Extinction Limits of Low Strain Rate Counterflow Nonpremixed Flames in Normal Gravity

The extinction characteristics of low strain rate normal gravity (1-g) nonpremixed methane-air flames were studied numerically and experimentally. A time-dependent axisymmetric two-dimensional (2D) model considering buoyancy effects and radiative heat transfer was developed to capture the structure and extinction limits of 1-g flames. One-dimensional (1D) computations were also conducted to provide information on 0-g flames. A 3-step global reaction mechanism was used in both the 1D and 2D computations to predict the measured extinction limit and flame temperature. A specific maximum heat release rate was introduced to quantify the local flame strength and to elucidate the extinction mechanism. Overall fractional contribution by each term in the energy equation to the heat release was evaluated to investigate the multi-dimensional structure and radiative extinction of 1-g flames. Images of flames were taken for comparison with the model calculation undergoing extinction. The two-dimensional numerical model was validated by comparing flame temperature profiles and extinction limits with experiments and 1D computation results. The 2D computations yielded insight into the extinction mode and flame structure of 1-g flames. Two combustion regimes depending on the extinction mode were identified. Lateral heat loss effects and multi-dimensional flame structure were also found. At low strain rates of 1-g flame ("Regime A"), the flame is extinguished from the weak outer flame edge, which is attributed to multi-dimensional flame structure and flow field. At high strain rates, ("Regime B"), the flame extinction initiates near the flame centerline due to an increased diluent concentration in reaction zone, which is the same as the extinction mode of 1D flame. These two extinction modes could be clearly explained with the specific maximum heat release rate.