Multi-fuel combustion performance analysis and operating characteristics of a vortex-tube combustor

In this work, an ultra-steady combustion technique was attempted to achieve fuel adaptability combustion. The combustion performances of five representative gaseous fuels in a stratified vortex-tube combustor were investigated in terms of the stability limit, pressure fluctuation, and flame topology. Results show that the lean stability limit of the global equivalence ratio for the five fuels can always be less than 0.15 with a uniform flame front, whilst the amplitude of pressure fluctuations is always below 2300 Pa, indicating a super-steady com-bustion process. The non-premixed flame structure guarantees a high mass concentration near the reaction zone, whilst the vortex flow also decreases the local flow velocity, inhibiting flame blow-out, and suggesting good self-adjusting capacity under various global equivalence ratios. The synergistic action of the flow and flame struc-tures transports the interior high-enthalpy burnt gas and exterior unburnt gas to the exterior unburnt gas and reaction zones to promote the ignition and reaction procedures, resulting in an intensified combustion. The large tangential velocity and density gradient result in the large values of Richardson number, which indicates that laminarization of the flow arises and results in good aero-dynamic and thermo-dynamic stabilities. The resultant good self-adjusting capacity and three types of dynamic stabilities are the intrinsic causes of the ultra-steady combustion process in this combustor. Ultimately, the generalized criterion of stabilization can be defined by the combination of Richardson and Rayleigh numbers, for which large Richardson and small Rayleigh numbers are required for a highly steady combustion process.

Automated summary

In this study, a new ultra-steady combustion technique was developed for adaptable fuel combustion. The combustion performance of five different gaseous fuels was investigated in a stratified vortex-tube combustor, focusing on stability limit, pressure fluctuation, and flame topology. The results demonstrate that a uniform flame front and low pressure fluctuations can be achieved, leading to a super-steady combustion process. The non-premixed flame structure and vortex flow contribute to a high mass concentration near the reaction zone, inhibiting flame blow-out and providing self-adjusting capacity at different equivalence ratios. The synergistic effect of flow and flame structures promotes efficient combustion by transporting burned and unburned gases to the reaction zones.