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Similarity Issues of Kerosene and Methane Confined Flames Stabilized by Swirl in Regard to the Weak Extinction Limit

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Abstract

One of the most promising methods for reducing NO x emissions of jet engines is the lean combustion process. For realization of this concept the percentage of air flowing through the combustor dome has to be drastically increased, which implies high volume fluxes in the primary zone of the combustion chamber and represents a substantial challenge in regard to the flame stabilization. Swirl motion is thus applied to the air flux by the swirl generator and decisively contributes to the flame stabilization. The current paper reviews an atmospheric investigation of a burner configuration in regard to the weak extinction limit, comprising a confined non-premixed swirl-stabilized flame. The burner can be supplied with either kerosene or after a small adaption with natural gas (methane). Therefore, a comparison of a kerosene-fuelled flame (spray flame) to a natural gas fuelled one (methane flame) can be performed. Both are realized by almost identical burner configuration and at identical conditions. The main idea of this work is to align the stability characteristics of both flames by means of similarity. However, fundamental differences regarding the flame structures of the flames are detected through in-flame measurements. This determines the limits of the current approach and motivates an appropriate choice of flame modeling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Combustion Technology, Engler-Bunte-Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstrasse 12, 76128, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Svetoslav Marinov, Matthias Kern, Nikolaos Zarzalis & Peter Habisreuther

  2. AVIO S.p.A., Via I Maggio, 56, 10040, Rivalta di Torino, Italy

    Antonio Peschiulli & Fabio Turrini

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Çankırı Karatekin University, 18200, Çankırı, Turkey

    O. Nuri Sara

Authors
  1. Svetoslav Marinov
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  2. Matthias Kern
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  3. Nikolaos Zarzalis
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  4. Peter Habisreuther
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  5. Antonio Peschiulli
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  6. Fabio Turrini
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  7. O. Nuri Sara
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Correspondence to Svetoslav Marinov.

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Marinov, S., Kern, M., Zarzalis, N. et al. Similarity Issues of Kerosene and Methane Confined Flames Stabilized by Swirl in Regard to the Weak Extinction Limit. Flow Turbulence Combust 89, 73–95 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10494-012-9392-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10494-012-9392-1

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