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Estimate the laminar flame speed, SL, of a stoichiometric propane (C3H8)-air mixture using
the simplified theory of Spalding developed in class
Make use of a global, one-step reaction mechanism to estimate the mean reaction rate
Laminar flame structure. Temperature and heat-release rate profiles based on experiments of Friedman and Burke
Reference: Turns An Introduction to Combustion
Analysis couples principles of heat transfer, mass transfer, chemical kinetics, and
thermodynamics to understand the factors governing:
Flame speed, SL
Flame thickness, (ANSWER, =2/SL)
Simplified approach using conservation relations
Assumptions:
1. 1-D, constant area, steady flow
2. Neglect: kinetic and potential energy, viscous shear work, thermal radiation
3. Constant pressure (neglect small pressure difference across flame)
4. Diffusion of heat governed by Fouriers law
5. Diffusion of mass governed by Ficks law (binary diffusion)
6. Lewis number (Le/D) unity
7. Individual specific heats are equal and constant
8. Fuel and oxidizer form products in a single-step exothermic reaction
9. Oxidizer is present in stoichiometric or excess proportions; thus, the fuel is
completely consumed at the flame.
d Cx H y
Ea
C H m O n
A exp
2
RT x y
dt
m
S L 2 1 F
u
2 u
1
m
F
2
SL
m
S L 2 1 F
u
2 u
1 m F
2
SL
m
S L 2 1 F
u
2 u
1 m F
SL T
0.375
n 2
u b
TT
exp E A 2 RuTb P
n2
CASE
Tu
300
600
300
Tb
2,000
2,300
1,700
SL/SL,A
3.64
0.46
/,A
0.65
1.95
Experimental measurements
generally show a negative
pressure dependence
Plot is for CH4 - Air
SL (cm/s) = 43P-0.5 (atm)
Comment on H2
Thermal diffusivity of H2 is many times greater than HC fuels
Mass diffusivity of H2 is much greater than HC fuels
Reaction kinetics for H2 are very rapid (no slow CO CO2 step)
One of most useful correlations for laminar flame speed, SL, given by Metghalchi and Keck
Determined experimentally over a range of temperatures and pressures typical of those found in
reciprocating IC engines and gas-turbine combustors
Tu
T
u ,ref
S L S L ,ref
P
ref
S L ,ref BM B2 M
1 2.1Ydil
2.18 0.8 1
0.16 0.22 1
EXAMPLE: Employ correlation of Metghalchi and Keck to compare laminar flame speed gasoline
(RMFD-303)-air mixtures with = 0.8 for 3 cases:
1. At reference conditions of T = 298 K and P = 1 atm
2. At conditions typical of a spark ignition engine operating at T = 685 K and P = 18.38 atm
3. At same conditions as (2) but with 15 percent (by mass) exhaust gas recirculation
TRANSIENT BEHAVIOR
CH4-Air at 1 atm
Laminar flame speeds for pure
Fuels burning in air at = 1.0
P = 1 atm, Tu = 300K
FLAMMABILITY LIMITS
Experiments show that a flame will propagate only within a range of mixture compositions (sometimes
called mixture strengths in this context) between lower and upper limits of flammability
Lower limit is leanest mixture ( < 1) that will allow steady flame propagation
Upper limit is richest mixture ( > 1) that will allow steady flame propagation
Flammability limits are frequently quoted as percent fuel by volume in mixture, or as a percentage
of the stoichiometric fuel requirement
Experimental determination: Tube Method
Determine whether or not a flame initiated at the bottom of a vertical tube (approximately 50 mm
diameter and 1.2 m long) propagates the length of tube
A mixture that sustains the flame is said to be flammable and by adjusting the mixture
strength, flammability limit can be ascertained
In addition to mixture properties, experimental flammability limits are related to heat losses
from the system, and hence, are generally apparatus dependent
IGNITION
Both Flashback and Liftoff are related to matching local laminar flame speed to local flow velocity
Flashback occurs when the flame enters and propagates through the burner tube without quenching
Can be dangerous and can lead to explosions
Can be useful as a flash tube from pilot flame to a burner
Occurs when local flame speed exceeds local flow velocity (when fuel flow is being decreased or
turned off transient event)
Controlling parameters: fuel type, equivalence ratio, flow velocity, and burner geometry (same
parameters that control quenching)
Liftoff is the condition where the flame is not attached to the burner tube but is stabilized at some
distance from the port
Can lead to escape or loss of unburned gases
Can lead to incomplete combustion
Ignition is often difficult above lifting limit
Tough to accurately control position of flame
Poor heat transfer
Flame can be noisy
Liftoff depends on local flame and flow properties near the edges of the burner port
Liftoff and blowoff can be explained by the countervailing effects of decreased heat and radical loss to
burner and increased dilution with ambient air, both occur when flow velocity is increased
Because flame is close to cold wall, both heat and reactive species diffuse to wall, which leads to
small SL
With SL and flow velocities small and equal, flame edge lies close to burner tube
New effect is important: dilution of mixture with ambient air as a result of diffusion
With further increases in flow velocity, a point is reached at which there is no location
across the flow at which the SL matches the flow velocity, and the flame blows off the tube
SL increases since heat/radical losses are less because flame is now not as close to cold wall
FLAME STABILIZATION
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/shuttle/usmp4/science/elf_obj.html