Experimental study of flame evolution, frequency and oscillation characteristics of steam diluted micro-mixing hydrogen flame

Effects of steam dilution on flame evolution, frequency and oscillation characteristics were investigated using an optically accessible micro-mixing combustor under the lean operating condition (equivalence ratio 0.4 to 0.9). The flame profile was visualized by 5 kHz OH planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF), meanwhile the structural zoning analysis, frequency spectrum and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) methods were used to investigate flame instability. The effects on frequency-shift and temporal-spatial heat-release distribution characteristics were demonstrated. Results indicated that heat-release frequency got blue-shift with the increase of hydrogen equivalence ratio while flame length gradually extended, though the second harmonic frequency only occurred in the flame arm zone. The steam content influenced the heat-release obviously, and the obvious periodic oscillation existed in the dilution ratio of 25%. Furthermore, the increasing or decreasing steam content will make the OH radical concentration and distribution change significantly, meanwhile the intensity and location of oscillation zone were also be influenced. The mode decomposition analysis revealed the growth of oscillation zone was closely related to the flame arm zone (FAZ) and experienced the transition to the flame tail zone (FTZ) with the increase of equivalence ratio.

Automated summary

The study investigated the effects of steam dilution on flame evolution, frequency, and oscillation characteristics. Results showed that the heat-release frequency shifted blue as hydrogen equivalence ratio increased, with steam content significantly influencing the heat release and periodic oscillations observed at a dilution ratio of 25%. Changing steam content also led to significant alterations in OH radical concentration and distribution, impacting the intensity and location of the oscillation zone. The mode decomposition analysis revealed a close relationship between the growth of the oscillation zone and the flame arm zone.