Computational and experimental investigations of turbulent asymmetric vortex flames

• Published in: International communications in heat and mass transfer 2011-03, Vol.38 (3), p.353-362
• Main Authors: Saqr, Khalid M., Aly, Hossam S., Sies, Mohsin M., Wahid, Mazlan A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Asymmetric combustor; Asymmetry; CFD; Chemically reactive flows; Combustion. Flame; Computation; Computational fluid dynamics; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Flame dynamics; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Mathematical models; Miscellaneous; Physics; Reactive, radiative, or nonequilibrium flows; Rotational flow and vorticity; Stability; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Turbulence; Turbulent combustion; Turbulent flow; Vortex flame; Vortices
• ISSN: 0735-1933; 1879-0178
• DOI: 10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2010.12.001

In the present article we present computational and experimental investigations of a turbulent asymmetric vortex flame. Such flame was created in a novel asymmetric combustor, which is described for the first time in this article. The three dimensional isothermal and reacting flow fields have been described using a computational methodology that impalements the R ε / k − ε and the eddy dissipation turbulence and combustion models, respectively. The computational model is validated for both isothermal and reacting flows. Additionally, the visible flame structure was captured by direct photography at a wide range of equivalence ratios in order to emphasize the exceptional stability of such flame. The mechanism of flame stability and interaction with the forced vortex field is preliminarily discussed. Finally, the basic characteristics of the asymmetric vortex flames are concluded.