Aspect Ratio Effects of Elliptic Co-Flow on Turbulent Jet Flame Structures

Abstract

The aspect ratio effects of elliptic co-flow on the structure of a turbulent propane diffusion flame from a circular tube have been presented. Pollutant emission, flame radiation, flame structure, and soot concentration have been measured. The fuel jet exit Reynolds number is 2700, and the exit Reynolds number for the co-flow is 4010 and 8025 based on the minor and major axis respectively. The results are compared with the measurements from the experiments in a circular co-flow, which is the baseline condition for the present study. The pollution characteristics and the structure of the flame in the elliptic co-flow are significantly different from those in the circular co-flow. The NO emission is higher and the CO emission is lower in the elliptic co-flow. Elliptic co-flow flame produces less soot than circular co-flow flame. The study shows that the elliptic co-flow aspect ratio has a controlling influence on various combustion characteristics. In general, it is seen that as the aspect ratio of the elliptic co-flow is increased from 2:1 to 4:1, the entrainment of air increases and thus the combustion characteristics are enhanced. Compared to 2:1 AR co-flow flames, the flames with 4:1 AR co-flow are more stable, have a lower flame height, produce more NO and less CO, the flame peak temperature is higher, are less sooty, and radiate less. Flame spectral measurements show that the 4:1 aspect ratio flames produce more OH, CH, C2 and H2O radicals in the near-burner region than the 2:1 co-flow flames as a result of higher fuel oxidation.