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On bluff body flame stabilization

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Summary

Several aspects of bluff body flame stabilization are discussed in terms of a theory which focuses attention on the initial mixing region between cool combustible and hot combustion products. Some experiments by Broman and Zukoski on flame stabilization in a “deflected jet” are correlated in terms of the theory. The “characteristic time” of Zukoski and Marble is shown to arise as a special case of the theory. The extinction of the propagating flame as the initial event in the blowoff process is discussed qualitatively in terms of the theory. Finally, the results of experiments reported in the literature on injection of gas into the recirculation zone are rationalized in terms of the theory.

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Abbreviations

Á :

global activation energy

C p :

specific heat at constant pressure

D :

characteristic length

D r :

recirculation zone length for bluff body

h :

combustion chamber height

ΔH :

heat of combustion

K 1, K 2, K 3, K 4 :

constants

l :

combustion chamber length

l r :

recirculation zone length for deflected jet

L :

a dimensional parameter (L=K 1 DPrRe t+1 Nu −2)

m :

mass flow rate

n :

constant

Nu :

Nusselt number (αD/λ)

Pr :

Prandtl number (C p μ/λ)

q :

constant

R :

gas constant

Re :

Reynolds number (WD/ν 0)

t :

constant

T b :

outlet temperature of localized control volume

T f :

adiabatic flame temperature

T i :

inlet temperature of localized control volume

T 0 :

temperature of main stream

u r :

average flow velocity in control volume

v 0 :

blowoff speed for deflected jet (experimental)

W :

main stream velocity

x i :

distance from separation point to initial temperature maximum

y i :

depth from dividing streamline to initial temperature maximum

()*:

quantities evaluated at blowoff

α :

heat transfer coefficient

δ :

slot width

λ :

thermal conductivity

ν 0 :

kinematic viscosity evaluated in free stream

ρ :

density

τ :

characteristic time ≡D r /W*

τ ch :

pre-exponential factor in chemical rate law

φ :

equivalence ratio of fresh combustible mixture

μ :

dynamic viscosity

References

  1. Cheng, S. I. and A. A. Kovitz, Theory of Flame Stabilization by a Bluff Body, Seventh Symposium (international) on Combustion, p. 681. Butterworths Scientific Publications, 1958.

  2. Zukoski, E. E. and F. E. Marble, Experiments Concerning the Mechanism of Flame Blow Off from Bluff Bodies, Proc. Gas Dynamics Symposium on Aerothermochemistry, Northwestern University, 1956.

  3. Broman, G. E. and E. E. Zukoski, Experimental Investigation of Flame Stabilization in a Deflected Jet, Eighth Symposium (international) on Combustion, 1960. See also G. E. Broman, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Report No. 30–5, 1959, California Institute of Technology.

  4. Marble, F. E. and T. C. Adamson, Jr., Ignition and Combustion in a Laminar Mixing Zone, Jet Propulsion 24, 1954.

  5. Cheng, S. I. and A. A. Kovitz, Mixing and Chemical Reaction in the Laminar Wake of a Flat Plate, J. Fluid Mech., May 1958.

  6. Ignition in the laminar Wake of a flat Plate, Sixth Symposium (international) on Combustion, p. 418, New York, 1956.

  7. Potter, A. E., Jr. and E. L. Wong, Effect of Pressure and Duct Geometry on Bluff-Body Flame Stabilization, N.A.C.A. T.N. 4381, 1958.

  8. Shipman, C. W. and C. C. Williams, Some Properties of rod-stabilized Flames of homogeneous Gas Mixtures, Fourth Symposium (international) on Combustion, p. 733, Baltimore, the Williams and Wilkins Company, 1953.

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  9. Fetting, F., A. P. R. Choudhury and R. H. Wilhelm, Turbulent Flame Blow-Off Stability. Effect of auxiliary Gas Addition into Separation Zone, Seventh Symposium (international) on Combustion, p. 621, Butterworths Scientific Publications, 1958.

  10. Wong, E. L., Flame Stability Effect of Gases Ejected into a Stream from a Bluff-Body Flame-holder, N.A.C.A. T.N. D-128, 1959.

  11. Zukoski, E. E., Seventh Symposium (international) on Combustion, p. 728, London, Butterworths, 1958.

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  12. Shipman, C. W., Seventh Symposium (international) on Combustion, p. 729, London, Butterworths, 1958.

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  13. Filippi, F. and L. Fabbrovich-Mazza, Control of Bluff-Body Flame-holders Stability Limits, Eighth Symposium (international) on Combustion, Pasadena, August 1960, to be published.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gas Dynamics Laboratory, The Technological Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

    A. A. Kovitz & Hui-Ming Fu

Authors
  1. A. A. Kovitz
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  2. Hui-Ming Fu
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Kovitz, A.A., Fu, HM. On bluff body flame stabilization. Appl. sci. Res. 10, 315 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00411927

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00411927

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