In this study we investigate, both numerically and experimentally, the interplay between the intrinsic Darrieus-Landau (DL) or hydrodynamic instability of a premixed flame and the moderately turbulent flow field in which the flame propagates. The objective is threefold: to establish, unambiguously, through a suitably defined marker, the presence or absence of DL-induced effects on the turbulent flame, to quantify the DL effects on the flame propagation and morphology and, finally, to asses whether such effects are mitigated or suppressed as the turbulence intensity is increased. The numerical simulations are based on a deficient reactant model which lends itself to a wealth of results from asymptotic theory, such as the determination of stability limits. The skewness of the flame curvature probability density function is identified as an unambiguous morphological marker for the presence or absence of DL effects in a turbulent environment. In addition, the turbulent propagation speed is shown to exhibit a distinct dual behavior whereby it is noticeably enhanced in the presence of DL instability while it is unchanged otherwise. Furthermore, increasing the turbulence intensity is found to be mitigating with respect to DL-induced effects such as the mentioned dual behavior which disappears at higher intensities. Experimental propane and/or air Bunsen flames are also investigated, utilizing two distinct diameters, respectively, above and below the estimated DL cutoff wavelength. Curvature skewness is still clearly observed to act as a marker for DL instability while the turbulent propagation speed is concurrently enhanced in the presence of the instability.

No abstract

Particle image velocimetry (PIV) estimates the fluid velocity field measuring the displacement of small dispersed particles between two successive instants separated by a small time interval. The accuracy of the measurements depends on the ability of the particles to accommodate their velocity to the fluid fluctuations. When the fluid is subjected to extreme accelerations, the small but finite inertia prevents the particles from following the fluid, originating a substantial relative velocity. This effect is shown to be crucial for applications of PIV to turbulent premixed combustion, particularly in the product region at locations just behind the instantaneous flame front. The issuing inaccuracy may easily spoil the estimate of certain statistical observables which are of crucial importance in the theory of turbulent premixed combustion. By exploiting the direct numerical simulation of a model air/methane flame, a suitable criterion for proper particle seeding is validated and compared with the corresponding experiments with a combined PIV/OH-LIF (laser-induced fluorescence) system. The proposed parameter, the flamelet Stokes number, depends on particle properties and thermochemical conditions of the flame and substantially restricts the particle dimensions required for a reliable estimate of the relevant flow statistics

No abstract

In this study we numerically investigate large scale premixed flames in weakly turbulent flow fields. A large scale flame is classified as such based on a reference hydrodynamic lengthscale being larger than a neutral (cutoff) lengthscale for which the hydrodynamic or Darrieus-Landau (DL) instability is balanced by stabilizing diffusive effects. As a result, DL instability can develop for large scale flames and is inhibited otherwise. Direct numerical simulations of both large scale and small scale three-dimensional, weakly turbulent flames are performed at constant Karlovitz and turbulent Reynolds number, using two paradigmatic configurations, namely a statistically planar flame and a slot Bunsen flame. As expected from linear stability analysis, DL instability induces its characteristic cusp-like corrugation only on large scale flames. We therefore observe significant morphological and topological differences as well as DL-enhanced turbulent flame speeds in large scale flames. Furthermore, we investigate issues related to reaction rate modeling in the context of flame surface density closure. Thicker flame brushes are observed for large scale flames resulting in smaller flame surface densities and overall larger wrinkling factors.