Experimental Investigation of the Mechanisms of Cellular Instabilities Developing on Spherical Two-Phase Flames. Issue 11 (1st December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thimothée, R.; Chauveau, C.; Halter, F.; Gökalp, I.
• Is Part Of: Combustion science and technology. Volume 188:Issue 11/12(2016)
• Page Start: 2026
• Page End: 2043
• Publication Date: 2016-12-01
• Subjects: Aerosol combustion -- Cellular instabilities -- Spherical flame -- Thermal sink -- Water dilution -- Water mist; Combustion -- Periodicals; Combustion engineering -- Periodicals; 541.36105
• DOI: 10.1080/00102202.2016.1214421
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-2202

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The presence of liquid fuel droplets in a flammable mixture causes cellular instabilities on the flame surface, which significantly enhances the flame speed when compared to the fully vaporized case. The prediction of the mechanisms responsible for the onset of cellularity for two-phase mixtures is essential to better understand spray combustion. The present study considers an innovative experimental strategy to isolate and investigate any potential mechanisms. The fuel droplets were replaced by inert water droplets in order to amplify the thermal sink effect, characterized by the absorption of part of the heat released by the flame, and to suppress the local enrichment of fuel formed around droplets. Spherical expanding flames with narrow-size distribution droplets were used and qualitative comparisons of the flame structure were performed with a shadowgraph system. The results have shown that the heat sink has no significant effect, whereas the local enrichment of fuel appears as a key phenomenon, which suggests that in the case of fuel droplet aerosols the onset of cellularities is triggered in the inhomogeneous part of the gaseous phase.