Direct numerical simulation of spray flame/acoustic interactions

Interactions between conical spray flames and sinusoidal velocity modulations due to the propagation of acoustic waves have been studied thanks to direct numerical simulations (DNS). A 2D axi-symmetric configuration has been used to capture the evolution of the pulsating laminar flames. The DNS solver has been coupled with a Lagrangian model to account for the dispersion and evaporation of the liquid fuel in the Computational domain. Four main configurations, with a unitary global equivalence ratio, have been studied. Apart from a gaseous reference case, one polydispersed and two monodispersed Bunsen-type injections with various droplets density and inertia have been simulated. DNS results are in good agreement with experimental data. For significant acoustic Stokes numbers, results showed a double effect of the modulations on the flame: a direct disturbance of the flame front and a secondary impact through the local variation of the mixture fraction due to droplets preferential segregation. (C) 2006 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.