Turbulent combustion of premixed flames in closed vessels

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Combustion and Flame; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-2180(94)90104-X· OSTI ID:5211098

Checkel, M D ^[1]; Thomas, A ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton (Canada). Mechanical Engineering
2. Univ. of Liverpool (United Kingdom). Mechanical Engineering

An extensive series of experiments on spark-ignited explosion of propane-air mixtures in both turbulent and quiescent conditions in a cubic closed vessel is described. Turbulence was produced by a moving grid, and the development with time of pressure and of flame area (from light emission) recorded. The effects of grid-hole diameter, grid velocity, spark timing after passage of the grid, equivalence ratio, and initial pressure were investigated. Estimates of the rate of strain in the unburnt gases were derived from hot-wire anemometry. Results indicated that rate of strain was a major factor governing the rate of combustion. Theoretical simulations of explosions with a simple model were made, in which turbulence was characterized solely by the rate of strain, and in which the decay of turbulence during explosions and the effect of changes in pressure on both burning velocity and flow field were taken into account. The simulations were compared with experimental results, and reinforced the idea that turbulence has the dual effect of causing wrinkling of flames and, especially for weaker mixtures, reducing the burning velocity. An empirical relationship was found in which the logarithmic rate of wrinkling was proportional to the square root of the rate of strain. Some simple conclusions are drawn regarding practical application of the results.

• OSTI ID: 5211098
• Journal Information: Combustion and Flame; (United States), Vol. 96:4; ISSN 0010-2180
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
PROPANE
COMBUSTION KINETICS
SPARK IGNITION ENGINES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
TURBULENT FLOW
ALKANES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
ENGINES
FLUID FLOW
HEAT ENGINES
HYDROCARBONS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
KINETICS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
REACTION KINETICS
034000* - Natural Gas- Combustion
330101 - Internal Combustion Engines- Spark-Ignition