Experimental study of H2/air turbulent expanding flames over wide equivalence ratios: Effects of molecular transport

The turbulent expanding flames of hydrogen/air mixtures are investigated over a wide range of equivalence ratios (phi = 0.4-5.0) using the fan-stirred combustion chamber. The effects of molecular transport on turbulent flame propagation are interpreted over a wide Lewis number range, including turbulent flame morphology, turbulent burning velocity, and its general correlation. The wrinkled degree of turbulent flame surface becomes strengthened at fuel-lean conditions than that of fuel-rich conditions at the same normalized turbulence intensity (u'/SL), and the flame morphology becomes more wrinkled with the flame propagating outwardly. The equiv-alence ratio of peak turbulent burning velocity is shifted towards fuel-lean side compared to that of laminar burning velocity. At fuel-lean conditions (phi = 0.6-1.0), the normalized turbulent burning velocity (ST/SL) de-creases sharply with the equivalence ratio, while at fuel-rich conditions it first decreases slowly (phi = 1.0-2.0) and then nearly unchanged (phi = 2.0-5.0). The general correlations of turbulent burning velocity under different Lewis numbers can be obtained in different u'/SL ranges, and the effects of molecular transport on turbulent burning velocity are strengthened at the intense turbulent field. All of these indicate that the molecular transport has significant effects on hydrogen turbulent flames.

Automated summary

In this study, the turbulent expanding flames of hydrogen/air mixtures were investigated over a wide range of equivalence ratios using a fan-stirred combustion chamber. The effects of molecular transport on turbulent flame propagation were analyzed, including flame morphology, turbulent burning velocity, and their correlations. It was found that the wrinkled degree of the turbulent flame surface was stronger under fuel-lean conditions and the flame morphology became more wrinkled as it propagated outwardly. The peak turbulent burning velocity occurred at fuel-lean conditions and the effects of molecular transport were enhanced under intense turbulent field.