Modelling of soot formation in a laminar coflow non-premixed flame with a detailed CFD-Population Balance model

摘要

In this work, a discretised Population Balance Equation (PBE) model is coupled with a detailed in-house Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code, to investigate soot formation in a laminar co-flow non-premixed ethylene flame. The unsteady Navier-Stokes, species conservation and enthalpy transport equations are solved in a segregated manner, combined with comprehensive gas-phase chemistry and an optically thin radiation model to predict the structure of the flame. The objective of this numerical methodology is to compute the complete Particle-Size-Distribution (PSD) of the soot particles, using particle volume as the sole internal coordinate". The following mechanisms are implemented into the discretised PBE: nucleation, surface growth, oxidation and coagulation, using acetylene based soot model. Validation will be undertaken between the numerical and the experimental results of Santoro's jet burner [R. J. Santoro, H. G. Semerjian, and R. A. Dobbins, Combust. Flame 51:203-218, 1983]. The importance of comprehensive fluid dynamics, reactions and PBE modelling is explored for the investigation of problems where all of these phenomena are coupled.