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Experimental observation of ethanol–air premixed flames propagating inside a closed tube with high aspect ratio

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Abstract

The present article aims to experimentally observe the flame propagation of ethanol–air mixtures in a tube closed at both ends with an aspect ratio of 27.68. The mixtures were prepared with equivalence ratios ranging from 0.8 to 1.1. The tests were performed for initial pressures of 20, 40, and 60 kPa. The phenomenon of flame front inversion was observed in all experiments. This phenomenon is also known as tulip flame. It was also observed that the flame front inverted several times at the equivalence ratios of 1.0 and 1.1. After the initial deceleration, the velocity oscillated with a high amplitude at these equivalence ratios. An analysis of the available experimental data was performed to better understand the conditions that allow the flame velocity oscillations to occur. It was found that these oscillations manifest when the following conditions are met: (a) closed channels, (b) sufficiently high laminar flame velocity and (c) sufficiently high aspect ratio. Moreover, this phenomenon is coupled with pressure waves that develop inside the duct. The relationship between the distance for the formation of the flattened flame front and the laminar flame velocity was used to define a characteristic time that correlates with the available experimental data.

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Abbreviations

AR:

Aspect ratio

c p :

Heat capacity at constant pressure (J/kg K)

d :

Tube diameter (m)

d f :

Distance of flattened flame formation (m)

E a :

Activation energy (J/mol)

t flat :

Characteristic time (s)

L :

Tube or duct length (m)

p :

Pressure (kPa)

∆p :

Pressure increase (kPa)

p v :

Pressure after vacuum (kPa)

p F,i :

Apparent fuel pressure (kPa)

p F :

Real fuel pressure (kPa)

p air :

Real air pressure (kPa)

R :

Universal gas constant (J/mol K)

s L :

Laminar burning velocity (m/s)

∆s L :

Relative increase of laminar flame velocity (%)

t flat :

Characteristic time for flattened flame formation (s)

T b :

Adiabatic flame temperature

V :

Axial velocity of the flame tip (m/s)

x :

Axial coordinate position (m)

ϕ :

Equivalence ratio

ω :

Uncertainty of a physical quantity

λ :

Thermal conductivity (W/m)

b :

Conditions in the burned gases

h :

Hydraulic diameter

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) for supporting this work through Project 423369/2018-0 and to FAPERGS (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Rio Grande do Sul) for supporting this work through Project 21/2551-0000677-3. The authors are grateful to FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) for support of this work through Projects 2015/23351-9 and 2015/25435-5.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Combustion and Propulsion Laboratory, National Space Research Institute (INPE), Rod. Pres. Dutra, km 39, Cachoeira Paulista, SP, CEP 12630-000, Brazil

    Aguinaldo M. Serra Jr, José C. Andrade & José C. Santos

  2. Department of Chemistry and Energy, School of Engineering, São Paulo University (UNESP), Guaratinguetá, Av. Ariberto P. da Cunha, 333, Guaratinguetá, SP, CEP 12510410, Brazil

    Lucas M. Silva & João A. de Carvalho Jr

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), R. Sarmento Leite 425, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90050-170, Brazil

    Julia C. Silveira & Andrés Z. Mendiburu

  4. International Research Group for Energy Sustainability (IRGES), R. Sarmento Leite 425, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90050-170, Brazil

    João A. de Carvalho Jr & Andrés Z. Mendiburu

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  1. Aguinaldo M. Serra Jr
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Serra, A.M., Andrade, J.C., Silva, L.M. et al. Experimental observation of ethanol–air premixed flames propagating inside a closed tube with high aspect ratio. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 45, 80 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-022-04006-8

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