Analysis of premixed flame kernel/turbulence interactions under engine conditions based on direct numerical simulation data

DOI10.1017/JFM.2019.995MaRDI QIDQ5207715zbMATH OpenOpenAlexWikidataFDO

Authors Tobias Falkenstein, Seongwon Kang, Heinz Pitsch

Publication date 13 January 2020

Published in Journal of Fluid Mechanics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1908.09176

zbMATH Keywords

combustionflamesturbulent reacting flows

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Direct numerical and large eddy simulation of turbulence (76F65) Gas dynamics (general theory) (76N15) Reaction effects in flows (76V05)

Abstract: Although the evolution of premixed flames in turbulence has been frequently studied, it is not well understood how small flames interact with large-scale turbulent flow motion. Since this question is of practical importance for the occurrence of cycle-to-cycle variations in spark ignition engines, the objective of the present work is to fundamentally differentiate early flame kernel development from well-established turbulent flame configurations. For this purpose, a DNS database consisting of three flames propagating in homogeneous isotropic turbulence (Falkenstein et al., Combust. Flame, 2019) is considered. The flames feature different ratios of the initially laminar flame diameter to the integral length scale. To quantify flame kernel development, the time evolution of flame topology and flame front geometry are analysed in detail. It is shown that some realizations of the early flame kernel are substantially influenced by high compressive strain caused by large-scale turbulent flow motion with characteristic length scales greater than the flame kernel size. As a result, the initial spherical kernel topology may become highly distorted, which is reflected in the stochastic occurrence of excessive curvature variance. Two mechanisms of curvature production resulting from early flame kernel/turbulence interactions are identified by analysis of the mean curvature balance equation. Further, it is shown that the curvature distribution of small flame kernels becomes strongly skewed towards positive curvatures, which is contrary to developed turbulent flames. Hence, the transition of ignition kernels to self-sustaining turbulent flames is very different in nature compared with the development of a statistically planar flame brush.

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Cites work

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Cited in

(7)

• Spectral analysis of a simulated premixed flame surface in two dimensions
• Effects of turbulence on self-sustained combustion in premixed flame kernels: a direct numerical simulation (DNS) study
• Early work on fluid mechanics in the IC engine
• Analysis of premixed turbulent spherical flame kernels
• An experimental and numerical investigation of turbulent flame propagation and flame structure in a turbo-charged direct injection gasoline engine
• LES study of turbulence intensity impact on spark ignition in a two-phase flow
• Statistically significant results for the propagation of a turbulent flame kernel using direct numerical simulation

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