CFD predictions of wake-stabilised jet flames in a cross-flow

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 53; pp. 259 - 269
• Main Authors: Lawal, Mohammed S., Fairweather, Michael, Gogolek, Peter, Ingham, Derek B., Ma, Lin, Pourkashanian, Mohamed, Williams, Alan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: air flow; Applied sciences; combustion; Computational fluid dynamics; Cross-flow; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Jet flames; Mathematical models; Navier-Stokes equations; Non-premixed flames; prediction; thermal radiation; Turbulence intensity; Turbulence modelling; Turbulence models; turbulent flow; Wake effects; Wakes; Non-premixed flames; Wake effects; Cross-flow; Turbulence modelling; Computational fluid dynamics; Wake; Flame
• ISSN: 0360-5442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2013.02.020

This study describes an investigation into predicting the major flow properties in wake-stabilised jet flames in a cross flow of air using first- and second-order turbulence models, applied within a RANS (Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes) modelling framework. Standard and RNG (re-normalisation group) versions of the k-ε turbulence model were employed at the first-order level and the results compared with a second-moment closure, or RSM (Reynolds stress model). The combustion process was modelled using the laminar flamelet approach together with a thermal radiation model using the discrete ordinate method. The ability of the various turbulence models to reproduce experimentally established flame appearance, profiles of velocity and turbulence intensity, as well as the combustion efficiency of such flames is reported. The results show that all the turbulence models predict similar velocity profiles over the majority of the flow domain considered, except in the wake region, where the predictions of the RSM and RNG k-ε models are in closer agreement with experimental data. In contrast, the standard k-ε model over-predicts the peak turbulence intensity. Also, it is found that the RSM provides superior predictions of the planar recirculation and flame zones attached to the release pipe in the wake region.
► We investigated the prediction of the major properties in wake-stabilised methane jet flames in a cross flow. ► The ability of the various turbulence models to reproduce experimentally established flame parameters is reported. ► All the turbulence models considered predict similar velocity profiles, except in the wake region.