Premixed Combustion Flame Instability Characteristics (PREFIC)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
Cellular instability and self-acceleration of premixed flames are commonly observed in fuel combustion, due to the thermal-diffusive and hydrodynamic instability. Cellar instability significantly influences the flame structure and speed, and the resultant self-acceleration has been widely observed in spherical flame studies, with high influences on the turbulent burning velocity of various combustion systems and causing higher fire and explosion hazards. Mapping the regimes of cellular instability and self-acceleration could help improve combustion modelling which is widely used in design of combustion systems and investigation of fire and explosion hazards.
The project is divided into two main work packages, in which the research is moving from basic dada acquirement to the cause of instability and in the end of the consequence of self-acceleration.
The flame cellular structure will be mathematically characterised and quantified by the microscopic photography and image processing technique rather than traditionally by measuring burning velocity through calculation of flame size or pressure history.
A newly defined Cellularity Factor is introduced to represent the flame cellular structure characteristics, and the variation regularity of flame front cells is firstly calculated and analysed by measuring the cellular structure parameters, which are the primary parameters to quantitatively determine the critical point of the fully developed cellular flame and to describe the self-acceleration. Present work will develop a new burning velocity model for flame acceleration.
Improved correlations are proposed, incorporating transient and multidimensional effects, as finite rate chemistry, which are crucial for the predictive engineering model developments.
The project is divided into two main work packages, in which the research is moving from basic dada acquirement to the cause of instability and in the end of the consequence of self-acceleration.
The flame cellular structure will be mathematically characterised and quantified by the microscopic photography and image processing technique rather than traditionally by measuring burning velocity through calculation of flame size or pressure history.
A newly defined Cellularity Factor is introduced to represent the flame cellular structure characteristics, and the variation regularity of flame front cells is firstly calculated and analysed by measuring the cellular structure parameters, which are the primary parameters to quantitatively determine the critical point of the fully developed cellular flame and to describe the self-acceleration. Present work will develop a new burning velocity model for flame acceleration.
Improved correlations are proposed, incorporating transient and multidimensional effects, as finite rate chemistry, which are crucial for the predictive engineering model developments.
Publications
Morsy M
(2022)
The instability of laminar methane/hydrogen/air flames: Correlation between small and large-scale explosions
in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Xie Y
(2023)
Self-Acceleration and global pulsation of unstable laminar Hydrogen-Air flames
in Fuel
Xie Y
(2023)
Laminar burning characteristics of coal-based naphtha
in Combustion and Flame
Zhang F
(2024)
Experimental investigation on combustion and emission characteristics of non-premixed ammonia/hydrogen flame
in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Description | Influences on supergen government policy report |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Description | Solutions for a new generation of fuel additives |
Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Shell Centre |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2022 |
End | 12/2023 |
Description | Utilization of hydrogen-containing fuel |
Amount | £48,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2022 |
End | 11/2024 |
Description | Collaboration with Hiroshima University |
Organisation | Hiroshima University |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Presented the research framework and provide experimental setup |
Collaborator Contribution | Workshops, exchange students, and support for optical diagnostic |
Impact | A PhD from Hiroshima University is now employed as a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham. Additionally, the two sides will assign students to each other for exchange visits. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Collaboration with Tsinghua University (Vehicle and Mobility School) |
Organisation | Tsinghua University China |
Department | Department of Automotive Engineering |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We made a proposal using advanced optical diagnostics for the study of flame instability using a concept of Cellularity Factor for cellular flame |
Collaborator Contribution | Tsinghua University team has provided some useful data from their experiments on flame instability and more information will be exchanged. |
Impact | not yet |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Collaboration with Tsinghua University (Vehicle and Mobility School) |
Organisation | Tsinghua University China |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We made a proposal using advanced optical diagnostics for the study of flame instability using a concept of Cellularity Factor for cellular flame |
Collaborator Contribution | Tsinghua University team has provided some useful data from their experiments on flame instability and more information will be exchanged. |
Impact | not yet |
Start Year | 2022 |
Title | Image Processing Code |
Description | This in-house code can be used to calculate the surface area of a spherical flame. |
Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Impact | The calculated surface area can be employed to develop the combustion model for the spherical flame, such as hydrogen, ethane, and propane, etc. |
Description | Hydrogen Integration for Accelerated Energy Transitions (HI-ACT) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Experts from industry and schools from the National Hydrogen Research Hub participated in the event, which led to a lively discussion on the utilization of hydrogen energy, and it was evident that the interest in related disciplines has increased. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | UnICEG Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | We attended a reputational academic conference at Oxford University. This session collects the recent advances in the development of ICEs (e.g. vehicle electrification, energy, fuels, and zero impact emissions). Based on both a broad and comprehensive perspective, the meeting provided a good opportunity for all of us to consider the future realities of automobiles, energy, and society in a carbon-neutral society. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |