Flame Behavior Research Articles

Frequency jump of a flickering buoyant jet diffusion flame influenced by ambient coflow

Flickering of laminar diffusion flames is known to be caused by the buoyancy-induced toroidal vortices attached to the outer flame surface, making a classical model for understanding flame-vortex interactions. This work experimentally investigates the impacts of ambient coflow on the flickering behaviors of a buoyant jet diffusion flame. Utilizing a simultaneous high-speed flame imaging/OH⁎ chemiluminescence imaging/particle image velocimetry measurement system, the evolutions and interactions of coherent flame and flow structures are resolved. The results demonstrate that the periodic deformation of the flame surface (i.e., flame flickering) arises from the periodic formation, growth, and shedding of the buoyancy-induced outer vortex rings (OVRs), manifesting as a hydrodynamic instability developing along the outer shear layer (OSL). Upon applying a weak-to-moderate coflow, the flame bulge's size gradually reduces, and the flickering frequency slightly increases with increasing coflow velocity. The notable frequency jump phenomenon is confirmed as the coflow velocity rises to a threshold value such that the flickering frequency undergoes a sudden increase of 3–4 Hz; this is also accompanied by a significant reduction in the flame bulge's size and a delay in flame pinch-off. Moreover, a second frequency jump of 2–3 Hz occurs at a higher coflow velocity. Based on quantitative analysis of the OVR core's evolution, we find that the frequency jumps result from a sudden downstream shift of the initial OVR core, essentially indicating the jump of the instability onset point of the OSL. From a hydrodynamic instability perspective, this phenomenon can be explained as a stabilization effect of the coflow on the OSL, resulting in the re-establishment of the instability condition in a downstream location.

Direct pore-level simulation of hydrogen flame anchoring mechanisms in an inert porous media

This work addresses the stabilization of hydrogen flames inside porous media. Hydrogen is a peculiar fuel with a large molecular diffusivity, triggering preferential diffusion and other effects related to non-unity Lewis numbers. Consequently, the macro-scale behavior of hydrogen flames is highly influenced by the flame-wall interactions at the pore-scale. In this study, direct pore-level simulations are used for the investigation of anchoring mechanisms and burning-rate enhancement for lean hydrogen flames embedded in inert porous media. It is observed that preferential diffusion greatly enhances flame anchoring, in the wake of the struts, leading to a high increase in flame surface. Also, the local heat release rate is enhanced not only by the higher gas temperature resulting from the heat recirculation but also by the higher local equivalence ratio resulting from preferential diffusion. Furthermore, most of the heat produced by a hydrogen flame is released by the hydroperoxyl reactions, effective at low temperatures but necessitating radicals, mostly H. These radicals are produced by the shuffle reactions, effective at higher gas temperatures. The coupling between those two reaction groups is very dependent on the transport of radicals, which can be impacted by the pore scale velocity gradient, leading to hydrodynamic dispersion and flame wrinkling. Consequently, it is shown that the burning-rate enhancement observed within porous burners fueled with hydrogen is not only due to heat recirculation but also to increased transports of radicals and preferential diffusion effects, which should be accounted for in macroscopic models.

Effect of air preheating temperature on the dynamic behaviour of a swirled spray flame

The effects of the air inlet temperature on the dynamic behaviour of a spray flame are reported for different air flow rates. Dodecane droplets are generated through a pressurised nozzle and introduced in the combustion chamber fed with air via two co-rotating swirlers. The flow rate of dodecane is kept constant (1.24gs-1) while the air flow rate is changed from 28gs-1 to 35gs-1 and its temperature from 70°C to 220°C. Microphones are used to record the different dynamics observed while a camera and a Phase Doppler Anemometry system allow to monitor the flame and the fuel spray.For low flow rates (between 28gs-1 and 32gs-1, leading to an overall equivalence ratio ranging between 0.6 and 0.7), the pressure fluctuations start by increasing with an increase of the temperature until, for a given temperature, the pressure fluctuations suddenly drop. This threshold temperature depends on the air flow rate. When displaying the pressure fluctuation level as a function of the bulk velocity (taking both air flow rate and temperature into account), the curves collapse into a similar shape. The instability frequency monotonically increases with the bulk velocity. For high flow rates (between 32gs-1 and 35gs-1, leading to overall equivalence ratio ranging between 0.5 and 0.6), a hysteresis phenomenon is found. Pressure fluctuations are relatively high for constantly decreasing temperature conditions and have almost similar levels as those obtained for lower flow rates. When constantly increasing the temperature, the levels are much lower, showing a bi-stable behaviour for the pressure fluctuations at a given operating point. A simple analysis based on the acoustic energy balance equation allows to qualitatively retrieve the behaviour of the pressure fluctuations amplitude and frequency for the low flow rate cases.

Macroscopic flame and flow structures in hydrogen and methane multi-regime combustion

The current experimental investigation focuses on the macroscopic structures of CH4/air and H2/air flames operated on the Darmstadt multi-regime burner adapted for hydrogen operation. Building upon previous research on lean-burn limits, this study utilizes simultaneous PIV and OH-PLIF measurements to examine notable differences in flame and flow structures. Six flame cases are studied, focusing on CH4/air and H2/air jet flames at equivalence ratios of 1.4, 2.2, and 3.5. It is observed that the hydrogen slot 2 flames exhibit unique behavior under ultra-lean conditions, demonstrating thermodiffusive effects that generate finger-like structures. Despite receiving less thermal support from the slot 2 flame, hydrogen jet flames burn faster and resist flame extinction in high-velocity regions. The extensive heat release from fuel-rich H2 jets maintains a stable location compared to CH4 jets at the same equivalence ratio, altering local flow dynamics. Additionally, the study identifies a reshaped primary inner recirculation zone (IRZ) and a secondary IRZ in H2/air flame cases, which is absent in CH4 flames. The interplay between the jet flame and the primary IRZ results in visible flame enhancement in slot 2, indicating preheating and fuel enrichment effects. Overall, this research provides comprehensive insights into the distinct combustion behavior and flow structures of CH4 and H2 flames on a multi-regime burner.

Study on the characteristics parameters of magnesium dust explosion suppression by various inert gases

Alongside the extensive use of magnesium, dust explosion accidents have become increasingly frequent. Conducting research on suppressing magnesium dust explosions is of great significance for the healthy development of the magnesium industry. In this paper, the effects of four inert gases (CO2, N2, Ar, and He) on the explosion characteristics parameters of magnesium dust clouds with different concentrations were investigated using a closed explosion device. It was observed that at low volume fractions of inert gases in the explosion system, there were no significant differences in their effects on the explosion characteristics parameters and the combustion time of magnesium particles. In situations where there was a high level of oxygen, N2 was more effective than Ar in suppressing explosions. However, when the concentration of magnesium dust cloud was higher and the oxygen content was lower within the hybrids, N2 reacted with magnesium dust that was unable to react with oxygen. As a result, the explosion suppression effect gradually shifted from N2 being better than Ar to Ar being better than N2. Moreover, the differences in the effects of four inert gases on particle combustion time became increasingly prominent. However, in all operating conditions, CO2 demonstrated the most effective suppression of magnesium dust explosions, while He exhibited the least effective suppression effect. Furthermore, by employing a chemical reaction kinetics calculation model, it has been discovered that the content of inert gases significantly affected the combustion time and reaction mode of particle combustion, thereby causing variations in the propagation behavior of magnesium dust cloud flames.

Study of combustion characteristics of diesel-vegetable oil blends utilizing an industrial fuel burner

This study delves into the combustion characteristics of diesel-vegetable oil blends using an industrial fuel burner, shedding light on essential factors that impact the viability of these alternative fuels in industrial applications. Viscosity, a key concern in vegetable oil-based fuels, can be effectively mitigated by blending with diesel. This viscosity reduction enhances fuel atomization, optimizing combustion efficiency and mitigating nozzle blockages. The study also explores the density variation in these blends, indicating potential implications for combustion kinetics and injection dynamics. Furthermore, the research addresses the trade-off between energy content and viscosity reduction as the calorific value decreases with an increasing volume ratio of vegetable oil. Flame behavior, crucial for combustion system design, exhibits an inverse relationship with the volume ratio of vegetable oil, resulting in shorter and less intense flames at higher vegetable oil content. Through comprehensive experiments, the study demonstrates that increased vegetable oil content leads to reduced flame length and stability, primarily attributed to the elevated density and viscosity of vegetable oil. A comparative analysis highlights the similarity in combustion properties between a 40 % vegetable oil and a 60 % diesel blend, which exhibited a kinematic viscosity of approximately 1.58 cP emphasizing the potential of vegetable oil as a viable substitute for diesel in industrial fuel burners.

Characterising flame-retardant mechanism of phosphorous-containing intumescent coating on polyethylene via ReaxFF MD simulations

Localised flame-retardant (FR) chemistry of polymer composites is complex, versatile and microscopic depending on the combination of polymer matrix and various FR systems. Particularly, the pyrolysis behaviour of the polymers can be varied and reinforced by effective microscopic synergistic effects between coating compositions. However, these atomistic reactions can be difficult to be characterised via experimental approaches. In this study, experimental studies and reactive molecular dynamic (ReaxFF-MD) simulation techniques were utilised to identify the thermal degradation behaviour of flame retarded high-density polyethylene (HDPE), coated with phosphoric acid (PA) and pentaerythritol (PER). The simulations tracked the pyrolysis product distribution under different heating temperatures and elucidated the pyrolysis hindrance offered by the FR system. The atomistic reaction pathways of phosphorus-based FR mechanism were also characterised, including secondary reactions and intermediate species, such as P-O-C and P-O-P cross-linking between FRs and radical capturing effects. These reactions were found to be increasing the C/H ratios of pyrolysed hydrocarbons and the aromaticity of residues. After applying the periodic removal techniques, the simulations can even predict the residue weight percentage of the polymer and exhibit similar degradation behaviour to the experimental results.

Effect of Lateral Airflow on Initial HSI and Flame Behavior of Marine Fuel in a Ship Engine Room: Experiment and Analysis

The flame behavior of engine fires, such as those caused by leaked fuel coming into contact with an ignition source, is significant in practical applications, where flame detection is used to minimize the damage of the attendant ship fire safety problem. In this work, the flame behavior of hot-surface ignition (HSI) under crossflow was studied, with a particular focus on the difference in lateral airflow velocities for HSI-driven flame deviations at the windward and leeward sides of a ship engine room; a problem such as this has not previously been quantified. Full-scale experiments were conducted in a ship engine room using marine diesel and hydraulic oil as the fuel, and by adopting lateral airflow with the velocities of 0 m/s, 1.0 m/s, 3.0 m/s, and 5.0 m/s, together with an HSI mechanism consisting of marine diesel and hydraulic oil coming into contact with elevated hot-surface temperatures. The results show that the effects of disturbing the combustible gaseous mixture for marine fuel HSI, at both the windward and leeward sides, strengthened as the airflow velocity increased. The HSI position of the leaked marine fuel in the engine room was strongly dependent on ventilation, while that under the airflow condition decreased with the increase in the hot-surface temperature. A model was proposed to characterize this difference on the basis of the HSI height, which was defined as the ratio of the height during the initial HSI to the stationary period. The results indicate that the scale of the flame gradually increased in the horizontal direction, which was significantly different from the result in the scenario without mechanical ventilation. The results also revealed that the fluctuation of hydraulic oil through the temperature field was significant and lasted for a long time under a low HSI temperature.

Investigation of the effects of N2 and CO2 on the overpressure hazards, flame behaviors and reaction kinetics of LPG/air explosions

ABSTRACT To research the influence of inert gases on the explosion behaviors of LPG/air mixtures, LPG explosion tests suppressed by CO2 and N2 were conducted in a spherical chamber and the chemical reaction kinetic properties were analyzed. The results show that CO2 has a better inhibitory effect than N2, especially when the added amount is small. With the increasing volume fraction of inert gases, the LPG explosion flame propagation speed continuously decreases, and the phenomenon of flame uplift and wrinkling deformation occurs. The explosion pressure of LPG/CO2(N2)/air mixture and the average flame propagation speed in the initial stage follow an exponential function with an offset. The laminar flame structure of 4% LPG is similar to its mixtures with N2 and CO2. After adding inert gases, the maximum temperature of the LPG laminar flame decreases significantly, and the flame thickness increases. The key elementary reactions affecting the N2(CO2)/LPG/air explosions are given. The research results have important implications for suppression of LPG explosions.

Mini but Mighty: Oscillations in diffusion flames at sub-atmospheric conditions

The oscillatory behaviour of buoyant diffusion flames plays a vital role in determining how flames evolve. Although previous studies have established an inverse square root relationship between oscillatory frequency and pool diameter, f ∼ D-1/2, few have explored the synergistic effect of diameter and reduced pressure on the pulsation phenomenon. This study mainly investigates the characteristics of convection-controlled pool fires (D < 20 cm) at varying sub-atmospheric pressures, with a particular focus on the influence of eddy effects. Four burner sizes (7 cm, 10 cm, 13 cm, and 16 cm) are selected, and pressure levels are set at 95 kPa, 80 kPa, 60 kPa, and 40 kPa, respectively. A pressure chamber, maintaining a nearly constant pressure during combustion, is employed. The morphology of diffusion flames is recorded and subsequently analysed at different pressures. The study finds that flame shapes change from turbulent to laminar as pressure decreases, which is attributed to the smaller vortex size and corresponds to the varicose and sinuous models. Flame height and oscillatory frequency show a slight increase with decreasing pressure. A new correlation based on the dimensionless Richardson number and Strouhal number is proposed to correlate the oscillation and diameter at different pressures, St=0.58(1/Ri)0.54. This study provides interesting insights into the behaviour of buoyant diffusion flames under sub-atmospheric conditions, highlighting the transition from turbulent to laminar flame shapes, changes in flame height, and pulsation frequency trends. This research could potentially contribute to the comprehension of buoyant diffusion flames at sub-atmospheric conditions in future.

New Insight into the Effects of Gaseous CO2 on Spherically Symmetric Droplet Flames

This study investigated the effect of CO2 on the burning behavior and radiative properties of a single ethanol droplet flame in microgravity. Measurements of the droplet burning rate, the flame size and temperature, and the radiative emissions were performed, under microgravity conditions for ethanol droplets burning in N2 and CO2 environments, using the 1.5 s drop tower facilities at the Korea Maritime and Ocean University (KMOU). The non-monotonic sooting behaviors (caused by the elevated O2 concentrations) were found to have a significant influence on radiative heat losses in N2 environments, resulting in non-linear droplet burning behaviors with O2 concentrations. Due to the unique nature of CO2 in microgravity, which absorbs radiative energy from the flame and raises the temperatures of the surrounding gases, the CO2 environments suppressed the radiative heat losses from the flame, regardless of the non-monotonic sooting behavior observed at the higher O2 concentrations. These experimental findings highlight the complicated physics of CO2 gas radiation in microgravity, which has not been quantitatively explored.

Hydrogen, methane and one of their fuel blends combustion: CFD analysis and numerical-experimental comparisons of fixed and mobile applications

The capabilities of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) coupled with detailed chemistry simulations are examined in both steady jet diffusion flames and in an internal combustion engine case fuelled with hydrogen. Different approaches to turbulence-chemistry interaction such as the “Laminar Flame Concept” the “Eddy Dissipation Concept” and the “Turbulent Flame Speed Closure” are considered and tested. The results are compared with the experimental data available. Concerning the jet diffusion flames, the combustion processes of hydrogen, methane and one of their fuel blends are investigated on two burner geometries. Different sensitivities (i.e. mesh, turbulence model, turbulent Schmidt number, chemical mechanism) are performed. The study demonstrates that despite the burner geometry considered and the chemical composition of the fuel, the Complex Chemistry with “Eddy Dissipation Concept” is the model that better describes the behaviour of the turbulent flames. On the other hand, the “Laminar Flame Concept” sub-model is characterized by an higher fuel consumption rate, which causes an overestimation of the temperature peak. As for the in-cylinder unsteady simulations, the hydrogen combustion process is better described by the “Turbulent Flame Speed Closure” sub-model, which, unlike the other two, requires the specification of both laminar and turbulent flame speed. Despite different variations being considered, the “Laminar Flame Concept” adoption leads to an unphysically high burning rate, while the Eddy Dissipation Concept sub-model is characterized by an underestimation of the apparent heat release rate, and thus of the pressure peak inside the combustion chamber.

Experimental investigation of impact of fire size on heat transfer and flame behavior of initial stage unsteady pool fires inside a cubical enclosure

The ventilation equipment for enclosed spaces or office rooms is specified according National Building Code of India published by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Natural ventilation peri-odically together with mechanical ventilation is recommended to remove pollutants. The need to study fire and smoke behavior inside a completely closed room with air intake and exhaust vents becomes important in case of low or no mechanical ventilation service. An experimental study on unsteady heptane pool fires of different sizes in their initial stages was conducted in a cubical fire test chamber of 27 m3 inside dimensions. The compartment was naturally ventilated with a typical configuration of a vertical intake on a side wall and an exhaust vent at the ceiling leading into a duct. Three circular pans of diameters 0.34, 0.47 and 0.61 m were employed to generate the fire with n-heptane as fuel on a bed of water. Temperatures, wall heat fluxes and mass loss rate were measured. The flame was visualized using a video camera through a tempered view glass. The total heat transfer to the ceiling and wall increased with the increase in fire size as the flames became taller in the initial stages (3-4 minutes) with sig-nificant increase in case of 500 kW fire. The smoke layer was observed at about mid height (1.5 m) above floor. The leaning behavior of flames was seen due to naturally induced air inflow. The wall heat flux of about 50 kW/m2 obtained indicate hazardous environment for further flame spread. A fourfold increase in mass loss rate was observed with just 2.5 times increase in fire size inside the ceiling vented compartment.

Computational Fluid Dynamics: Flow Analysis on The Effect of Different Jet Orifice Angle Multi Circular Jet for Fuel and Air Mixing

The mixing of fuel and air plays a major role in the spray and flame behavior, hence affecting the combustion performance and emissions of the internal mixing air-assisted atomizers. Air-assisted atomizers are introduced to counter the low-pressure differential of a simplex nozzle, which reduces the atomization quality. The present study aims to determine the effects of Multi Circular Jet (MCJ) plates on the geometrical configurations of internal flows in mixing chamber and the internal flow of plate 3 using different properties of fuel. In this study, the realizable k-ε turbulence model, specifically designed for strongly swirling flows, is validated through numerical simulations. The turbulence model selected is a type of Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) model called the k-ε model. The MCJ plates provide the primary air entrance into the mixing chamber. Additionally, it acts as a turbulence generator and can be adjusted to alter the flow of fuel and air mixtures in a mixing chamber. The study compares several MCJ geometries in terms of pressure, speed, turbulent kinetic energy, and volume fraction and compares the performances of diesel and Crude Palm Oil (CPO) B30 biodiesel fuels. The findings imply that CPO B30 biodiesel has superior atomization and mixing due to its higher density and turbulent kinetic energy. CPO B30 biodiesel was compared to Diesel in terms of maximum pressure, average speed, turbulent kinetic energy per unit mass, and volume fraction. The results indicate that CPO B30 has lower pressure and higher velocity than Diesel, suggesting better fuel atomization and mixing. The higher density of CPO B30 leads to increased turbulent kinetic energy, improving fuel-air mixing inside the combustion chamber. The study demonstrates that the use of MCJ plates can enhance mixing in a mixing chamber. In addition, MCJ plates show the ability to control the spray and atomization. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the relationships between geometry and fuel-air mixing, as well as the characteristics of the internal mixing air-assisted atomizer, which will lead to future burner system improvements.

Experimental Study on Combustion Modes and Oscillations in a Cavity-Based Scramjet Combustor

This study conducted experiments to investigate flame behaviors in a cavity-based scramjet combustor operating under Mach 2.92 supersonic inflow. Pressure measurements and flame chemiluminescence observations were combined to study the initial flame formation and combustion mode transitions. In addition, flame luminosity standard deviation and fast Fourier transform power spectral density (PSD) were post-processed to assess the impact of equivalence ratio and aft wall height on combustion modes as well as oscillations. It is indicated that increasing the equivalence ratio leads to a transition from lifted shear-layer mode to ramjet mode. Elevating the cavity aft wall height improves the combustor’s self-ignition capability and promotes the transition from lifted shear-layer mode to ramjet mode as long as flame stabilization is achieved. It is found that increasing the equivalence ratio and aft wall height also results in more intense combustion oscillations; besides, raising the cavity aft wall height could accentuate the predominant frequency of low-frequency oscillations in the combustor. Finally, it is demonstrated that the application of spark plasma effectively suppresses these low-frequency combustion oscillations, which is a promising active control method in the scramjet engine.

Numerical analysis of the enrichment of CH4/H2 in ammonia combustion in a hot co-flow environment

A numerical investigation is conducted using OpenFOAM to study the characteristics of ammonia flames enriched with methane and hydrogen, influenced by a diluted co-flow (exhaust gas). The study aims to explore various flame characteristics, including fuel consumption, ignition delay time, lift-off height and position, temperature, and CO and NO emissions while maintaining a constant energy input of 5 kW. Non-stabilized flames are identified by analyzing the OH peak in the computational domain among ammonia flames enriched with CH4/H2 for different dilutions of O2 (6 %, 9 %, and 12 %). The study is structured into three stages of numerical simulations corresponding to stabilized flames: (1) no reaction, (2) reaction in the absence of O2, and (3) reaction with O2 to see the sole impact of the hot co-flow and local turbulence mixing on the primary cracking of ammonia. Furthermore, the rates of H2 and N2 formation resulting from the utilization of ammonia in the presence of hot co-flow are thoroughly examined. Additionally, the behavior of ammonia flames and CH4/H2-enriched ammonia flames under preheated air conditions (23 % O2) is analysed. Stable flames are observed in the co-flow at 12 % O2, displaying characteristics of Moderate or Intense Low-oxygen Dilution (MILD) combustion. Conversely, ammonia flames under preheated air conditions exhibit conventional flame behavior. Pure ammonia flames exhibit stronger temperature gradients and higher levels of CO and NO emissions. As the enrichment of NH3 with CH4/H2 increases, peak temperatures decrease while lift-off heights increase, indicating a transition towards more distributed flame structures. Notably, the instance with 40 % H2 enrichment exhibits lower NO emissions and a higher rate of ammonia consumption along with more distributive flame characteristics.

Characterizing burning behaviour of convection-controlled pool fires at sub-atmospheric pressure by stagnation theory

Pool fires play a critical role in examining the burning behaviour of diffusion flames and are sensitive to changes in scale and environmental conditions. Understanding the evolution of pool fires under low-pressure conditions, common in plateau or flight scenarios, is essential for both fire safety and energy utilization. This study investigates the effects of pressure on pool fires through a series of small-scale experiments carried out in a pressure chamber that provides stable conditions ranging from 95 kPa to 40 kPa. Pool scales between 7 cm and 16 cm were examined, a range dominated by convective heat transfer. Methanol and heptane were chosen to discern fuel-specific variations in burning behaviour under decreased pressure. The findings demonstrate an increase in the axial flame temperature with reducing pressure, while radiative output exhibits an inverse relationship with pressure. Additionally, convective heat transfer toward surroundings appears to rise with decreasing pressure. A modified stagnation theory solution is proposed to model the mass burning rate of convection-controlled pool fires under low pressure, which shows satisfactory agreement with the experimental data. This research could potentially contribute to the comprehension of pool fires and the safety of energy in sub-atmospheric pressure conditions in the future.

Experimental investigation of flame behaviors of turbulent diffusion flames with different ullage heights

This work is aimed examine the effect of ullage height (tank roof to fuel surface) on the flame behavior of turbulent diffusion flames. A series of experiments with eight ullage heights (h = 0–28 cm) were conducted. Propane was issued from a gas burner (D = 20 cm) with different fuel supply rates. Experimental results showed that the total flame consists of an upper flame (Lupper, outside the tray) and a down-reaching flame (Ldown, inside the tray). It was found that Ldown decreases with fuel supply flow rate and there is a critical fuel supply flow rate (Q˙s,c), independent of the ullage height, above which there is no down-reaching flame. Depending on the ullage height and fuel supply rate, the flame behaviors can be divided into three regimes: (Ⅰ) restricted down-reaching, (Ⅱ) free down-reaching and (Ⅲ) no down-reaching. Based on the dimensionless analysis, correlations were developed to predict the down-reaching, upper, and total flame lengths, respectively. These correlations were validated against the experimental data in the paper and the previous literature. The present results are of importance to understand the flame behaviors for the burning of fires with large ullage heights and provide guidance in risk assessment of tank fires.

Effects of unburnt reaction progress on stretch flame dynamics under elevated temperatures

Flames in practical combustors and engines are inevitably subject to the effects of upstream chemical reaction progress and stretch, induced by elevated thermodynamic conditions and flow non-uniformities, respectively. Recent shock tube experiments and simulation studies on flame propagation have shown that flame speed under engine-relevant conditions can be enhanced with non-negligible upstream chemical reaction progress, especially when low-temperature heat release is involved in the unburnt mixture. On the other hand, depending on the mixture equivalence ratio and diluents, nonequidiffusion (including the non-unity Lewis number effect and the preferential diffusion effect) can couple with the flame stretch to fundamentally affect the flame propagation, which can manifest as either facilitation or suppression. Depending on the transport property of a reacting mixture, there hence can be either inhibition or promotion from unburnt reaction progress and stretch effects on flame propagation. In the current work, through one-dimensional numerical simulations of transient planar and spherical flames of n-heptane/air under elevated thermodynamic conditions, the combined effects of upstream chemical reaction progress and stretch on flame propagation are investigated. Results show that for both lean and rich n-heptane/air mixtures, flame speed can be substantially promoted with reaction progress, while the rich mixtures can exhibit opposite stretch dependence after first-stage ignition. Different definitions of effective Lewis number are adopted to explain the change in Markstein length for spherical flame in lean and rich mixtures reformed by the low temperature chemistry. This work fills an important gap in laminar premixed flame research relevant to practical combustion systems and can provide useful insight into local turbulent flame behaviors and phi-sensitivity in engine combustion.

Maturity characterization of soot in laminar coflow diffusion flames of methane/anisole under different oxygen indices

Anisole fuel has gained increased attention, since it is considered a biofuel, and its addition to gasoline increases the octane number, improving the engine performance. This study focuses on the comprehensive characterization of soot maturity and sooting propensity of a well-controlled laminar coflow diffusion flame fueled with anisole and using methane as the carrier gas. Four laminar non-premixed flames were established below the smoke point. The oxidizer composition ranged from a molar fraction of oxygen (oxygen index, OI) of 21% to 35% (doped with pure oxygen), while keeping constant the total volumetric flow rate of oxidizer stream. Multi-wavelength line-of-sight attenuation experiments were performed from visible to infrared wavelengths, and the measurements of the extinction coefficient and flame temperature were used to retrieve two dimensional fields of soot temperature, volume fraction, radiative intensity and degree of soot maturity. In general, the sooting propensity and radiative behavior of the anisole flames follows a similar trend than typical hydrocarbon fuels when increasing the OI. However, the spatial distribution of soot volume fraction is enhanced, particularly near the flame centerline. In contrast, the soot production is promoted by the OI, near the flame wings. The same effect can be observed for the soot temperature. Indeed, temperature increases, promoting formation and oxidation processes, specially at the locations near the maximum soot volume fraction. In general, the maturity of soot particles is affected as the OI is changed. Also, it is observed that the degree of maturity is enhanced by flame temperature. In order to support these local observations, a statistical analysis was carried out. Finally, the results obtained yield a curated database for validating detailed soot production models of oxygenated fuels, and to gain further insights on the evolution of soot maturity and propensity of these particular fuels under different oxidizer conditions.