Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Observations on Upstream Flame Propagation in the Ignition of Hydrocarbon Jets

  • Published:
Flow, Turbulence and Combustion Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A variety of investigators have attempted to characterize the mechanisms of how reaction zones stabilize, or propagate, against incoming reactants, particularly in stable lifted jet flames both laminar and turbulent. In this paper, experiments are described that investigate the characteristics of upstream flame propagation in turbulent hydrocarbon jet flames. An axisymmetric, gaseous turbulent jet mixing in air has been selectively ignited at downstream positions to assess the upstream propagation of the bulk reaction zone. The farthest axial position that permitted the reaction zone to propagate upstream after application of the ignition source, referred to as the “upper propagation limit”, or UPL, is determined for a variety of jet and air co-flow parameters. There is an inverse relationship between the upper propagation limit position and the jet Reynolds number. Conversely, there is a direct relationship between the upper propagation limit and the co-flow velocity. Interpretation of the results is related to the velocity at the stoichiometric surface. Global discussion is made as to what these results imply about the stabilization and propagation of turbulent lifted jet flames.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Peters, N.: Turbulent Combustion. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK (2000)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. Ko, Y.S., Chung, S.H.: Propagation of unsteady tribrachial flames in laminar non-premixed jets. Combust. Flame 118, 151–163 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Muñiz, L., Mungal, M.G.: Instantaneous flame-stabilization velocities in lifted-jet diffusion flames. Combust. Flame 111, 16–31 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Kelman, J.B., Eltobaji, A.J., Masri, A.S.: Laser imaging in the stabilisation region of turbulent lifted flames. Combust. Sci. Technol. 135, 117–134 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Gollahalli, S.R.: Effects of flame lift-off on the differences between the diffusion flames from circular and elliptic burners. J. Energy Resour. Technol.-ASME 120, 161–166 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Watson, K.A., Lyons, K.M., Donbar, J.M., Carter, C. D.: Scalar and velocity field measurements in a lifted CH4-air diffusion flame. Combust. Flame 117, 257–271 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Tieszen, S.R., Stamps, D.W., O’Hern, T.J.: A heuristic model of turbulent mixing applied to blowout of turbulent jet diffusion flames. Combust. Flame 106, 442–466 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kioni, P.N., Bray, K.N.C., Greenhalgh, D.A., Rogg, B.: Experimental and numerical studies of a triple flame. Combust. Flame 116, 192–206 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Lyons, K.M., Watson, K.A.: Visualizing diffusion flame formation in the wake of partially premixed combustion. J. Energy Resour. Technol. Trans. ASME 123, 221–227 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Müller, C.M., Breitbach, H., Peters, N.: Partially premixed turbulent flame propagation in jet flames. In: Proc. Combust. Inst. 25th Symposium (International) on Combustion, pp. 1099–1106. The Combustion Institute, Pittsburgh (1994)

  11. Han, D., Mungal, M.G.: Observations on the transition from flame liftoff to flame blowout. In: Proc. Combust. Inst. 28th Symposium (international) on Combustion, pp. 537–543. The Combustion Institute, Pittsburgh (2000)

  12. Su, L.K., Sun, O.S., Mungal, M.G.: Experimental investigation of stabilization mechanisms in turbulent, lifted jet flames. Combust. Flame 144, 494–512 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Ghosal, S., Vervisch, L.: Stability diagram for lift-off and blowout of a round jet laminar diffusion flame. Combust. Flame 124, 646–655 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Boulanger, J., Vervisch, L., Reveillon, J., Ghosal, S.: Combust. Flame 134, 355–368 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Maurey, C., Cessou, A., Lecodier, B., Stepowski, D.: Statistical flow dynamics properties conditioned on the oscillating stabilization location of turbulent lifted flame. In: Proc. Combust. Inst. 28th Symposium (International) on Combustion, pp. 545–551. The Combustion Institute, Pittsburgh (2000)

  16. Lee, B.J., Kim, J.S., Chung, S.H.: Effect of dilution on the liftoff of non-premixed jet flames. In: Twenty-fifth Symposium (International) on Combustion, pp. 1175–1181. The Combustion Institute, Pittsburgh (1994)

  17. Lee, B.J., Chung, S.H.: Stabilization of lifted tribrachial flames in a laminar nonpremixed jet. Combust. Flame 109, 163–172 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Kuo, K.K.: Principles of Combustion, p. 454. Wiley, New York (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Watson, K.A., Lyons, K.M., Donbar, J.M., Carter, C.D.: Simultaneous two-shot CH-PLIF and particle image velocimetry measurements in lifted CH4-air diffusion flames. In: 29th Symposium (International) on Combustion, pp. 1905–1912. The Combustion Institute, Pittsburgh (2002)

  20. Noda, S., Mori, H., Hongo, Y., Nishioka, M.: Nonpremixed flamelet statistics at flame base of lifted turbulent jet nonpremixed flames. JSME Int. J. 46, 75–82 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Dahm, W.J.A., Dibble, R.W.: Coflowing turbulent jet diffusion flame blowout. In: Twenty-second Symposium (International) on Combustion, 801–808 (1988)

  22. Ahmed, S.F., Mastorakos, E.: Spark ignition of lifted turbulent jet flames. Combust. Flame 146, 215–231 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Hammer, J.A.: Lifted turbulent jet flames. PhD thesis, California Institute of Technology (1993)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Box 7910, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7910, USA

    J. L. McCraw, N. J. Moore & K. M. Lyons

Authors
  1. J. L. McCraw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. J. Moore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. M. Lyons
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. M. Lyons.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McCraw, J.L., Moore, N.J. & Lyons, K.M. Observations on Upstream Flame Propagation in the Ignition of Hydrocarbon Jets. Flow Turbulence Combust 79, 83–97 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10494-007-9071-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10494-007-9071-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation