Response characteristics of a stretched cylindrical diffusion flame to periodic oscillation of air flow velocity (Influences of velocity oscillation amplitude on flame response)

Abstract

An experimental study investigated the frequency characteristics of a stretched cylindrical diffusion flame in response to sinusoidal air flow velocity oscillation. The flame has a convex curvature with respect to the air stream. The fuel was methane diluted with nitrogen, and oxidizer air. The flame was formed in the air stream side from the stagnation surface. The oscillation frequency f ranged from 10 Hz to 250 Hz. In order to clarify the influence of an oscillation amplitude A of the air flow velocity on the flame responses, three kinds of amplitude were chosen. The flame was photographed by the high speed video camera, and flame radius rf, flame thickness δ, and flame luminosity Lf were analyzed. The air flow velocity va at the nozzle outlet was measured by using particle image velocimetry. Though velocity gradient of the air flow ga responds quickly to the changing va regardless of f and A, the gradient of the fuel flow gf delays with increasing f and A. Here, ga correlates to the flame stretch effect, and gf impacts the fuel transportation. Response of rf to varying va also delays with increasing f and A. δ/rf, which relates to the flame curvature effect, responds complicated with the change in f and A. Oscillation amplitudes of Lf have maximum values with respect to f regardless of A. These maximum values are greater than those of a steady flame, over the same air velocity fluctuation ranges. This complex change in the Lf with respect to f is closely related to the phase difference in the respective time variations in δ/rf and gf, and the magnitude of these values.

Keywords

• combustion
• diffusion flame
• velocity oscillation
• flame stretch
• flame curvature