Large-eddy simulation (LES) is emerging as a promising computational tool for reacting flows. High-order schemes for LES are desirable to achieve improved solution accuracy with reduced computational cost. In this study, a parallel, block-based, three-dimensional high-order central essentially non-oscillatory (CENO) finite-volume scheme for LES of premixed turbulent combustion is developed for Cartesian mesh. This LES formulation makes use of the flame surface density (FSD) for subfilter-scale reaction rate modelling. An algebraic model is used to approximate the FSD. A detailed explanation of the governing equations for LES and the mathematical framework for CENO schemes are presented. The CENO reconstruction is validated and is also applied to three-dimensional Euler equations prior to its application to the equations governing LES of reacting flows.

Large-eddy simulation (LES) is emerging as a promising computational tool for reacting flows. High-order schemes for LES are desirable to achieve improved solution accuracy with reduced computational cost. In this study, a parallel, block-based, three-dimensional high-order central essentially non-oscillatory (CENO) finite-volume scheme for LES of premixed turbulent combustion is developed for Cartesian mesh. This LES formulation makes use of the flame surface density (FSD) for subfilter-scale reaction rate modelling. An algebraic model is used to approximate the FSD. A detailed explanation of the governing equations for LES and the mathematical framework for CENO schemes are presented. The CENO reconstruction is validated and is also applied to three-dimensional Euler equations prior to its application to the equations governing LES of reacting flows.

Heat release rate disturbances are the sources of additional thermal stresses, direct and indirect combustion noise and undesirable vibrations. In extreme cases, these perturbations may even cause destructive combustion instabilities. These quantities are difficult to measure in practical burners. The objective of this work is to develop two alternative diagnostics to measure heat release rate fluctuations in unsteady flames. These techniques are validated in generic configurations for perfectly premixed laminar flames. The first method is an acoustic technique, which is based on the measurement of the travel time of ultrasonic waves through the flames. Fluctuations of the sound propagation time transmission through unsteady flames are used to estimate perturbations in the burned gases width along the acoustic path. This information is then used to reconstruct heat release rate fluctuations. This technique is validated in the cases of unstable laminar premixed flames driven by buoyancy forces and for flames submitted to harmonic flow velocity modulations. Analytical expressions are derived linking fluctuations in heat release rate and disturbances of the sound travel time. Measurements made with this acoustic technique are compared with optical detections based on the flame chemiluminescence and with predictions from an analytical model. Good agreements are obtained between these different methods validating the proposed technique. The second method envisaged is an optical technique based on a Laser Interferometric Vibrometer used to measure integrated density perturbations along the optical path of a laser beam. It is shown that density disturbances along this path result mainly from heat release rate fluctuations when the flames are confined. A link is established to reconstruct heat release rate disturbances from the signal of the interferometer. The technique is validated in the case of pulsated laminar premixed flames. Measurements are compared to line-of-sight integrated chemiluminescence emission measurements. A good agreement is obtained for harmonic flow modulations at different forcing frequencies and perturbation levels for flames operating at different flow conditions. This work validates the principle of this alternative technique for detecting heat release rate perturbations.

Les fluctuations du taux de dégagement de chaleur sont souvent responsables d’intensification des flux thermiques aux parois, de vibrations et d’émissions sonores qui peuvent éventuellement dégénérer en instabilités thermo-acoustiques auto-entretenues. Ces phénomènes instationnaires dégradent les performances des foyers, provoquent un vieillissement prématuré de certains éléments de la chambre de combustion, voire des dégâts plus importants sur l’installation. Ces perturbations sont cependant difficiles à mesurer dans les foyers car il n’existe pas de diagnostic qui permette d'accéder directement au taux de dégagement de chaleur. L’objectif de ce travail est d'explorer deux alternatives aux solutions existantes pour accéder aux fluctuations du taux de dégagement de chaleur avec une bonne résolution temporelle. Ces nouvelles méthodes sont testées dans des configurations génériques parfaitement prémélangées pour des écoulements laminaires. La première méthode est une technique acoustique, qui repose sur la détermination du temps de vol d’ondes ultrasonores qui traversent l’écoulement. Les fluctuations du temps de vol de ces ondes sont utilisées pour détecter des perturbations de la largeur des gaz brûlés le long du chemin acoustique. Cette information permet de reconstituer les fluctuations du taux de dégagement de chaleur dans des flammes prémélangées. Les premières validations de cette méthode sont présentées pour des flammes en l'absence de perturbation externe lorsqu'elles présentent une instabilité de type Kelvin-Helmholtz pilotée par les phénomènes de flottabilité du panache des gaz brûlés. Des mesures sont ensuite conduites pour des flammes soumises à des modulations harmoniques de l'écoulement. Les données obtenues dans ces configurations sont comparées à des mesures optiques ainsi qu'à des prévisions analytiques. La seconde méthode est une technique optique utilisant un système d’interférométrie laser Doppler permettant de déterminer les fluctuations de densité intégrées le long du chemin optique. On montre dans un premier temps que les perturbations de densité sont principalement causées par des fluctuations du taux de dégagement de chaleur lorsque les flammes sont confinées. Un lien est établi pour reconstituer les perturbations du taux de dégagement de chaleur exploitant le signal de l'interféromètre. La technique est validée pour des flammes pulsées pour différentes richesses et débits. Les données obtenues sont comparées à des mesures reposant sur la chimiluminescence de la flamme. Un bon accord est obtenu pour des modulations harmoniques de l'écoulement à différentes fréquences et niveaux de perturbation. Ce travail permet de valider le principe de ces deux techniques pour détecter les perturbations du taux de dégagement de chaleur lorsque l'accès optique à la zone de combustion est réduit et lorsque des informations quantitatives résolues temporellement sont nécessaires. / Heat release rate disturbances are the sources of additional thermal stresses, direct and indirect combustion noise and undesirable vibrations. In extreme cases, these perturbations may even cause destructive combustion instabilities. These quantities are difficult to measure in practical burners. The objective of this work is to develop two alternative diagnostics to measure heat release rate fluctuations in unsteady flames. These techniques are validated in generic configurations for perfectly premixed laminar flames. The first method is an acoustic technique, which is based on the measurement of the travel time of ultrasonic waves through the flames. Fluctuations of the sound propagation time transmission through unsteady flames are used to estimate perturbations in the burned gases width along the acoustic path. This information is then used to reconstruct heat release rate fluctuations. This technique is validated in the cases of unstable laminar premixed flames driven by buoyancy forces and for flames submitted to harmonic flow velocity modulations. Analytical expressions are derived linking fluctuations in heat release rate and disturbances of the sound travel time. Measurements made with this acoustic technique are compared with optical detections based on the flame chemiluminescence and with predictions from an analytical model. Good agreements are obtained between these different methods validating the proposed technique. The second method envisaged is an optical technique based on a Laser Interferometric Vibrometer used to measure integrated density perturbations along the optical path of a laser beam. It is shown that density disturbances along this path result mainly from heat release rate fluctuations when the flames are confined. A link is established to reconstruct heat release rate disturbances from the signal of the interferometer. The technique is validated in the case of pulsated laminar premixed flames. Measurements are compared to line-of-sight integrated chemiluminescence emission measurements. A good agreement is obtained for harmonic flow modulations at different forcing frequencies and perturbation levels for flames operating at different flow conditions. This work validates the principle of this alternative technique for detecting heat release rate perturbations.

Numerical simulations have been done with the CHEMKINsoftware to study different aspects of wall effects in thecombustion of lean, laminar and premixed flames in anaxisymmetric boundary-layer flow. The importance of the chemical wall effects compared to thethermal wall effects caused by the development of the thermaland velocity boundary layer has been investigated in thereaction zone by using different wall boundary conditions, walltemperatures and fuel/air ratios. Surface mechanisms include acatalytic surface (Platinum), a surface that promotesrecombination of active intermediates and a completely inertwall with no species and reactions as the simplest possibleboundary condition. When hydrogen is the model fuel, the analysis of the resultsshow that for atmospheric pressure and a wall temperature of600 K, the surface chemistry gives significant wall effects atthe richer combustion case (f=0.5), while the thermal andvelocity boundary layer gives rather small effects. For theleaner combustion case (f=0.1) the thermal and velocityboundary layer gives more significant wall effects, whilesurface chemistry gives less significant wall effects comparedto the other case. For methane as model fuel, the thermal and velocity boundarylayer gives significant wall effects at the lower walltemperature (600 K), while surface chemistry gives rather smalleffects. The wall can then be modelled as chemically inert forthe lean mixtures used (f=0.2 and 0.4). For the higher walltemperature (1200 K) the surface chemistry gives significantwall effects. For both model fuels, the catalytic wall unexpectedlyretards homogeneous combustion of the fuel more than the wallthat acts like a sink for active intermediates. This is due toproduct inhibition by catalytic combustion. For hydrogen thisoccurs at atmospheric pressure, but for methane only at thehigher wall temperature (1200 K) and the higher pressure (10atm). As expected, the overall wall effects (i.e. a lowerconversion) were more pronounced for the leaner fuel-air ratiosand at the lower wall temperatures. To estimate a possible discrepancy in flame position as aresult of neglecting the axial diffusion in the boundary layerassumption, calculations have been performed with PREMIX, alsoa part of the CHEMKIN software. With PREMIX, where axialdiffusion is considered, steady, laminar, one-dimensionalpremixed flames can be modelled. Results obtained with the sameinitial conditions as in the boundary layer calculations showthat for the richer mixtures at atmospheric pressure the axialdiffusion generally has a strong impact on the flame position,but in the other cases the axial diffusion may beneglected. Keywords:wall effects, laminar premixed flames,platinum surfaces, boundary layer flow / QC 20100504

No description available.

Turbulent combustion systems are physically complex processes that involve many interdependent phenomena---including turbulent fluid dynamics, multi-component mass transfer, convective and radiative heat transfer, and multiphase flow---that occur over a wide range of length and time scales. Modeling and simulation studies complement experimental work by implementing and validating models and providing predictive capabilities, but current software tools are often limited by a lack of standardization and best practices, non-robust implementation, or over-specialization. Some topics in combustion CFD research, notably radiative heat transfer and soot modeling, are critically underrepresented in simulation studies as a result of software limitations. This project establishes and develops three computational tools designed for use in combustion CFD: the ODT code implements the one-dimensional turbulence (ODT) model in its most reliable form, increasing its potential for application to turbulent flow problems of interest to engineers; RadLib is a standalone library of validated radiative property models intended for application to combustion systems; and SootLib is a library of validated models for soot chemistry and particle size distribution treatments, including four moment methods and one sectional model. All three tools are open-source, cross-platform model implementations that incorporate aspects of modern software design intended to make them flexible, consistent, and easy to use and expand upon. The tools developed in this project provide researchers with convenient access to modeling tools for complex phenomena that might otherwise require significant investments of time and resources to implement individually. They also provide established frameworks on which new models can be developed and communicated, offering unparalleled potential for comparative and parametric studies of combustion processes.

The prevalence of gas turbines operating in primarily lean premixed modes is predicated on the need for lower emissions and increased efficiency. An enhancement in the mixing process through the introduction of swirl in the combustion reactants is also necessary for flame stabilization. The resulting lean swirling flames are often characterized by a susceptibility to feedback between velocity, pressure and heat release perturbations with a potential for unstable self-amplifying dynamics. The existing literature on combustion dynamics is predominantly dedicated to premixed flame configurations motivated by power generation and propulsive gas turbine applications. In the present research effort, an investigation into the response of atmospheric, non-premixed swirling flames to acoustic perturbations at various frequencies (fp = 0-315Hz) and swirl intensities (S=0.09 and S=0.34) is carried out. The primary objective of the research effort is to broaden the scope of fundamental understanding in flame dynamics in the literature to include non-premixed swirling flames. Applications of the research effort include control strategies to mitigate the occurrence of thermoacoustic instabilities in future power generation gas turbines. Flame heat release is quantitatively measured using a photomultiplier with a 430nm bandpass filter for observing CH* chemiluminescence which is simultaneously imaged with a phase-locked CCD camera. Acoustic perturbations are generated with a loudspeaker at the base of an atmospheric co-flow burner with resulting velocity oscillation amplitudes, u'/Uavg in the 0.03-0.30 range. The dependence of flame dynamics on the relative richness of the flame is investigated by studying various constant fuel flow rate flame configurations. The effect of varying fuel flow rates on the flame response is also examined using with dynamic time-dependent fuel supply rates over the data acquisition period. The Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) method is used to study the isothermal flow field associated with acoustic pulsing. The acoustic impedance, wavelet analysis, Rayleigh criteria and phase conditioning methods are used to identify fundamental mechanisms common to highly responsive flame configurations.

No description available.

The laminar burning velocity is an important fundamental property of a fuel-air mixture at given conditions of temperature and pressure. Knowledge of burning velocities is required as an input for combustion models, including engine simulations, and the validation of chemical kinetic mechanisms. It is also important to understand the effect of stretch upon laminar flames, to correct for stretch and determine true (unstretched) laminar burning velocities, but also for modelling combustion where stretch rates are high, such as turbulent combustion models. A constant volume combustion vessel has been used in this work to determine burning velocities using two methods: a) flame speed measurements during the constant pressure period, and b) analysis of the pressure rise data. Consistency between these two techniques has been demonstrated for the first time. Flame front imaging and linear extrapolation of flame speed has been used to determine unstretched flame speeds at constant pressure and burned gas Markstein lengths. Measurement of the pressure rise during constant volume combustion has been used along with a numerical multi-zone combustion model to determine burning velocities for elevated temperatures and pressures as the unburned gas ahead of the spherically expanding flame front is compressed isentropically. This burning velocity data is correlated using a 14 term correlation to account for the effects of equivalence ratio, temperature, pressure and fraction of diluents. This correlation has been modified from an existing 12 term correlation to more accurately represent the dependence of burning velocity upon temperature and pressure. A number of fuels have been tested in the combustion vessel. Biogas (mixtures of CH₄ and CO₂) has been tested for a range of equivalence ratios (0.7–1.4), with initial temperatures of 298, 380 and 450 K, initial pressures of 1, 2 and 4 bar and CO₂ fractions of up to 40% by mole. Hydrous ethanol has been tested at the same conditions (apart from 298 K due to the need to vaporise the ethanol), and for fractions of water up to 40% by volume. Binary, ternary and quaternary blends of toluene, n-heptane, ethanol and iso-octane (THEO) have been tested for stoichiometric mixtures only, at 380 and 450 K, and 1, 2 and 4 bar, to represent surrogate gasoline blended with ethanol. For all fuels, correlation coefficients have been obtained to represent the burning velocities over wide ranging conditions. Common trends are seen, such as the reduction in burning velocity with pressure and increase with temperature. In the case of biogas, increasing CO₂ results in a decrease in burning velocity, a shift in peak burning velocity towards stoichiometric, a decrease in burned gas Markstein length and a delayed onset of cellularity. For hydrous ethanol the reduction in burning velocity as H₂O content is increased is more noticeably non-linear, and whilst the onset of cellularity is delayed, the effect on Markstein length is minor. Chemical kinetic simulations are performed to replicate the conditions for biogas mixtures using the GRI 3.0 mechanism and the FlameMaster package. For hydrous ethanol, simulations were performed by Carsten Olm at Eötvös Loránd University, using the OpenSMOKE 1D premixed flame solver. In both cases, good agreement with experimental results is seen. Tests have also been performed using a single cylinder optical engine to compare the results of the hydrous ethanol tests with early burn combustion, and a good comparison is seen. Results from tests on THEO fuels are compared with mixing rules developed in the literature to enable burning velocities of blends to be determined from knowledge of that of the pure components alone. A variety of rules are compared, and it is found that in most cases, the best approximation is found by using the rule in which the burning velocity of the blend is represented by weighting by the energy fraction of the individual components.