Ignition Position Research Articles

Research on Natural Gas Leakage and Explosion Mechanisms in a Container House

As unconventional building structures, container houses are now widely used in urban tourism to create characteristic buildings. Nowadays, natural gas accidents occur frequently in cities and towns; however, the development of laws and influencing factors of natural gas accidents in container buildings have rarely been studied. In this paper, a natural gas explosion test was carried out in an ordinary container house, and a numerical simulation was carried out according to the test results. The influence of methane proportion, ignition position, pressure-relief area, and pressure-relief intensity on the explosion load was analyzed. Research shows that natural gas will gather from top to bottom during the process of leakage and diffusion, and vertical stratification will occur. The most unfavorable working condition is 9.5% methane. Using the roof of the container house as a pressure-relief panel can effectively control the influence range of natural gas explosion accidents and help reduce accident losses. It is suggested that the stacking of container buildings should be reduced as much as possible, and the roof strength should be weakened to ensure structural safety. The research results have certain reference values for the disaster prevention and reduction design of urban characteristic buildings.

Dynamic evolution of flame and overpressure of leakage and explosion of hydrogen-blended natural gas in utility tunnels

In order to ascertain the true characteristics of the leakage explosion loads of hydrogen-blended natural gas (HBNG) in utility tunnels, the influence of leakage location on the concentration field distribution of HBNG leakage in utility tunnels was studied through the CFD technique. Furthermore, the characteristics of explosion flame and overpressure load distribution of HBNG of inhomogeneous distribution under effect of different ignition delay times and ignition positions were also investigated. The results show that the greater the distance between the leakage location and the air outlet, the more readily HBNG can propagate throughout the utility tunnel. This, in turn, leads to more prominent downstream gas cloud stratification. The development of explosion flame is primarily seen in the direction of low resistance and ample space within the utility tunnel. With the increase in ignition delay time (tid) and the backward shift of the leakage location (Llk), the average flame velocity generally exhibits a decreasing trend. Overall, the peak overpressure exhibits a concave trend. Under circumstances where the leakage source is in the front or middle section of the tunnel, the average peak overpressure demonstrates a general tendency of increase followed by decline with the increase in tid. In comparison, in the case of a leakage source located at the back end, it decreases gradually as tid increases. The most severe explosion overpressure load is readily induced when the leakage source is located at the front end. In the case of a leakage source located in the front section of the tunnel, the overpressure load at each measuring point decreases continuously and then rises as the ignition position moves backward. However, in the case of a leakage source located in the rear section of the tunnel, the average value of peak overpressure induced by ignition in the middle of the tunnel is the greatest, while the average value of peak overpressure induced by ignition at the back end is the smallest. The maximum explosion overpressure load is found at the front-most leakage source under front-end ignition conditions. The findings of this study offer scientific substantiation for the structure of the utility tunnel, which is designed for explosion withstanding, prevention, and control as well as risk assessment.

LES evaluation of hydrogen explosion disaster in interconnected vessels

Using the LES method, this study is aimed at evaluating the hydrogen explosion disaster in interconnected vessels. The flame evolution, flame front speed, explosion overpressure, vorticity and velocity vectors are obtained by changing volume ratio, pipe length, pipe diameter and ignition position. The result indicated that as the volume ratio increases, the flame vorticity decreases, resulting in a lower maximum flame front speed. However, due to stronger pre-compression, the maximum explosion overpressure increases. An increase in pipe diameter significantly reduces flame vorticity, leading to a reduction in both maximum flame front speed and maximum explosion overpressure. With increasing pipe length, the flame vorticity increases, and the maximum flame front speed exhibits a monotonic increase, while the maximum explosion overpressure follows a trend of “initially slightly decreasing, then remaining nearly constant.” The ignition in the smaller vessel resulted in the highest vorticity and flame front speed, followed by ignition in the big vessel, with the lowest flame front speed observed when the ignition occurred at the center of the pipe. The ignition in the big vessel produced the highest pre-compression and explosion overpressure, followed by ignition in the smaller vessel, with the lowest explosion overpressure observed when the ignition occurred at the center of the pipe.

Experimental Study on Evaporation and Ignition Behavior of RP-3 Fuel with Different Leakage Volumes on Hot Surface

ABSTRACT Fire accidents caused by fuel leakage to hot surfaces are of significant concern in the aerospace domain due to their potential for severe consequences. This paper investigates the evaporation and ignition characteristics of fuel leakage to a hot surface through a series of experiments with different volumes of RP-3 droplets. The evolution patterns of evaporation lifetime, ignition position, and ignition delay time are examined. The results show that within the surface temperature range of 500–700°C, the fuel droplets of all volumes almost immediately reach the film boiling state upon contact with the hot surface. The droplets move erratically across the surface, changing shape from irregular to elliptical and finally to spherical. The evaporation lifetime decreases with increasing hot surface temperature. The occurrence of ignition is stochastic, and the ignition probability rises with the hot surface temperature, while the minimum ignition temperature decreases with the increase of fuel volume. The movement of the fuel droplets in the film boiling state leads to the irregularity of the ignition position. Additionally, the ignition delay time decreases with an increase in the temperature of the hot surface. The relationship between ignition delay time and surface temperature in the film boiling state is discussed in the context of the vapor plume model and boiling heat transfer analysis.

Explosive characteristics of premixed hydrogen-air subjected to various concentration gradients

In this research, different concentrations of hydrogen-air were charged into separate compartments of a 4.7 m pipe with a circular cross-section. The high-speed laser schlieren technique and overpressure detection technique were employed to accurately acquire the kinetic parameters of the explosive flow field, i.e., the evolution of the flame morphology, the flame propagation velocity and the shock wave overpressure. Two concentration gradients of 15 %-17 % and 15 %-25 % were programmed for the experiment. Affected by R-T, D-L, and multidimensional shock wave perturbations, the flame morphology exhibits fingertip, planar, cellular, tulip, and twisted tulip structures. Prolonging the gas diffusion time, the mean flame speeds were observed to be 10 m/s and 20 m/s after 10 min of diffusion for 15 %-17 % and 15 %-25 %, respectively, smaller than 45 m/s and 150 m/s at uniform concentrations. Besides, with the prolongation of diffusion time, the flame rarely backflows, and the velocity is more homogeneous and stable. Furthermore, as the ignition position approaches the concentration gradient, the flame is “driven” by the reflected shock wave upstream coupled with the effect of the elevated gas concentration, which significantly enhances the propagation velocity and overpressure.

Comparative study of flame propagation characteristics of methane explosion in pipeline with different venting structures at different ignition positions

The effect of central ignition and four types of explosion vents (circular vents with areas of 22.89, 15.20, and 9.07 cm2 and a cross-shaped vent with an area of 15.20 cm2) on the flame propagation of methane explosions was investigated by using a rectangular blast pipe system and analyzed in comparison with the closed-end ignition condition. Central ignition shows that the flame propagation velocity on both sides of the pipe increases and decreases. The peak pressure decreases as the vent area increases. Specifically, Pm (9.07 cm2) > Pm (15.20 cm2) > Pm (22.89 cm2). The flame temperature at the closed end was consistently higher than that at the vented end. The vm values in the closed-end ignition pipe increased by 20.0 %, 41.8 %, 45.8 %, 40.9 %, 31.5 %, and 19.0 %, respectively, over the central ignition position when the methane concentration was 8–13 %. When the methane concentration deviates from the stoichiometric ratio, the difference in peak pressure between closed-end and central ignition can be up to 0.15 MPa, which is 26.7 % of that of central ignition. The peak temperatures observed at points 1–2 in the closed-end ignition were consistently higher than the central ignition.

An review of research on liquid hydrogen leakage: regarding China’s hydrogen refueling stations

Hydrogen is regarded as the premier energy source for future sustainability and renewability. However, its distinct physicochemical properties render it prone to explosions in the event of a leak. Therefore, there is a need for more comprehensive research dealing with hydrogen leakage, explosion scenarios, and risk assessment. This paper provides an overview of the current hydrogen policies adopted in China. It reviews the processes of hydrogen refueling station construction and the thermophysical mechanisms of liquid hydrogen leakage. In this regard, the effects of various factors, including leakage rate, leakage time, leakage hole size, wind direction and speed, and building location, on the hydrogen leakage rate are analyzed and evaluated. Additionally, the impacts of different factors on hydrogen explosion overpressure are reported, including hydrogen concentration, wind speed, obstacles, and ignition position, in addition to the current applications of quantitative risk assessment methods in hydrogen refueling stations. Finally, the limitations of current research on liquid hydrogen leakage and explosion accidents are highlighted, along with the shortcomings of current risk assessment methods for liquid hydrogen refueling stations.

Effect of airflow velocity in vessel-pipelines on dust explosion during pneumatic conveying

In order to investigate the flame propagation and pressure characteristics of dust particles during airflow transportation, a dust explosion experimental apparatus simulating dust handling processes was designed. The system is supplied with a stable airflow by a high-pressure fan, capable of continuously transferring dust from the vessel to the pipeline at a controllable speed. Dust explosion experiments were meticulously executed by applying 1 kJ of ignition energy to the transported dust particles at airflow velocities of 5, 10, and 15 m/s. This study examines the effects of airflow velocity, pipe diameter, and ignition position on explosion characteristics and delves into the mechanisms of these effects through a detailed analysis of experimental results. For the maximum explosion pressure, an increase in airflow velocity causes the maximum explosion pressure to rise. As the pipe diameter increases, the maximum explosion pressure first rises and then falls. The maximum explosion pressure occurs in the case of bottom ignition. The range of maximum explosion pressure values is expected to provide a reference for explosion detection and explosion venting. For flame propagation, the flame undergoes five processes within the vessel, including ignition of dust particles, spherical flame development, flame stretching towards the mouth of the pipe, complete combustion of particles, and near exhaustion of particle combustion. The higher the airflow velocity and the larger the pipe diameter, the more pronounced the flame stretching and development towards the pipe opening become. Within the pipe, two distinct flame propagation behaviors were observed under conditions of high and low airflow velocities. Compared with the experimental results of high-pressure pneumatic powder spraying forming a dust cloud within a vessel-pipeline, this study measures the maximum explosion pressure at specific turbulence levels and establishes a quantitative relationship between airflow velocity and explosion characteristics. Utilizing this correlation can provide a reference for predicting industrial-grade dust explosion characteristics at different airflow velocity levels, thereby offering a more optimized design basis for the design and safety protection of industrial equipment.

Design method and experimental study on a novel self-sustaining internal combustion burner

Peak shaving represents a particular challenge with regard to coal-fired power plants, as methods to achieve stable, high-efficiency, and low-nitrogen-oxide combustion at ultralow loads remain unavailable. In this study, based on analysis of the ignition mechanism, heating mode, and theory of preheating method, we proposed a novel pulverized coal full-time self-sustaining internal combustion burner by combining the processes of plasma ignition, reverse jetting, and multi-stage ignition. A flame stability model for the burner's recirculation zone was established using the temperature change rate of the recirculation zone as a criterion. The ignition position of the stable self-sustained combustion of the pulverized coal gas stream was determined under various working conditions, and the length of the ignition core stage, a component of the burner inside which the pulverized coal gas stream achieves stable self-sustained combustion, was determined based on the calculated maximum ignition position; a self-sustaining internal combustion burner was then designed based on the ascertained length. Subsequently, we established an experimental system for the self-sustaining internal combustion burner and conducted tests in the load range of 25 %–100 %. Notably, the results of the pulverized coal self-sustained ignition position experiment were consistent with the computational results of the model. The self-sustaining internal combustion burner offers a quick start–stop feature, with the pulverized coal able to achieve stable self-sustained combustion after the plasma igniter shuts off. The resultant gas-phase products exiting the burner met the boiler's concentration requirements for enhanced nitrogen reduction, and the burner exhibited good anti-interference properties. The influence of the pulverized coal gas stream velocity and concentration on the self-sustained ignition was expounded. Under the experimental conditions, an optimal concentration range was ascertained for stable ignition of the pulverized coal gas stream, with the ignition position gradually advancing backward with increasing gas stream velocity. Together, our findings highlight the potential of the proposed burner design to support clean and efficient pulverized coal combustion in coal-fired power plants.

Experimental Study on the Influence of Ignition Position on the Overpressure of Hydrogen Jet Flame.

The accidental leakage of hydrogen poses a significant barrier to the widespread adoption and development of hydrogen energy due to the potential risks of fire, explosion, and jet fire hazards. Experimental investigations have been conducted on the process of jet fires formed by igniting hydrogen jet streams after accidental releases in scenarios such as high-pressure hydrogen gas storage tanks and hydrogen transmission pipelines. These experiments utilized a release pipe with a diameter of 10 mm and a length of 0.75 m, along with three pressure sensors, to study the influence of release pressure and ignition position on jet flame overpressure and flame propagation. Extensive tests at 1.5 MPa yielded a hydrogen flammability map containing two nonflammable zones and one flammable zone, along with a graph illustrating the relationship between overpressure and ignition points. Furthermore, experiments conducted at ignition positions of 0.05, 0.5 and 1.0 m under release pressures ranging from 6 to 10 MPa revealed that release pressure had no significant effect, while ignition position notably influenced the waveform and peak of the shockwave. Additionally, a peak shockwave reaching 30 kPa was observed at the downstream of the pipe outlet when ignited at 0.05 m, far exceeding the threshold of 24 kPa associated with fatalities. This research aims to provide valuable insights for safety design and protection distance considerations in scenarios involving hydrogen release and ignition.

Numerical Simulation Study of Combustion under Different Excess Air Factors in a Flow Pulverized Coal Burner

The basic national condition that is dominated by coal will not alter in the foreseeable future. Coal-fired boiler is the main equipment for coal utilization, and cyclone burner is a practical type of burner. There is a cyclone formation, a primary air duct inside the center air duct, and a secondary air duct. Introducing a small stream of pulverized coal gas or oil mist stream or gas directly into the reflux zone in the center duct ignites first a stable combustion and a small fluctuation of ignition pressure. In this paper, the variation of furnace temperature for cyclone pulverized coal burner corresponding to different excess air factors and the composition of gases such as O2, CO, CO2, and NOX produced by combustion were investigated using fluent software. A single cyclone pulverized coal burner from an actual coal-fired boiler is used, and a combustion zone applicable to the study of a single pulverized coal burner is established to study the actual operation of a single pulverized coal burner at different excess air coefficients. The findings indicate that the ignition position of pulverized coal combustion advances with decreasing α (Excess Air Factors); however, the length of the produced high-temperature flame gets shorter. As the value of α decreases, the burnout in the furnace decreases and the CO emission concentration increases, with a maximum CO mole fraction of 0.38% at α = 1.2 and a maximum CO mole fraction of 3.13% at the axial position when α decreases to 0.8. The furnace’s concentration of NOX, the NOX emission level decreases significantly with decreasing α. The NOX mole mass increases gradually with increasing α, and in the bottom portion of the primary combustion zone, more NOX is produced. The concentration of NOX in the chamber changes significantly after α exceeds 1.0, and the NOX at the outlet surges from 417.25 ppm to 801.07 ppm, which is attributed to the increase in the average temperature of the chamber, which promotes the generation of thermophilic NOX. The distribution pattern of O2 mole fraction along the furnace height cross-section at different excess air factors is basically the same, with a maximum at the burner inlet and a gradual decrease in the O2 content as it enters the combustion chamber to react with the pulverized coal in a combustion reaction. The value of α = 0.8 when the air supply is obviously insufficient, the fuel cannot be fully combusted, and only a small amount of CO2 is produced.

Numerical simulation study on the effect of ignition position on premixed hydrogen deflagration characteristics in tunnels

To analyze the influence of different ignition positions on the propagation of deflagration characteristics and the disaster mechanism in the hydrogen deflagration process in the tunnel, this study compares and verifies the experimental data of tunnel model deflagration based on the CFD code GASFLOW-MPI. A combustion velocity model based on the accelerated separation effect is used, and the effect of heat transfer on the consequences of deflagration is considered. The propagation laws of pressure waves, fluid velocity and temperature in the tunnel are analyzed, and it is found that the changing trends of shock waves and fluid velocity in the tunnel are consistent, but completely opposite in the tunnel outside. The effects of different ignition positions on the hydrogen deflagration characteristics are compared and analyzed. The results show that when ignition occurs at different heights of the center of the premixed region, the impact on the deflagration characteristics is relatively small, while when ignition occurs at different horizontal distances in the premixed region, the impact on the deflagration characteristics is relatively large; the peak overpressure of side ignition is far lower than the case where ignition occurs in the center of the premixed region, but the maximum flow velocity is much higher than the center ignition. The impact on temperature is the smallest. In general, in areas close to the hydrogen/air premixed zone, side ignition results in more severe consequences, whereas in areas far from the premixed zone and outside the tunnel, central ignition leads to more severe consequences. This study provides theoretical support for understanding the disaster-causing mechanisms of hydrogen/air premixed gas deflagration in tunnels under different ignition positions.

Optical study on the single and multiple regions of flame propagation and combustion characteristics of methane/air mixture ignited by pilot diesel

The combustion characteristics of lean methane/air mixtures ignited by single and multiple diesel sprays were investigated using an optical RCEM test bench. The experimental approach included flame natural luminescence photography, pressure data acquisition, and heat release analysis. The results revealed that the relationships of ignition delay and orifice diameter varied under single diesel and dual fuel combustion mode. Under dual fuel mode, increasing the orifice diameter of the single-orifice nozzle resulted in a reduction in ignition delay, an acceleration in flame propagation, and an increase in the heat release rate. Increasing the number of orifices multiplied the flame regions, expanded the flame propagation pathways, and enhanced the promoting effect between the flames, resulting in faster flame propagation and increased heat release. The orifice axis angle significantly affected the ignition position and flame propagation direction. An appropriate axis angle would shorten the flame propagation distance, optimize the flame propagation direction and mitigate the impediment effect between flames.

Imaging diagnostics and PIV measurements of flame propagation and flow structure during ignition process in a three-sector RQL combustor

The ignition of kerosene spray in an aero-engine combustor is complex due to the fuel injection, mixing, and swirl flow. To explore the influence of ignition position on the ignition characteristics of the aero-engine combustor, a three-sector rich-quench-lean (RQL) combustor experiment system was designed. The experimental study on the ignition process of different ignition positions was carried out. Two different positions of igniter, located respectively in the left liner and middle liner, were considered. Experimental results show that observations revealed a consistent ignition propagation pattern across various axial cross-sections, demonstrating distinct roles for combustor structures, such as the outer recirculation zone (ORZ), recirculation vortex, and inner recirculation zone (IRZ) during the process. The upper recirculation vortex and ORZ create favorable conditions for flame kernel formation, which then spreads to ignite the IRZ and lower recirculation vortex, aiding primarily in heat transfer, before propagating downstream to light up additional vortex structures. Furthermore, the ignition position significantly influences the flame development in two schemes, showing variations in flame intensity under different equivalence ratios and resulting in divergent propagation states. Additionally, during circumferential ignition, variances in ignition positions and flow field structures elongate the flame path for the middle ignition scheme, introducing both reverse and co-rotating motions between flame and airflow. This interaction accelerates the clockwise flame front propagation while simultaneously damping the counterclockwise movement, showcasing the complex dynamics of flame behavior in response to ignition and flow field variations.

Combined effects of ignition position and hydrogen ratio on vented CH4/H2/air explosions

Experiments on the effects of ignition position and hydrogen ratio (χ) on the explosions of CH4/H2/air mixtures were experimentally investigated in a vented cylindrical vessel. Relevant experiments were conducted utilizing ignition sources situated at the rear (rear ignition), the center of the vessel (central ignition), or near the vent (front ignition) with χ varying from 0 to 1.0. Two types of cellular structures on the flame surface, owing to the diffusional-thermal instability and acoustically enhanced combustion, respectively, were observed, and the latter resulted in acoustic oscillations of the overpressure within the vessel and a unique overpressure peak p2 with amplitude sensitive to both ignition position and χ. The effects of ignition position and χ on the build-up of the internal pressure were not significant when χ ≤ 0.15. The maximum explosion overpressure in the vessel (pmax) under the explosions of rear and central ignitions (RI and CI) increased monotonically as χ was increased from 0.3 to 1.0, but a nonmonotonic trend was found in the explosions of front ignition (FI). CI could be regarded as the worst-case scenario when 0.45≤χ ≤ 1.0 except for χ = 0.7, because FI resulted in the highest pmax at χ = 0.7. A pressure peak outside the vent (pext) caused by the combustion expansion of the combustible cloud could be distinguished when χ ≥ 0.45 in the explosions of RI and CI. The amplitude of pext increased with an increase in χ. Rear ignition always led to the highest pext when χ > 0.6.

Flame behaviors of vented inhomogeneous hydrogen deflagrations in an enclosure: Effects of the ignition position

The effect of ignition position on vented inhomogeneous hydrogen deflagrations in a 7 m3 enclosure was investigated. For bottom ignition IG1, 1/3-height ignition IG2 and center ignition IG3, the initial flame bubble appears as an ellipsoid and extends vertically within the hydrogen release plume. Subsequently, a coupled flame structure involving both the jet fire and flame bubble propagates towards the vent. The flame bubble retains a shape in which the upper part is wider than the lower part during its expansion. For 2/3-height ignition and top ignition, a coupled flame structure is generated involving the horizontal propagation of a layer of flame below the ceiling and expansion of the flame bubble. For ignitions at IG1, IG2 and IG3, the speed of the rightward flame front rapidly decreases from its initially substantial value to a small value as the horizontal flame front moves away from the jet centerline. Moreover, the double flame accelerations are recorded. Three overpressure peaks are observed, namely Popen, Phel and Pvib, which result from the vent opening, Helmholtz-type oscillations and thermo-acoustic oscillations, respectively. The maximum overpressure Pmax is close to each other by ignitions at the same non-dimensional height of 0.82. However, a larger Pmax is induced by ignition at a lower height. The maximum Pmax is caused by bottom ignition. The overpressure oscillation with high-frequency and wideband is enhanced for bottom ignition, and the maximum frequency of overpressure oscillations during the thermo-acoustic coupling is 1041 Hz.

The effect of open-end ignition at different positions on the explosion behaviors of H2/CO/Air in variable cross-section pipe

This work is focused on the explosion performance of syngas/air premixed gas in a self-designed variable cross-section pipe under varying ignition positions (IP1, IP2) and hydrogen volume fraction (α(H2)). Results show that α(H2) has a great influence on the propagation of the flame as well as the maximum flame front velocity (FFVmax) and the maximum overpressure (Pmax). As α(H2) in the syngas increases, the time the flame stays in the pipe is gradually reduced, the FFVmax as well as the Pmax increase regardless of the ignition position. Differently, when α(H2) < 50%, the tclosed at IP1 is shorter than that at IP2. The opposite is true when α(H2) ≥ 50%. This is attributed to the difference in flame velocity and the effect of film breakage. Both α(H2) and variable cross-section chamber structure all affect the evolution of the flame morphology. When ignition at IP2, a “M” flame is observed for the first time at α(H2) = 20%, and a flame resembling a “T” shape appears at α(H2) = 70%. Ignition positions have a great influence on overpressure oscillation. In the case of α(H2) = 15%, the Fourier transform is performed for the pressure curve. When ignited at IP1, secondary unstable oscillations occur during the later stage of flame propagation. However, when ignition at IP2, primary instability oscillations occur in both the early and late stages of flame propagation. The variable cross-section chamber structure plays a role in the flame front velocity (FFV) and overpressure. After the flame front enters the variable section chamber, the FFV reduces, and when the flame front leaves the variable section chamber, due to the sudden decrease of the cross-sectional area, the FFV increases significantly, and FFVmax and Pmax are obtained at this moment.

Thermal response of DNAN based explosives considering thermodynamic coupling：Under different charge quantity and diameter changes

This paper explores the impact of changes in charge quantity and diameter on the thermal response of DNAN-based explosives. To achieve this, we established a method for simulating thermal, chemical, and mechanical coupling. The study focuses on three fixed charge quantities of explosives, each with varying length-to-diameter ratios, examining alterations in ignition position, timing, and temperature changes under different heating rates, as well as the safe thermal response size in various heating environments. The findings show that the maximum discrepancy between the simulation results and experimental data is under 5 %. It was observed that larger charges are less sensitive to variations in external heating rates and aspect ratios. Specifically, at a heating rate of 1 K/min, projectiles with a diameter exceeding their length by the same factor exhibit greater thermal safety than those with a length exceeding their diameter. This research not only enhances the accuracy of simulation experiments but also offers a comprehensive safety analysis for the combustion of ammunition. The findings provide valuable insights for designing low-vulnerability ammunition structures that are subject to significant thermal stress in various environments, and they are useful for guiding ammunition storage and destruction experiments.

Investigation of ignition process of a multi-swirl staged model combustor in low-temperature environment

The ignition reliability of lean combustion is fundamental to make sure that gas turbine combustor can operate in low-temperature environment reliably. It is important to investigate the influence of key factors on ignition process to improve ignition performance. Based on the multi-swirl staged model combustor, the effect of low-temperature inlet and fuel to air ratio (FAR) on the behaviors of the initial flame kernel and flame propagation. In this work, Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and Dynamic Thickened Flame (DTF) model coupled with skeletal chemical reaction mechanism of kerosene are used to capture flamelet information during the ignition process. The results show that the numerical method can capture the ignition process accurately. The axial velocity, droplet temperature and local equivalence ratio of the ignition position decrease as the inlet air temperature decreases, while the local equivalence ratio increases with the increase of FAR. Ignition fails when inlet air temperature reducing to 253 K, as local equivalence ratio and local FAR decrease, and the Karlovitz number (Ka) of the ignition position increases. The ignition with low-temperature inlet air can be successful by raising the FAR to 0.04 at the same time, but the ignition delay time is extended by 26.72 % and the flame propagation path is changed.

Research on laser induced plasma ignition of gas oxygen/methane

Laser-induced plasma ignition is a new ignition method to achieve stable and reliable ignition of liquid rocket engines. It has the advantages of accurate and controllable ignition position, broadening ignition lean-burn limit and small disturbance to flow field. In this paper, the laser ignition process and combustion characteristics of gas oxygen/gas methane under rocket engine conditions are studied from four aspects, namely different ignition positions, ignition energy, fuel-oxygen momentum ratio and chamber pressure. Using a high-speed camera, the dynamic process of ignition was captured by the shadow method, and the generation and propagation of laser-induced flame nuclei were recorded. The results show that at the airflow velocity of 300–400 m/s, the time required for the flame kernel to develop to the entire combustion chamber is about 300 μs, and the time for the flame to reach a steady state is tens of milliseconds. When the ignition energy is increased by 1.5 times, the time required for the flame kernel to develop from the recirculation zone to the mainstream zone is shortened to 1/3 of the original; with the increase of the fuel-oxygen momentum ratio, the shape of the initial flame kernel changes from round to oval, and the development speed of the flame kernel also increases. The fuel-oxygen momentum ratio increases from 0.59 to 2.75, and the time required for the flame kernel to develop from the recirculation zone to the mainstream zone decreases from 167 μs to 56 μs＀ Except chamber pressure, other factors have no effect on the pressure rise rate of the ignition process, and the higher the chamber pressure, the faster the pressure rise rate; in order to avoid deflagration, the shear layer is more suitable as the ignition position. With the increase of ignition energy, fuel-oxygen momentum ratio and chamber pressure, the development speed of flame kernel increases, but the shape and development process of flame kernel will be different under the influence of different factors.