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Influence of Inlet Dilution of Reactants on Premixed Combustion in a Recuperative Furnace

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Abstract

This paper presents a numerical study by RANS modeling that investigates the effect of external dilution on the premixed combustion occurring in a recuperative furnace. Calculations are performed using the detailed GRI-Mech 3.0 mechanism to ensure the accuracy of the modeling. Results of the in-furnace flow, temperature, and concentrations of OH, O2, CO2 and NO x are provided. It is found that the external dilution with the inert gas CO2 plays a significant role in establishing the premixed MILD (Moderate or Intense Low-oxygen Dilution) combustion. Externally diluting the reactant mixture not only reduces the initial concentration of O2 but also ensures a stronger internal dilution by recirculation of more hot combustion products. Importantly, the latter effect is more significant for achieving the MILD regime. There is a critical mass fraction of the diluent CO2 present, below which MILD combustion cannot occur. While the traditional premixed flame produces much more NO x than the MILD combustion, the emission of NO x appears to result most from the thermal-NO route and least from the N2O route no matter which mode occurs. Moreover, the present simulation demonstrates that the MILD mode occurs over a wider range of initial reactant conditions for premixed combustion than for diffusion combustion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Turbulence and Complex Systems, Department of Energy and Resources Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    Pengfei Li & Jianchun Mi

  2. College of Energy and Power Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China

    Jianchun Mi

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  1. Pengfei Li
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  2. Jianchun Mi
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Correspondence to Jianchun Mi.

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Li, P., Mi, J. Influence of Inlet Dilution of Reactants on Premixed Combustion in a Recuperative Furnace. Flow Turbulence Combust 87, 617–638 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10494-011-9348-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10494-011-9348-x

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