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Numerical Study on the Stabilization of a Self-Sustaining Steady-State Premixed Cool Flame

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Abstract

The unexpected finding of the quasi-steady state cool flame onboard the International Space Station motivated increasing interests to study the dynamic behaviors of cool flames. One key scientific question is how to form and stabilize a self-sustaining steady-state cool flame in a burner with well-defined boundary conditions. This paper numerically studied the stabilization of a self-sustaining steady-state premixed dimethyl ether/O2/N2 cool flame. The dual S-curve response in the perfectly-stirred reactor was first analyzed and the results indicated three ways to form a self-sustaining premixed cool flame: 1) igniting the unburned fresh mixture by decreasing the residence time, 2) igniting the unburned mixture by increasing the temperature of the unburned fresh mixture, and 3) extinguishing an extremely lean or an extremely rich hot flame by decreasing the residence time. Using the counterflow configuration, the proposed three ways were successfully demonstrated by tuning the flow temperature and stretch rate. Moreover, double structured flames, i.e., a leading premixed cool flame front followed by a premixed warm flame, were numerically reported in the counterflow flame configuration. The thermal and species structures of the double flames were also discussed.

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Abbreviations

\( {\dot{H}}_{net} \) :

Net heat production rate, J/cm3·s

L :

Separation distance of the two stream exits in the counterflow flame, cm

p :

Pressure, atm

T :

Temperature, K

U :

Velocity, cm/s

x :

Mole fraction

z :

Flame coordinate, cm

ϕ :

Equivalence ratio

ρ :

Gas density, g/cm3

τ :

Residence time, s

ω :

Elementary reaction rate, mole/m3·K

i :

Value of species i

m :

Mixture

max :

Maximum value

r :

Reactor

u :

Unburned

CFE:

Cool flame extinction

CFI:

Cool flame ignition

HFE:

Hot flame extinction

HFI:

Hot flame ignition

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Acknowledgments

This study is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 51706119) as well as the Strategic Pilot Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA15012800).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory for Thermal Science and Power Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Yang Zhang, Xiehe Yang, Wenfeng Shen, Hai Zhang & Junfu Lyu

  2. Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China

    Shuangfeng Wang

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  1. Yang Zhang
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Correspondence to Yang Zhang.

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Zhang, Y., Yang, X., Shen, W. et al. Numerical Study on the Stabilization of a Self-Sustaining Steady-State Premixed Cool Flame. Microgravity Sci. Technol. 31, 845–854 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-019-09721-x

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