Modelling practical combustion systems and predicting NOx emissions with an integrated CFD based approach

An integrated methodology for the simulation of practical combustion systems and NOx prediction is presented. It is based on 3D CFD simulation coupled to a postprocessor which yields reactor networks, extracted from 3D fields, as 'equivalent' simplified flow models for which it is possible to use a detailed reaction kinetics. The study of two glass melting furnaces is presented to illustrate the methodology. The furnaces were experimentally characterised, then CFD simulations were performed, setting the suitable boundary conditions for the radiative heat exchange and the sub-model for the chemistry. From each CFD simulation, a chemical reactor network was extracted to perform the computation of the secondary product combustion species by means of a complex kinetics mechanism. An evaluation of the models was given comparing the measurements with the temperature of the CFD field and the NOx prediction. Finally, an estimate of the effect of some NOx reducing techniques was given. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.