Dynamics of unsteady premixed flames in meso scale channels and the effects of varying the wall heating conditions

Fuente: arXiv
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Aravind, Akhil, Vadlamudi, Gautham, Basu, Saptarshi
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866916354631663616
author Aravind, Akhil
Vadlamudi, Gautham
Basu, Saptarshi
author_facet Aravind, Akhil
Vadlamudi, Gautham
Basu, Saptarshi
contents Understanding the dynamics of flames at small scales opens up opportunities to enhance the performance of small-scale power generation devices, micro-reactors, fire safety devices, and numerous other systems that confine combustion to micro/meso scales. The current study delves into the dynamics of laminar premixed methane-air flames in mesoscale channels, subject to different wall heating conditions. Two external heaters, positioned at adjustable distances, are employed to create a bimodal wall heating profile on the combustor walls. The separation distance (d) between the heaters was varied, and the resulting flame dynamics were examined across a wide range of equivalence ratios and Reynolds numbers (Re). The observed dynamics were also compared against a baseline configuration that utilises a single heater to establish an axial unimodal wall temperature profile. Apart from the previously documented observations of unsteady flames with repetitive extinction and ignition (FREI) characteristics, this study identifies an additional unsteady propagating flame (PF) regime. While FREI appeared at stoichiometric and fuel-rich conditions, propagating flames were observed at the equivalence ratio of 0.8. Unlike the FREI regime where the flame extinguishes after a characteristic travel distance, propagating flames continue to travel till they reach the upstream end of the combustor tube, where they extinguish upon encountering a meshed constriction. These flames are associated with a characteristic heat-release-rate oscillation that couples with the pressure fluctuations at frequencies close to the natural harmonic of the combustor tube. These dynamics are discussed in detail with appropriate theoretical arguments to justify the observed trends.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2312_07468
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Dynamics of unsteady premixed flames in meso scale channels and the effects of varying the wall heating conditions
Aravind, Akhil
Vadlamudi, Gautham
Basu, Saptarshi
Fluid Dynamics
Applied Physics
Understanding the dynamics of flames at small scales opens up opportunities to enhance the performance of small-scale power generation devices, micro-reactors, fire safety devices, and numerous other systems that confine combustion to micro/meso scales. The current study delves into the dynamics of laminar premixed methane-air flames in mesoscale channels, subject to different wall heating conditions. Two external heaters, positioned at adjustable distances, are employed to create a bimodal wall heating profile on the combustor walls. The separation distance (d) between the heaters was varied, and the resulting flame dynamics were examined across a wide range of equivalence ratios and Reynolds numbers (Re). The observed dynamics were also compared against a baseline configuration that utilises a single heater to establish an axial unimodal wall temperature profile. Apart from the previously documented observations of unsteady flames with repetitive extinction and ignition (FREI) characteristics, this study identifies an additional unsteady propagating flame (PF) regime. While FREI appeared at stoichiometric and fuel-rich conditions, propagating flames were observed at the equivalence ratio of 0.8. Unlike the FREI regime where the flame extinguishes after a characteristic travel distance, propagating flames continue to travel till they reach the upstream end of the combustor tube, where they extinguish upon encountering a meshed constriction. These flames are associated with a characteristic heat-release-rate oscillation that couples with the pressure fluctuations at frequencies close to the natural harmonic of the combustor tube. These dynamics are discussed in detail with appropriate theoretical arguments to justify the observed trends.
title Dynamics of unsteady premixed flames in meso scale channels and the effects of varying the wall heating conditions
topic Fluid Dynamics
Applied Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.07468