Influence of Acoustic Perturbation and Acoustically Induced Thermal Convection on Premixed Flame Propagation

Abstract

Interference between an acoustic field and premixed flame is investigated. Two kinds of transport processes are considered to cause combustion promotion in the acoustic field. One is diffusive transport. It has long been considered that the acoustic oscillation promotes diffusion, like turbulence does. The other is convective transport. Acoustically induced thermal convection that is driven by a kind of acoustic radiation force in a standing acoustic field has been previously found (Tanabe et al., Proc Combust Inst 28:1007–1013, 2000). The burning rate of an isolated single droplet is promoted by this thermal convection. In this report, the influence of the acoustic oscillation on the premixed flame propagation was examined through experiment and numerical simulation. The gravitational force was not taken into account since it complicates the combustion phenomena. The experiment and numerical simulation were done in microgravity condition. Each influence of turbulent diffusion and thermal convection were evaluated from the burning velocity, flame shape and flame speed, since the diffusive effect has been considered to have an influence on the burning velocity, while the convective effect has an influence on the flame speed and flame shape. As a result, it was clarified that the diffusive effect has a minor influence on the burning enhancement of the premixed flame in the standing acoustic field. On the contrary, the acoustically induced thermal convection has a significant influence on it. Premixed flame behavior in the standing acoustic field can be explained through the characteristics of the acoustically induced thermal convection.