Possibility Density Function Research Articles

Comparison study on LES combustion models in diffusion flame

This study comparatively analyzes the calculation performances of different large-eddy simulation (LES) combustion models in a diffused flame simulation to investigate the performances of different LES-turbulent combustion models. The flamelet/progress variable (FPV), partially stirred reactor (PaSR), and transport joint possibility density function (PDF) combustion model are adopted to perform a numerical simulation analysis for Flame D in the Sandia Lab. The comparison between the calculation results and the test data shows that the three models can properly simulate the diffused flame. The transport PDF model based on the Eulerian stochastic field method can realize better results, especially the forecast for the intermediate radicals (OH) and the pollutant emissions (NO). However, the calculation volume is huge. The calculation speed and precision of PaSR are acceptable. The FPV method can save much CPU time, and has great value in engineering applications. (Less)

Flame front structure of turbulent premixed flames of syngas oxyfuel mixtures

In order to investigate oxyfuel combustion characteristics of typical composition of coal gasification syngas connected to CCS systems. Instantaneous flame front structure of turbulent premixed flames of CO/H2/O2/CO2 mixtures which represent syngas oxyfuel combustion was quantitatively studied comparing with CH4/air and syngas/air flames by using a nozzle-type Bunsen burner. Hot-wire anemometer and OH-PLIF were used to measure the turbulent flow and detect the instantaneous flame front structure, respectively. Image processing and statistical analyzing were performed using the Matlab Software. Flame surface density, mean progress variable, local curvature radius, mean flame volume, and flame thickness, were obtained. Results show that turbulent premixed flames of syngas possess wrinkled flame front structure which is a general feature of turbulent premixed flames. Flame surface density for the CO/H2/O2/CO2 flame is much larger than that of CO/H2/O2/air and CH4/air flames. This is mainly caused by the smaller flame intrinsic instability scale, which would lead to smaller scales and less flame passivity response to turbulence presented by Markstain length, which reduce the local flame stretch against turbulence vortex. Peak value of Possibility Density Function (PDF) distribution of local curvature radius, R, for CO/H2/O2/CO2 flames is larger than those of CO/H2/O2/air and CH4/air flames at both positive and negative side and the corresponding R of absolute peak PDF is the smallest. This demonstrates that the most frequent scale is the smallest for CO/H2/O2/CO2 flames. Mean flame volume of CO/H2/O2/CO2 flame is smaller than that of CH4/air flame even smaller than that of CO/H2/O2/air flame. This would be due to the lower flame height and smaller flame wrinkles.

Numerical investigation of evaporating isopropyl alcohol spray with LES–FDF model

A model based on the framework of possibility density function (PDF) was used to simulate the sub-grid scale eddies “seen” by the droplets in an evaporating isopropyl alcohol spray. LES was used to simulate the fluid flow. The motion and evaporation of the droplets were solved in Lagrangian method and the filtered density function (FDF) transport equation was adopted to solve the sub-grid scale velocity of the gas phase surrounding the droplets. The comparison between the numerical and experimental results shows that the LES–FDF model can distinctly improve the precision of the simulation by considering the influence of sub-grid turbulence on the motion and evaporation of the droplets. Further studies on the effects of pressure and temperature on the droplet evaporation in turbulence were also carried out.

Mixing and atomization characteristics in an internal-mixing twin-fluid atomizer

Twin-fluid atomizers have been successfully used in many industrial applications. This paper presents experimental studies on internal mixing and atomization in a water–air internal-mixing atomizer. Two-phase mixing process and flow patterns in the internal mixing chamber were visually studied through high speed CCD. Observation reveals that internal mixing was dominated by Gas to Liquid mass Ratio (GLR). As GLR increased, the flow patterns changed from slug flow to annular flow. The Oshinowo and Charles’ map can be used to predict the flow patterns for the designed atomizer. Droplet Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD) spatial distributions were measured with Phase Doppler Analyzer (PDA) at different operating conditions. Droplet SMD decreased with the increase of GLR at all operating pressure and locations. In the undeveloped region, a close relationship was observed between flow pattern transformation in internal mixing chamber and droplet SMD distribution, and there was an optimized pressure ranging from 0.2MPa to 0.3MPa for atomization since liquid films became thicker under a higher pressure. In the developed region, pressure promoted to generate finer atomization. Possibility Density Function (PDF) distribution of droplet size at different axial locations was analyzed to quantitatively represent the effect of droplet coalescence and breakup. As axial distance increased, PDF of both fine droplets and large droplets decreased. The particle size with the maximum PDF increased with the axial distance as well. The results imply that best atomization performance was acquired in the undeveloped region.