Effects of gravity on structure and entropy generation of confined laminar diffusion flames

Abstract

A numerical prediction of a confined, co-flowing, laminar jet diffusion flame has been made to find the flow and scalar variables under steady state condition. These variables are used for the description of the flame structure and the evaluation of entropy generation rate and the rate of exergy loss. The exergy loss is compared against the exergy coming in, to evaluate the second law efficiency of the combustion process. The model is applied for diffusion flames in a confined geometry at various gravity levels to find the effect of gravity on the rate of entropy generation and second law efficiency. In general, the flame becomes wider in shape at reduced gravity. A correlation of the flame width against Froude number over a wide gravity range has been proposed. It is observed from the local volumetric entropy generation rate that a diffusion flame is more intense at its base than at the tip. The intensity of the flame becomes less at reduced gravity because of the lower rate of entrainment of oxygen. The entropy generation rate due to heat transfer increases considerably at normal gravity compared to that at zero gravity, because of the thermal stratification of the flow under the influence of buoyant acceleration. The rate of entropy generation due to chemical reaction and mass transfer remain almost unaltered at all gravity levels. The lowering of the total entropy generation rate and the corresponding exergy destruction increases the second law efficiency of a confined diffusion flame at reduced gravity compared to that at normal gravity.