A Numerical Investigation of NOx Formation in Counterflow CH4/H2/Air Diffusion Flames

Abstract

A detailed numerical study was carried out for the effect of hydrogen enrichment on flame structure and NOx formation in counterflow CH4/air diffusion flames. Detailed chemistry and complex thermal and transport properties were employed. The enrichment fraction was changed from 0 (pure CH4) to 1.0 (pure H2). The result indicates that for flames with low to moderate stretch rates, with the increase of the enrichment fraction from 0 to 0.5~0.6, NO emission index keeps almost constant or only slightly increases. When the enrichment fraction is increased from 0.5~0.6 to about 0.9, NO emission index quickly increases, and finally NO formation decreases again when pure hydrogen flame condition is approached. However, for flames with higher stretch rates, with the increase of hydrogen enrichment fraction from 0 to 1.0, the formation of NO first quickly increases, then slightly decreases and finally increases again. Detailed analysis suggests that the variation of the characteristics in NO formation in stretched CH4/air diffusion flames is caused by the change of flame structure and NO formation mechanism, when the enrichment fraction and stretch rate are changed.