A NUMERICAL STUDY OF THE LEADING-EDGE OF LAMINAR DIFFUSION FLAMES

This study deals with a fundamental numerical investigation of chemically reacting fluid flows through two-dimensional burners. We make use of a detailed set of finite chemical kinetic rate equations to numerically simulate a laminar diffusion flame. The code has been constructed to consider the viscous effects in a mixing layer, heat conduction, the multicomponent diffusion and convection of important species, the finite rate reactions of these species, and the resulting interactions between the fluid mechanics and the chemistry. The numerical model has been used to obtain a detailed description of the leading edge of laminar diffusion flames obtained above two-dimensional methane/air burners. It is shown that the leading edge flame, a flame holding point for the rest of the diffusion flame, is dominated by the kinetic aspects of the fuel/oxidizer species and is mainly responsible for heat transfer to any upstream boundary surface.