Experimental Investigation of the Mechanisms of Cellular Instabilities Developing on Spherical Two-Phase Flames

ABSTRACT

The presence of liquid fuel droplets in a flammable mixture causes cellular instabilities on the flame surface, which significantly enhances the flame speed when compared to the fully vaporized case. The prediction of the mechanisms responsible for the onset of cellularity for two-phase mixtures is essential to better understand spray combustion. The present study considers an innovative experimental strategy to isolate and investigate any potential mechanisms. The fuel droplets were replaced by inert water droplets in order to amplify the thermal sink effect, characterized by the absorption of part of the heat released by the flame, and to suppress the local enrichment of fuel formed around droplets. Spherical expanding flames with narrow-size distribution droplets were used and qualitative comparisons of the flame structure were performed with a shadowgraph system. The results have shown that the heat sink has no significant effect, whereas the local enrichment of fuel appears as a key phenomenon, which suggests that in the case of fuel droplet aerosols the onset of cellularities is triggered in the inhomogeneous part of the gaseous phase.

KEYWORDS:

• Aerosol combustion
• Cellular instabilities
• Spherical flame
• Thermal sink
• Water dilution
• Water mist

Funding

This work was supported by a joint grant from the CNES and the Région Centre. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the CNES and CNRS through the GDR MFA no. 2799 for their financial support.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a joint grant from the CNES and the Région Centre. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the CNES and CNRS through the GDR MFA no. 2799 for their financial support.