Influence of Boundary Conditions on the Flame Stabilization Mechanism and on Transient Auto-ignition in the DLR Jet-in-Hot-Coflow Burner

Abstract

Transient auto-ignition is a key factor for flame stabilization and flame initialization in several technical combustion systems such as internal combustion engines or gas turbine combustors. Reliable numerical simulations of auto-ignition stabilized flames are important for the development of new combustor systems. For detailed model validation, knowledge of the sensitivity of different system response quantities (SRQs) of interest to the boundary conditions in combination with the accuracy of boundary conditions is essential, especially with respect to uncertainty quantification of numerical simulations. In the current study, the flame stabilization and auto-ignition in the DLR Jet-in-Hot-Coflow burner was examined experimentally using high-speed OH* chemiluminescence. Here, methane was either injected continuously to study the flame stabilization mechanism of steady state lifted jet flames, or in a pulsed manner to study the formation of auto-ignition kernels, into the hot exhaust gas of a lean, premixed hydrogen/air flame. The flame stabilization height, and the location and time of initial auto-ignition kernels for a case with transient auto-ignition were evaluated with respect to several boundary conditions, such as coflow temperature as well as coflow- and jet-velocity. A relative sensitivity of the measured SRQs on the boundary conditions was introduced in order to quantitatively compare steady state flame to transient auto-ignition characteristics and to assess the quantitative influence of different boundary conditions. Comparison of the auto-ignition dynamics in the steady state and during transient fuel injection allowed assessing the role of auto-ignition in the flame stabilization mechanism for different boundary conditions; accompanying chemical kinetic calculations were used to quantify the influence of strain on auto-ignition and flame propagation for the current conditions, allowing further insight into the flame stabilization mechanism in Jet-in-Hot-Coflow flames.