Comparison of Flame Propagation Statistics Based on Direct Numerical Simulation of Simple and Detailed Chemistry. Part 2: Influence of Choice of Reaction Progress Variable

Felix B. Keil, Marvin Amzehnhoff, Umair Ahmed, Nilanjan Chakraborty and Markus Klein
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Felix B. Keil: Department of Aerospace Engineering, Bundeswehr University Munich, Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39, 85577 Neubiberg, Germany
Marvin Amzehnhoff: Department of Aerospace Engineering, Bundeswehr University Munich, Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39, 85577 Neubiberg, Germany
Umair Ahmed: School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Nilanjan Chakraborty: School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Markus Klein: Department of Aerospace Engineering, Bundeswehr University Munich, Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39, 85577 Neubiberg, Germany

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-32

Abstract: Flame propagation statistics for turbulent, statistically planar premixed flames obtained from 3D Direct Numerical Simulations using both simple and detailed chemistry have been evaluated and compared to each other. To achieve this, a new database has been established encompassing five different conditions on the turbulent combustion regime diagram, using nearly identical numerical methods and the same initial and boundary conditions. The discussion includes interdependencies of displacement speed and its individual components as well as surface density function (i.e., magnitude of the reaction progress variable) with tangential strain rate and curvature. For the analysis of detailed chemistry Direct Numerical Simulation data, three different definitions of reaction progress variable, based on CH 4 , H 2 O and O 2 mass fractions will be used. While the displacement speed statistics remain qualitatively and to a large extent quantitatively similar for simple chemistry and detailed chemistry, there are pronounced differences for its individual contributions which to a large extent depend on the definition of reaction progress variable as well as on the chosen isosurface level. It is concluded that, while detailed chemistry simulations provide more detailed information about the flame structure, the choice of the reaction progress variable definition and the choice of the resulting isosurface give rise to considerable uncertainty in the interpretation of displacement speed statistics, sometimes even showing opposing trends. Simple chemistry simulations are shown to provide (a) the global flame propagation statistics which are qualitatively similar to the corresponding results from detailed chemistry simulations, (b) remove the uncertainties with respect to the choice of reaction progress variable, and (c) are more straightforward to compare with theoretical analysis or model assumptions that are mostly based on simple chemistry assumptions.

Keywords: direct numerical simulation; turbulent premixed combustion; simple chemistry; detailed chemistry; methane-air flame (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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