The effects of rotation rate on the characteristics of premixed propane-air swirling tubular flames

摘要

This paper uses a computational model to characterize the effects of high rotation rates on the structure of swirl-type premixed tubular flames. The model incorporates an elementary propane-air reaction mechanism and multicomponent molecular transport. Because high rotation rates lead to large radial pressure variations, pressure diffusion is included in the molecular-transport model and the radial momentum equation is retained in the system of equations. A similarity formulation is used, leading to a two-point boundary-value problem. Both lean and rich mixtures are considered. Results show how rotation rate affects pressure variation, flame position, flame temperature, and flame velocity. Pressure diffusion is most significant when the flame is positioned close to the maximum circumferential velocity.