Laminar flame propagation/quench for a parallel-wall duct

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5627529

Carrier, G F; Fendell, F E; Feldman, P S

Steady laminar isobaric two-dimensional propagation of a fuel-lean large-activation-temperature premixed flame between plan parallel (isothermal non-catalytic) walls is examined theoretically. A Shvab-Zeldovich engineering-type formulation, with a treatment of convective transport of species and heat in the manner of Oseen, is integrated numerically. Of particular interest is how the flame speed decreases as the wall separation decreases, for different wall temperatures. At a finite wall separation the quenching distance is achieved, such that the flame speed goes abruptly to zero; this critical quenching distance is smaller for hotter walls. This investigation seeks to lend credibility of principle to one possible strategy for reducing the level of unburned-hydrocarbon species exhausted from Otto-cycle-type cylinders. The primary source for hydrocarbon emissions is now generally acknowledged to be the failure of flame to propagate into the narrow piston crevice owing to heat loss to cold walls. Higher wall temperature at the piston crown and rings would seem to abet flame propagation and assist burn-up during the combustion event; also, persistent fuel vapor would be discharged at higher temperature into the hot, oxygen-rich bulk cylinder contents during the power-stroke expansion.

• Research Organization: Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (USA); TRW Space and Technology Group, Redondo Beach, CA (USA). Engineering Sciences Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-78ET13329
• OSTI ID: 5627529
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/13329-T3; ON: DE85010161
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330100* -- Internal Combustion Engines
330704 -- Emission Control-- Hydrocarbons
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400800 -- Combustion
Pyrolysis
& High-Temperature Chemistry
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
FLAME PROPAGATION
FLAMES
HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTTO CYCLE
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
QUENCHING
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
WALLS