Analysis of Premixed Flame Propagation in a Closed Rotating Vessel by Numerical Simulation

Abstract

Numerical simulations of the unsteady flame propagation inside a rotating vessel have been performed, providing a description of the flame behaviour from ignition to the unusual quenching of homogeneous and flammable methane-air mixtures, as experimentally observed. A detailed analysis of these results is presented that shows several interesting features of this flame. Particularly interesting are the detection of the flow structure at the edge of the flame near the side walls and of the action of a sliding component of the strain rate tensor. It has been also recognized that, just before the extinction, the flame becomes more intense and after this phase, it is difficult to separate well the unburnt and heavy fresh mixture from the hot and light burnt gases previously distinctly separated by the action of the centrifugal forces.

Keywords:

• CFD
• Quenching
• Rotating flame

The author wishes to thank Prof. J. Chomiak for helpful discussion about the numerical results. The support of the European Community, 6th Framework Programme, under the Marie Curie Host Fellowship, Transfer of Knowledge, project ECHTRA n. 509847, and of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Short Term Mobility program, are gratefully acknowledged.