Name: Juan Fernando Jaramillo

Professor: Jay P. Gore

ME525 semester project: How fast we can burn 2.0

1. Executive Summary

In the lecture video Dr. Simone explains the behavior of premixed laminar and turbulent
flames, under three different conditions: differential diffusion, stretch and curvature.
Throughout the first part of the lecture, premixed laminar flames behavior is analyzed
and how these behaviors could affect the accuracy of the results when measuring things
like unstrained laminar flame speeds in spherical and stretched propagation flames. Then
Dr. Simone talks about the relation between flame propagation with differential diffusion
and flow field stretch. Later on she explain the different struggles of obtaining
experimental results in this specific field of engineering, and the different techniques she
used and developed in order to analyze certain parameters like premix turbulent flames,
sprays and autoignition; and the inconsistencies that we have when it comes to defining
certain parameters like turbulent flame speed. And at last, we are presented data collected
from an experiment with methane under turbulent conditions, showing the inconsistencies
that there are under Bunsen and spherical propagating flames, plus a small recap for
opportunities of future research and solutions under DNS.

2. Introduction

Through out this review, we are going to focus on different themes given in the lecture
by Dr. Simone, which will give us a bigger and better understanding on how different
parameters like reaction and diffusion affect laminar flames behavior, and how we can
find a somewhat similar behavior under turbulent conditions too. Then it is explained
certain methods of measurement for certain mixes have gained a lot of attention as we try
to transition from carbon based fuels to more “green” forms of energy; which might not
behave the same way as our current fuels.

Its important to emphasize under a always changing world, our knowledge expands on
certain areas. In this case the understanding of premixed of both laminar and turbulent
combustion is very important as we go in the path looking better and more efficient ways
of transforming this chemical energy into thermal/mechanical energy. Understanding the
turbulent flames behavior we will be able to understand combustion instabilities, the heat
released which has a direct correlation with turbulent fluctuations, and at last fundamental
things like reaction rate per unit volume.

One important part of these ongoing developments is how we simulate, calculate, and
measure this experiments. As our CFDs and NDS have gotten more sophisticated and
more accurate, we have being able to represent and create a massive database for different
types of flames and its behavior, under different conditions with different fuels. Making
it easier to understand all the factors that could affect the behavior of said flames.

3. Specific objectives
a. Analyze the behavior of premixed flames under stretched flow, and its
effects on the general accuracy when measuring unstrained laminar flame
speeds in both stretched and spherical propagating flames.
b. Study the relationship between flame propagation, with flow field stretch
and differential diffusion. By reducing or increasing the thermal
diffusivity instabilities in the system
c. Review the different methodologies for measuring turbulent flame speeds,
and the results obtained under the know theory of this engineering research
field. And pinpointing the inconsistencies inside the definition of mean
flame speeds
d. Compare and analyze the data obtained for methane under a range of
different turbulent conditions, discussing the inconsistencies and
fundamental flaws under Bunsen and spherical propagating flames.
4. Methods described

The paper highlights that the Counterflow Laminar Flame (CFF) method has been
extensively employed to measure laminar flame speeds in various fuels, such as methane,
ethylene, propane, and hydrogen. Additionally, by measuring the flow speed throughout
the centerline of the flame, the minimum velocity upstream of the flame acceleration can
be determined, which is associated with a characteristic strain rate given by the gradient
of velocity in the radial direction. This flexible technique, developed by Law and
coworkers, allows for the measurement and modeling of premixed flames and has been
useful in studying different aspects of flame propagation, including extinction limits,
stretch effects, and thermal diffusivity instabilities.[2]
During the presentation and the paper Dr. Simone describes the spherically expanding
flame (SEF) method, a popular technique for measuring laminar flame speeds. This
method involves igniting a premixed gas mixture in a spherical chamber using a small
spark, and then observing the resulting flame as it propagates outwards from the ignition
point. The laminar flame speed can be determined by measuring the flame's radius over
time. However, the PDF notes that accurately measuring unstrained laminar flame speeds
using SEF can be challenging. As the flame expands spherically, it experiences both
positive and negative stretch rates that can affect its propagation speed. Additionally,
differential diffusion effects can cause variations in species concentrations across the
flame front, which can further impact its propagation speed. Despite these challenges, the
SEF method has been widely used to investigate various aspects of laminar flame
propagation, including stretch effects and thermos diffusivity instabilities. Ongoing
research efforts are aimed at developing more accurate models for predicting laminar
flame speeds under different flow conditions and fuel compositions.[3]

She also talks about the planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) technique has been
extensively employed to study local flame structure and propagation speed in turbulent
premixed flames. By analyzing the intensity and spatial distribution of the emitted light,
the location and shape of the flame front can be determined, and turbulent flame speeds
and other essential combustion parameters can be calculated. Moreover, LIF techniques
have numerous advantages over other methods for measuring turbulent flames, including
high spatial and temporal resolution, non-intrusive measurements, and the ability to
measure multiple species concentrations simultaneously. However, LIF measurements
can also be influenced by factors like quenching effects and variations in fluorescence
yield due to changes in temperature or pressure. Despite these challenges, LIF techniques
remain a crucial tool in combustion research to study different aspects of turbulent flame
propagation, such as flame structure, extinction limits, and combustion instabilities.[4]

5. Results and Discussion

In the presentation and the paper there are various key findings related to the behavior of
flames under different conditions. One important finding is that the laminar flame speed
is affected by flow stretch, with higher levels of stretch leading to lower laminar flame
speeds. This effect is illustrated in Figure 2 of the paper, which shows experimental data
for the laminar flame speed of methane-air mixtures as a function of equivalence ratio for
different levels of stretch.

Fig 2: Measured laminar flame speeds in the same mixtures considered in Fig. 1 as a
function of equivalence ratio and temperature (for all pressures).

The paper also notes that turbulent burning rates are affected by turbulence intensity and
length scale, with higher levels of turbulence leading to higher turbulent burning rates.
Figure 6 in the paper shows experimental data for the turbulent burning velocity of
methane-air mixtures as a function of turbulence intensity for different values of
turbulence length scale.
 Fig 6: Experiments, numerical simulations, linear (LX) and non-linear (NX)
𝑠̃
extrapolations of 𝑏
as a function of normalized stretched for SEFs of hydrogen (top)
𝑆̃0
𝑏

and n-heptane (bottom, for different equivalence ratios.

The structure of turbulent premixed flames is also complex and varies depending on
several factors, as illustrated in Figure 9 of the paper, which shows PLIF images of CH2O
(formaldehyde) concentration in a turbulent premixed flame at different stages of its
combustion. Another important finding is that the flame speed of a premixed flame can
be significantly influenced by the fuel/air equivalence ratio, as illustrated in Figure 3 of
the paper.

Fig. 3. Measured laminar flame speeds for n-heptane (circles) and i-octane (triangles)
and respective modelling (lines) for three pressures in the same mixtures considered
in Fig. 1 as a function of equivalence ratio and temperature (for all pressures).

In the case of methane-air mixtures, the flame speed was found to increase as the
equivalence ratio increased up to a certain point, beyond which the flame speed decreased.
This behavior is due to a combination of factors, including changes in the flame structure
and variations in the concentration of reactive species.

The paper also highlights the importance of accurate models for predicting flame behavior
in practical applications such as combustion engines and gas turbines. The models need
to take into account several factors, such as differential diffusion effects, which arise due
to differences in diffusivity between fuel and oxidizer species, and thermodiffusive
instabilities, which can play a significant role in flame propagation, particularly for fuels
with high Lewis numbers. Accurate models are essential for predicting flame behavior
under different conditions and optimizing combustion systems for maximum efficiency
and minimal emissions.

6. Conclusion

As we have seen from both the lecture and the paper made by Dr. Simone. We are
presented with a comprehensive review of the methods used to measure premixed laminar
and turbulent flames, as well as the results of experiments conducted using these methods.
The experiments provide valuable insights into the behavior of flames under different
conditions, including the effect of flow stretch on laminar flame speed, the effect of
turbulence intensity and length scale on turbulent burning rates, and the complex structure
of turbulent premixed flames. The paper also highlights the importance of accurate
models for predicting flame behavior in practical applications such as combustion engines
and gas turbines. Overall, the results presented in this paper contribute to our
understanding of the fundamental physics of combustion and have important implications
for improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions in a wide range of industries.

Then in my personal opinion if this subject should be included in the ME 525 syllabus.
First, I think this is a very interesting subject, given the novelty of the subject and the
many new developments that it comes with them. Given that through out this paper we
use a high-level principles of combustion, fluid mechanics and heat transfer, as well as
many different techniques and models used to measure the behavior of both laminar and
turbulent flames. Thus, I think that for future combustion/mechanical engineers that take
this course, it would be very helpful to know certain basic or most of this subject. Plus,
in our syllabus we already have a introduction into flame speed in both premixed laminar
and turbulent. So, it would only mean that we only need to modify a little bit the schedule
of the class in order to fit this new developing area in combustion research field
Bibliography:

[1] Hochgreb, S. (2022). How fast can we burn, 2.0. Proceedings of the Combustion
Institute. [Link]

[2] Wang, Y., & Chung, S. H. (2019). Soot formation in laminar counterflow
flames. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 74, 152-238.
[3] Bechtold, J. K., & Matalon, M. (1987). Hydrodynamic and diffusion effects on the
stability of spherically expanding flames. Combustion and Flame, 67(1), 77-90.
[4] Kinsey, J. L. (1977). Laser-induced fluorescence. Annual Review of Physical
Chemistry, 28(1), 349-372.