Time-Dependent Simulations of Laminar Flames in Hydrogen-Air Mixtures.

Abstract

We have examined two fundamental problems in premixed laminar flames using a detailed, time-dependent, one-dimensional model. In the first problem, we examined the relative importance of thermal conduction, thermal diffusion, and ordinary diffusion in determining the burning velocities of laminar hydrogen-air flames. Three cases were examined in detail: a fuel-lean mixture, a stoichiometric mixture, and a fuel-rich mixture. Our general conclusion from this study is that both ordinary diffusion and thermal conduction are necessary to quantitatively describe flame propagation in a hydrogen-air mixture. Their relative importance, however, varies as we go from fuel-lean to fuel-rich hydrogen-air mixtures. In the second problem, we considered the behavior of flames in fuel rich hydrogen-air mixtures near the experimentally observed flammability limit. The effects of gravity, stretch and external heat losses were eliminated in the numerical simulations. The results suggest wider flammability limits than those observed experimentally under normal gravity conditions. The simulations also indicate that there may be a limit due to chemical kinetic considerations alone.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 17, 1987
Accession Number
ADA182127

Entities

People

  • Elaine Oran
  • Kazhikathra Kailasanath

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Reactions
  • Classification
  • Combustion
  • Conduction (Heat Transfer)
  • Diffusion
  • Exothermic Reactions
  • Flame Propagation
  • Flames
  • Flammability
  • Heat Loss
  • Hydrogen
  • Losses
  • Military Research
  • Reaction Mechanisms
  • Security
  • Simulations
  • Thermal Diffusion

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Fluid Dynamics.