Statistics of scalar dissipation and reaction progress in turbulent flames with compositional inhomogeneities

Hugh C. Cutcher*, Robert S. Barlow, Gaetano Magnotti, Alaa Masri

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper presents detailed measurements of three-dimensional (3D) scalar dissipation rates collected in turbulent, piloted flames with varying degree of compositional inhomogeneity. Joints statistics of mixture fraction and reaction progress variable are also shown for a range of conditions. These measurements complement the already existing substantial data set for mixed-mode flames stabilized on the Sydney piloted burner with compositionally inhomogeneous inlets. It is found that the difference between 2D (χr) and 3D (χ) scalar dissipation increases with axial distance along the flame such that the ratio χ/χr may be as high as 2.6. The effects of spatial resolution become more significant as compositional inhomogeneity increases. Mixture fraction, ξ is well-correlated with reaction progress variable, c, in turbulent homogenous flames but the correlations deteriorates significantly as the compositional inhomogeneity increases. This transition should clearly be accounted for in modeling mixed-mode combustion. A new mode of conditioning the scalar dissipation data with respect to burnt and unburnt fluid samples reveal separate trends: while the levels of χ remain similar for burnt samples, unburnt fluid experiences increasing levels of χ as the flames approach blow-off.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)439-451
Number of pages13
JournalCombustion and Flame
Volume194
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Work at the University of Sydney was supported by the Australian Research Council. Work at Sandia was supported by the Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, US Department of Energy. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-mission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA-0003525. Contributions by Bob Harmon in support of these experiments are gratefully acknowledged.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Combustion Institute

Keywords

  • Multimode combustion
  • Progress variable
  • Scalar Dissipation
  • Turbulent flames

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Chemical Engineering(all)
  • Fuel Technology
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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