Simulation of Turbulent Lifted Flames Using a Partially Premixed Coherent Flame Model

Partially premixed combustion occurs in many combustion devices of practical interest, such as gas-turbine combustors. Development of corresponding turbulent combustion models is important to improve the design of these systems in efforts to reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. Turbulent lifted flames have been a canonical problem for testing models designed for partially premixed turbulent combustion. In this paper we propose modifications to the coherent flame model so that it can be brought to the simulation of partially premixed combustion. For the primary premixed flame, a transport equation for flame area density is solved in which the wrinkling effects of the flame stretch and flame annihilation are considered. For the subsequent nonpremixed zone, a laminar flamelet presumed probability density function (PPDF) methodology, which accounts for the nonequilibrium and finite-rate chemistry effects, is adopted. The model is validated against the experimental data on a lifted $H2∕N2$ jet flame issuing into a vitiated coflow. In general there is fairly good agreement between the calculations and measurements both in profile shapes and peak values. Based on the simulation results, the flame stabilization mechanism for lifted flames is investigated.