the LES/FDF particles deviates significantly from the Beta-PDF. A multimodal PDF analysis and a pseudo convergence analysis are conducted to provide plausible evidence to support the predicted multimodal PDF shapes. The sub-filter scale FDF is shown to be close to the Beta-PDF too through the construction of a synthesized PDF, which supports the common presumed Beta-PDF assumption used in the presumed PDF methods when combined with LES.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2017

Electrospun core-shell microfiber separator with thermal-triggered flame-retardant properties for lithium-ion batteries

Although the energy densities of batteries continue to increase, safety problems (for example, fires and explosions) associated with the use of highly flammable liquid organic electrolytes remain a big issue, significantly hindering further practical applications of the next generation of high-energy batteries. We have fabricated a novel “smart” nonwoven electrospun separator with thermal-triggered flame-retardant properties for lithium-ion batteries. The encapsulation of a flame retardant inside a protective polymer shell has prevented direct dissolution of the retardant agent into the electrolyte, which would otherwise have negative effects on battery performance. Furthermore, during thermal runaway of the lithium-ion battery, the protective polymer shell would melt, triggered by the increased temperature, and the flame retardant would be released, thus effectively suppressing the combustion of the highly flammable electrolytes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2024

A numerical study of ignition and flame development characteristics in GCI combustion using large eddy simulations and chemical explosive mode analysis

Here, this work investigates the ignition and flame development processes of low reactivity fuel combustion under compression ignition conditions based on the large eddy simulation approach. The chemical explosive mode analysis (CEMA) is employed to characterize the local combustion features, including gas-liquid fuel zone, auto-ignition, diffusion-assisted, extinction, cool flame and post-ignition zone, among which auto-ignition and post-ignition are found to play a key role in the overall heat release process. The local flame propagation modes in gasoline compression ignition (GCI) are determined by quantifying the relative magnitude of diffusion/chemistry at a representative progress variable in the pre-ignition zone. The results show that autoignition fronts and deflagration waves exist simultaneously in the ignition and intense high temperature heat release (HTHR) stages, but autoignition fronts dominate. In addition, the chemical kinetic processes of four heat release periods are analyzed. The heat release during the ignition period is found to be dominated by the reactions CH 3 + H (+M) <=> CH 4 (+M) and CH 3 CHO + H <=> CH 2 CHO + H 2 . The reaction CH 2 OH + OH <=> CH 2 O + H 2 O always plays an important role in the heat releases during the other three combustion stages including intense HTHR, moderate HTHR and post-combustion.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2021

A kinetic evaluation on NO 2 formation in the post-flame region of pressurized oxy-combustion process

Pressurized oxy-combustion is a promising technology that can significantly re-duce the energy penalty associated with first generation oxy-combustion for CO 2 capture in coal-fired power plants. However, higher pressure enhances the production of strong acid gases, including NO 2 and SO 3 , aggravating the corrosion threat during flue gas re-circulation. In the flame region, high temperature NO x exists mainly as NO, while conversion from NO to NO 2 happened in post-flame region. In this study, the conversion of NO → NO 2 has been kinetically evaluated under representative post-flame conditions of pressurized oxy-combustion after validating the mechanism (80 species and 464 reactions), which includes nitrogen and sulfur chemistry based on GRI-MECH 3.0. The effects of residence time, temperature, pressure, major species (O 2 /H 2 O), and minor or trace species (CO/SO x ) on NO 2 formation are studied. The calculation results show that when pressure is increased from 1 to 15 bar, NO 2 is increased from 1 to 60 ppm, and the acid dew point increases by over 80°C. Higher pressure and temperature greatly reduce the time required to reach equilibrium. With increasing pressure and decreasing temperature, O plays a much more important role than HO 2 in the oxidation of NO. A higher water vapor content accelerates NO 2 formation in all cases by providing more O and HO 2 radicals. The addition of CO or SO 2 also promotes the formation of NO 2 . The NO 2 formation in a pressurized oxy-combustion furnace can be over 10 times that of an atmospheric air-combustion furnace.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
NASA NTRS1950

Effect of Intense Sound Waves on a Stationary Gas Flame

Intense sound waves with a resonant frequency of 5000 cycles per second were imposed on a stationary propane-air flame issuing from a nozzle. In addition to a slight increase of the flame velocity, a fundamental change both in the shape of the burning zone and in the flow pattern could be observed. An attempt is made to explain the origin of the variations in the flame configuration on the basis of transition at the nozzle from jet flow to potential flow.

FLAME PROPAGATION - EFFECT OF SOUND WAVES↗