Air staged double swirl low NOx LPG burner

A.M. Elbaz*,** and W.L. Roberts*

*
Clean Combustion Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia
**
Faculty of Engineering Materia, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
ayman.elhagrasy@kaust.edu.sa
Abstract
The present work aims at providing a comprehensive experimental study of the flame characteristics
of a staged double swirl low NOx gaseous burner. The proposed configuration allows for better control of
the degree of mixing and charge stratification by varying the swirl angles, inlet momentum ratio and
equivalence ratio of the annular and outer streams. The scope of the work is divided into three distinct
stages, namely; the flame stability mapping, exhaust emissions and in-flame measurments (temperature,
species concentration, and ion current). Comprehensive mapping of lean blowout equivalence ratio of the
annular and central streams together with the overall lean blowout equivalence ratio and the exhaust
gaseous emissions at varying geometrical and operating parameters are executed. The stability data show
that, the annular fuel admitting improve the flame stability than the outer stream admitting, while the
central fuel admittance gives extra improvement to the flame stability. The higher the momentum ratio,
the largest the annular swirl angle, the uniform mixture strength together with the smallest outer swirl
angle, the lowest NO emission. The inflame measurments showed that the largest NO concentration was
limited to the internal recirculation zone, so the residence time, mixture strength and temperature at the
boundaries of IRZ are the controlling parameter for NO emissions. The largest the annular swirl angle
together with small outer swirl angle has a great effect in reducing the overall temperature of the flame
and lowest residence time. This in turn gives low NO concentrations.

1. Introduction
Over the past two decades, increasingly stringent regulations reducing allowable NOx emissions from
combustion sources have been implemented. In response to these regulations, a variety of technologies
for control of NOx emissions from combustion sources have been developed. Swirl burners are the most
common type of devise in a wide range of combustion applications, including utility boilers, industrial
furnaces and boilers or gas turbine combustors. Detailed information on this type of burners and the
corresponding flames can be found, for example, in [1-3]. The flow and mixing patterns generated by
swirling flow afford excellent flame stability, which confers a notable versatility on this type of burners. In
particular, many of the so-called ‘low NOx burners’ developed during the last decades are based on swirl-
stabilized flames. These burners accomplish a low NOx emission by means of a suitable design of the burner
flame aerodynamics and mixing. The basic low NOx techniques based on combustion modification and
mixing control are fuel staging and air staging [4-7], in these techniques NOx formation is controlled by
staging or delaying, respectively, the admission of a fraction of fuel and air into the flame.
Air staged flames are studied in this work, in which the air staged was achieved through using coaxial
double swirl burner (annular and outer swirls), and this to investigate the effects of swirl levels, air
momentum ratio, the degree of the segregation of the mixture strength between the annular and outer
swirling jets on flame stability and NOx emissions. NOx reduction is achieved by creating two staged
combustion, the detailed analysis of NO chemistry in the two stages are provided in [8, 9]. By using
compensated thermocouple technique, the characteristic of co-swirling double swirl flames were
investigated [10], although the data provided insight into local turbulent flame structure, the measurments
were insufficient to visualize the global flame behavior. One of the difficulty in designing low NOx burners
is to ensure good flame stability, which can be hindered precisely by those effects that help in reducing NOx
formation: delaying mixing, highly off-stoichiometric conditions and/or low flame temperatures. However,
no detailed study on the stability characteristics, emissions, and flame structure of air staged flames with
different degree of segregation has been found in the open literature. In view of providing wider stability

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 limits and/or minimizing NO-emissions the stability, emission and flame structure induced from double
swirlers concentric with a central multi holes axial nozzle will be investigated in this work.

2. Experimental setup and methodology

The tests have been performed in a horizontal water-cooled combustor as shown in Fig.1-a, equipped
with a gas air staged burner. The burner includes double concentric swirlers (annular and outer) with a
central nozzle. Three separate air supply lines are used (Fig. 1-b), two for the outer and annular premixed
mixtures of equivalence ratios Φout and Φan respectively. The third one for the central premixed mixture of
equivalence ratio Φcen. Both the annular and outer air flow rate were controlled and metered using a
differential pressure flow meters. The outer and annular fuel streams were supplied from Liquefied
Petroleum Gas (LPG, 70% C4H10 and 30 % C3H8) bottles. The fuel flow rate was controlled and measured by
calibrated Rotameters (FL-1347-C, Omega). The gaseous fuel for the annular and outer streams were
injected into their air streams before the burner head, (see Fig. 1.b). The central premixed mixture flows
through the central pipe to the exit nozzle. The central nozzle has a 6 axial holes each of inner diameter 1
mm distributed at a circular of 8 mm diameter. The annular and outer swirlers have cascaded guide vanes
that are being placed axially inside the annular and outer tubes of 56 mm and 104 mm, respectively. As
shown in Table 1, three values of guide vanes swirl angle were chosen for the annual and outer swirl, in
addition, the corresponding swirl number were defined according Beer and Chigier [11] formula. The
combustor is a horizontal cylindrical water cooled flame tube of 200 mm inner diameter and 2 meter length
and is segmented to a 14 adjacent segments. The first segment of the combustor is 220 mm length and has
11 measuring tabs of 12 mm diameter, however the for each rest of the segments has only one middle
measuring tab. The rear side of the combustor is opened to the atmosphere under the hood of the
laboratory air ventilation system.

Table 1: swirl angle and the corresponding swirl number

Swirl Swirl angle No. of blades S
location
30o 8 0.43
Annular
swirl

45o 8 0.74
60o 6 1.29
30o 16 0.48
Outer
swirl

45o 12 0.83
60o 10 1.44

Local temperatures were measured by a platinum/ platinum 13 % Rhodium thermocouple of 75 µm

wire diameter. All the temperature data presented in this work are uncorrected for radiation error because
of its relatively small magnitude [12]. Gas composition was determine using Lancom series II gas analyzer
for O2, CO, NO, HC (unburned hydrocarbon). A water cooled gas sampling probe of 5 mm outer tube
diameter was used to obtain the spatial distribution of those species inside the flame and in the exhaust
gaseous (on dry basis). The electrostatic (Longmuir probe) was employed to detect the local variations of
the positive ions within the flame zone. The design of this probe include a 300 µm (platinum-13 % Rhodium)
single wire inserted in a 1 mm single bore ceramic tube with a sensor tip of 2 mm length, which in turn
placed inside a stainless steel tube with a water cooled jacket. A 16-bit card (PCI 6014) at 12 KHz sampling
rate was used to acquire the ion signal, the high frequency noise was eliminated digitally at a critical
frequency fc of 5 KHz.
The experimental program is divided into three consecutive stages. In the first stage the stability map
was investigated. The flame was extinguished via gradually decreases the fuel admittance to the annular
mixture at zero central jet equivalence ratio (Φcen = 0). Another set of stability map was achieved via
gradually decreases the fuel admitted to the central nozzle mixture at zero annular equivalence ratio (Φan

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 = 0). The effects of momentum ratio (Mr: defined as, the ratio of the inlet axial momentum of the annual
air stream to the axial momentum of the outer air stream), the outer/annular swirl angles and the outer
mixture equivalence ratio on the lean stability limit were investigated in this stage. The effects of the
previous mentioned parameters on the exhaust emission were investigated in the second stage (exhaust
emission). In the third stage, in-flame measurments were conducted on some selected flames. The list of
the flames for the three stages are indicated in Table2.

Table 2: experimental program

Stage I: stability mapping Stage 2: Exhaust emission Stage3: in-flame measurments
Mr Φout an/out out/an Mr Φout an/out Mr Φout an/out out/an
=0.8, 45o/30o = 0.55 0.7, 0.55 0.4, 45o/30o 60o/30o,45o,60o
=2.2, 0.4,0.6, 45o/45o Φcen =10 0.6, (30o , 45o , 60o /30o) 0.7 45o/30o
=4.9, 0.8 45o/60o 0.5, 0.4 (30o , 45o , 60o /45o)
o
30 /45 o
= 0.4.9 0.7, (30o , 45o , 60o /60o) 30o, 45o, 60o /30o
=0.8 45o/45o Φcen =10 0.6, 4.9 0.4
60o/45o 0.5,
0.4

3. Results and discussion

3.1 Flame appearance
It seems appropriate before proceeding to the presentation and discussion to portray the varaiations
in the flame appearance with the progressive changes of the geometrical and flow parameters for some
selected flames. Figure 2.a shows the flame appearance under the following conditions, an/out = 30o/30o,
and Φan = 1, Φout = 0.4, Φov = 0.73 and Mr = 2.2. The flame photo indicates short, nonluminous flame, proving
the fast and proper mixing. A yellow central core was observed, and this is mainly due to the rich fuel central
mixture. The frontal view shows eight radially spreading bluish flame sheets corresponding to the annular
swirl blades. As shown in Fig. 2.b, the increase of Mr to 4.9 leads to decrease the width of the flame, where
the higher annular momentum increases the strain rate associated with the annular stream, pushing the
reaction zone axially downstream.

3.2 Flame stability

3.2.1 Flame extinction via leaning out the annular stream equivalence ratio
Figure 3 represents the effect of increasing the outer equivalence ratio Φout from 0.4 to 0.8 on the
annular blow off equivalence ratio and the corresponding overall equivalence ratio Φan,bo and Φov,bo
respectively, under fixed Mr and swirling angles, (an = 45o, out= 30o, 45o, 60o). For the three momentum
Ratios Mr= 0.8, 2.2, and 4.9, the results indicate that, the annular stream Φan,bo is almost linearly decreased
substantially with increasing Φout. This proves that there is entrainment from the outer mixture toward the
annular stream through the mixing shear layer between the two streams. The observed decrease in Φan,bo
with increasing Φout generally did not imply a lower overall equivalence ratio, but in the contrary for the
three momentum ratios, the overall equivalence ratio at blow off, Φov,bo, is increased with increasing Φout.
This indicates that the portion of the outer fuel that was not entrained to the annular region, does not play
a role in the flame stabilization mechanism. The amount of the outer fuel stream that was entrained to the
annular stream is controlled by both the degree of mixing between the two streams and the mixture
strength of the outer stream. The evaluation of the degree of mixing between the two streams, may be
performed by introducing the effective equivalence ratio (Φeff), and it is expressed as:
Φeff = αΦout + (1-α) Φan

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 Where the parameter α indicates the degree of mixing. At α = 0; only the annular flow exist, and, at α = 1;
only the outer stream exist. For a fixed annular/outer mixture momentum ratio, and, for a fixed burner
geometry, the effective equivalence ratio at blow-off can be taken a constant. The previous equation could
be solved for the mixing parameter as:

α = [1/ (1- (dΦout/dΦan))]

In the present work dΦout/dΦan could be calculated from the slope of the straight line that fits the data
shown in Fig. 3, and the values of α for different momentum ratio are given in Table 3. The data show that
higher values of the mixing parameter α as the momentum ratio Mr is decreased. Also, the data in Fig. 3
shows that for annular swirl angle an = 45o, increasing the outer swirl angle an by (30o, 45o, 60o) causes a
decrease in both Φan,bo and Φov,bo. Increasing the outer swirl angle reduces the axial velocity of the outer
swirling jet, which in turn reduces the quenching effect of the annular flame envelop and delay the mixing
between the annual and outer swirling jet further down streams. Also with increasing the outer swirl angle
reduces the strain rate at the vicinity of the flame envelop.
Table 3: mixing parameter α at Mr
Mr α
0.8 0.57
2.2 0.44
4.9 0.35

Figure 4 shows the effects of the momentum ratio Mr, on both Φan,bo and Φov,bo. The data consistent
with the previous argument of the mixing parameter, at Mr = 0.8 the mixing parameter has a higher value,
and hence the effect of the outer stream mixture strength on the reaction zone has a relatively high effect.
So it is consider as a destabilizing factor in the case of leaner outer mixture strength, Φout= 0.4. However,
with increasing the momentum ratio, the mixing parameter is decreased, consequently, it reduces the
effect of the outer stream on the flame envelop and leads to a higher Φan,bo at the leanest Φout and a lower
value as the outer streams becomes more strength. On the other side, the annular swirl angle, an has no
influence on both Φan, bo and Φov, bo. This can be seen from the overlap of the curves of Φan, bo and Φov, bo on
one curve for the three annular swirl angles (an =30o, 45o, 60o) at Mr = 0.8 and outer swirl angle of 45o, see
Fig. 5. This indicates that even with low Mr (which means higher mixing parameter) changing the annular
swirl angle was not able to change the degree of mixing between the lower annular momentum and the
higher outer momentum.

3.2.2 Flame extinction via leaning out the central stream equivalence ratio.
In this part, we will discuss the flame extinction via leaning out the central stream equivalence ratio,
Φcen,bo, and this at Φan= 0.0. Figure 6 shows the effects of increasing the outer equivalence ratio Φout on the
central stream equivalence ratio at blow off (Φcen,bo) and the corresponding overall equivalence ratio (Φov,bo)
for a fixed annular swirl angle an =45o. For the momentum Mr = 0.8, the results show a steeper decrease
of Φcen,bo with a progressive increase in the corresponding value of Φov,bo, with increasing the outer stream
equivalence ratio. This indicates that, the outer stream fuel was entrained to the reaction zone, through
the mixing shear layers. With increasing Φout the entrained fuel is increased and this can be deduced from
the decreasing Φcen,bo. The remaining quantity of the outer stream fuel stream does not take a role of the
stabilization mechanism, and this quantity is increased with increasing Φout, and hence increases Φov,bo. The
lower value of the central mixture equivalence ratio is considered a destabilization factor, as a result of
moving the forward stagnation point at further downstream location, where the flow field has a higher
axial velocity. This reduces the effect of the stagnation point to act like an attachment point.

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 From Fig. 6, the effects of the outer swirl angle on the flame stability could also be discussed. For Φout=
0.4 and 0.6., increasing the outer swirl angle leads to a gradual reduction of both Φcen,bo and Φov,bo, where
increases the outer swirl angle reduces the strain rate and quenching effect at the reaction zone and
keeping the mixture at the boundary of the reversed region at the flammable mixture strength. For Φout =
0.8, the outer swirl angle has no effect of both Φcen,bo and Φov,bo. In this case two opposing effects are found,
increasing the outer swirl angle improve the flame stability as discussed before for Φout= 0.4 and 0.6. The
opposing factor, increasing the outer swirl angle pushes the outer stream radially outward, while it has a
higher equivalence ratio, reduces the contribution of the outer fuel to the reaction zone. Figure 7, illustrates
effect of the annular swirl angle on the flame stability limit. The data show that increasing the annular swirl
angle leads to an increase in both Φcen,bo and Φov,bo, and this effect diminishes with increasing Φout. This may
be explained by increasing the annular swirl angle increases the recirculated mass toward the central
vortex, which leads to higher quenching and dilution effects to the flame root (Φan = 0), however this effect
is reduced at Φout = 0.8, because the recirculated mass has a higher mixture strength.

3.3 Exhaust emission results

In this stage, comprehensive mapping of the dry exhaust gas analysis at different operating conditions
that cover the effect of momentum ratio (Mr), the annular and outer swirl angles (an and out) are
conducted, see Table 2. In all cases the overall equivalence ratio is kept constant at a lean value of 0.73.
This means, during each series of results, with the progressive lowered the value of Φout, the progressive
increase of Φan such that Φov = 0.73. The entire exhaust emission results is conducted at constant Φcen = 10.
The exhaust gas analysis indicates a zero concentration of HC, CO species, and nearly 6.2 % O 2 by volume,
while variable NO Concentration. Consequently, the effect of the different operating parameters on only
NO concentration in the exhaust gases and the exhaust mean temperature will be discussed.
Figures 8-9 reveal the effect of Φout on NO emission and mean gas temperature T for Mr = 0.55 and 4.9
respectively. For Mr = 0.55, the effect of increasing Φout from 0.4 to 0.7 at the expense of reducing Φout
from 1.3 to 0.7 are presented in Fig. 8.a, for out= 30o. The results exhibit a steeper reduction in the NO
concentration with a slight reduction in the exhaust temperature with increasing Φout. This is attributed to
the progressive change in the mixture equivalence ratio at the vicinity of the recirculation boundaries
leading to uniformity, (Φout and Φan are approaching each other of lean mixture). Thus, both the thermal
and prompt NO are reduced. The former is due to the lean combustion and to eliminate of the high
temperature spots caused by the local stoichiometric fuel/air ratio, while the latter is attributed to the
reduction of the HC radical within the reaction zone. This means that the thermal non uniformity is
significantly high with the relative higher difference in the equivalence ratio. For example, at Φout = 0.4, the
annular stream mixture has a rich equivalence ratio of Φan = 1.3. This means a rich mixture at the vicinity
of high temperature near the boundaries of the recirculation zone. This will provide a sufficient residence
time pyrolysis. This conditions initiate the reactions of hydrocarbon radicals, present in and near the
reaction zone, with molecular of nitrogen to form HCN species. Within the shear layer between the annular
and outer streams, the concentration of the oxygen radical is high enough to react with HCN species and
hence NO formation, (the Fenimore prompt NO mechanism). For Mr = 4.9, Fig. 9, the set of results show a
qualitative similarities with those previously examined for Mr = 0.55. But the level of NO emissions is
decreased with increasing the Mr. Increasing Mr is not the direct cause of this reduction of the NO
emissions. Increasing the momentum ratio at the same Φout, leads to a lower annular stream equivalence
ratio, to keep the overall equivalence ratio constant at 0.73.

Also the effects of the outer swirling angle on the NO emission could be understood by investigation
the results in Figs. 8-9. For Mr =0.55, at Φout =0.4 increasing the outer swirl angle out leads to increasing the

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 NO emissions. While this effect is decreased with increasing both an and Φout. Increasing out pushes the
outer stream toward the combustor wall at the early combustion region. Consequently, the mixing
between the annular and the outer streams is delayed some distance downstream the burner exit. So the
quenching and the dilution effects of the outer stream to the reaction zone are decreased and hence higher
NO emissions. On the other hand with increasing the outer stream equivalence ratio, the degree of
segregation between the two streams is decreased and hence lower NO emission is recorded. On the other
hand at the higher annular swirl angle an = 60o combined with lower out = 30o, it gives minimum NO
emission. This configuration leads to the highest mixing degree and hence more mixture uniformity and
lowest NO emission. As indicated in Fig. 10 for Mr = 0.55 under a fixed outer swirl angle, increasing the
annular swirl angle an, results in a steeper decrease in the NO emissions. With increasing Φout, the effect
of the annular swirl angle in decreasing the No emissions, is changing from a steeper decrease to a gradually
and slightly decrease. This is attributed to the increase of the recirculation zone with increasing an, which
enhanced the recirculated mass and hence fast mixing, lower residence time, and diluting the mixture
strength at the vicinity of the reaction zone. Accordingly, low exhaust gas temperature, and NO emission.

3.4 In flame measurments Results

3.4.1 Effect of the outer stream equivalence ratio Φout
In this part, the measurments are conducted on a macroscopic level to yield the mean gas temperature
and the dry volumetric analysis of the gaseous (CO, NO, HC, O2) throughout the flow regimes. The
measurement is also extended to cover the ionization measurments on microscopic level. To evaluate the
effect of partial premixing on the flame structure, the stream equivalence ratio, Φout, is increased from 0.4
to 0.7 under fixed Mr = 0.55 and swirling angles an/out = 45o/30o. Figs. 11-12 illustrate the radial profiles
for temperature and species concentrations at different axial locations (x/d, where d is the inner diameter
of the combustor) for Φout = 0.4 and 0.7, respectively. For the case of Φout = 0.4, the temperature
distributions close to the burner exit (at x/d = 0.13, 0.23, 0.33) indicate the existence of a recirculation
zone; where the temperature levels are almost uniform, indicating a well-mixed zone of the hot combustion
products. The maximum temperature occur just outside the reversed zone in the mixing region, increased
up at axial distances 0.33 and then decayed further downstream indicating a depletion of the fuel. Also,
the radial location of the peak temperature is gradually shifted to outward direction indicating the
increasing width of the reversed region. The temperature profile showed a steep temperature decline at
radial location 0.7 < r/R < 0.7, due the flame quenching of the annular stream jet. Near to the combustor
walls, the temperature increases, this is may be again due to the outer stream flame. Further downstream
axial locations (0.73 < x/d < 5.9), the temperature distribution takes a flat profile across almost the whole
combustor diameter. For NO profiles, at early axial distance x/d = 0.13; the nitrogen oxide concentration
indicates the relatively high NO concentration and it is limited to the RZ. The profile exhibits a sharply decay
with the steeper temperature decreasing at the boundaries of the RZ. At X/d =0.23, and, 0.3, the NO
concentration within the reversed region are rapidly dropped to a lower level, while the temperature
profile at these distances are still increasing. These conditions indicate that, the prompt NO mechanism is
dominating at these early axial distances.
Further downstream x/d > 0.33, a highly drop in NO concentration, and this is due to rapid temperature
decay caused by rapid mixing at the early region with the outer lean stream, in addition to the dilution due
to the reversed exhaust gas within the recirculation zone, RZ. The CO profiles reveal a maximum CO
concentration at the steeper decline in the flame temperature, and this under the extremely rich fuel
annular stream. Further downstream X/d =0.23, 0.33, the CO concentration is decreased, and is radially
spreading following the decline in the temperature profile. With more axial distances. CO concentration is
reduced, and this is attributed to the fuel depletion. HC concentration profiles at x/d = 0.13 showed a
slightly small HC concentration inside RZ due to the central fuel stream of rich mixture, and the entrained

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 fuel from the annular mixture. HC concentration exhbits a more appreciable level at the boundaries of the
RZ. With increasing the axial distances, HC concentration is gradually reduces with a radial peak shift
outward. The O2 concentration show a nearly uniform and a low value within the reversed region. While at
0.2 ≤ r/R ≤ 0.4, the O2 concentrations show a steeper increase in the concentrations at x/d = 0.13, and this
steeper increase is changed to gradually increase further downstream.
The radial temperature profile for Φout = 0.7 shown in Fig. 12, the sets of the temperature profiles show
qualitative similarities with those discussed above for Φout = 0.4. These are featured in the presence of
internal recirculation zone having a flat temperature profile, a rapid decay in temperature within the
reaction zone envelope. But for Φout = 0.7, the peak temperature noticed before disappeared and it showed
a lower temperature level and this is due to reducing the annular equivalence ratio. Leaning the annular
mixture to the extent that both the annular and outer mixture have the same equivalence ratio, namely
0.7, leads to a uniform mixture and this eliminates the peak temperature within the flame zone. The radial
profiles of NO concentration for this flame are seen to possess qualitatively the same trends with those
examined for Φout = 0.4, but with a quantitative attenuation in NO concentration. This is due to increasing
the outer stream equivalence ratio and the corresponding decreasing of the annular equivalence ratio,
leads to decreasing in the HC concentration near the reaction zone, see Figs. 11-d, 12-d, and hence reduces
the contribution of the prompt NO mechanism. In addition to the lower temperature profiles within the
reaction zone with the increase of Φout. As the outer stream equivalence ratio is increased at the expense
of reducing the annular equivalence ratio as the CO concentration is decreased. This indicates fast
combustion process with the premixed mixture than the case of rich annular equivalence ratio (rich at Φout
= 0.4) needs a longer time for mixing and hence gradual mixing, which in turn leads to increasing the
residence time for NO formation. The HC concentration within the early axial distances showed a gradually
attention with increasing Φout to 0.7 in respect to Φout = 0.4.

3.4.2 Effect of the annular swirl angle

Figures 13, 14, and 15 illustrate the effect of progressive increasing the annular swirl angle θan by 30o,
45o, 60o on the flame structure respectively, for Mr= 4.9 and θout = 30o. The radial profiles of mean
temperature and species concentrations possess qualitative similarities with those previously examined for
the effect of the partial premixing at Φout=0.4, Mr=0.55, Fig. 11. However, increasing θan leads to a wider
flat temperature region within the reversed flow zone with the shift of the peak temperature toward the
outer stream. This indicates a larger RZ and the higher the recirculated mass, which means a short residence
time. With increasing θan leads to fast mixing and hence reduces the HC concentration within the vicinity of
the reaction zone, and this reduces the environment for prompt NO formation. Also, the steeper
temperature decay at the immediate outer region of the reaction zone, is decreased with increasing the
annular swirl angle, where this steep decay is totally disappeared at θan = 60o. Consequently, the more
thermal flame uniformity and hence lower NO concentration. In a summary increasing the annular swirl
angle together with higher axial momentum ratio can be considered as an effective tool to guide the
annular stream to mix with the outer stream region.

3.4.3 Effect of the outer swirl angle

Figures 16, 17, and 18 show the effect of increasing the outer swirl angle θout by 30o, 45o, 60o, for fixed
annular swirl angle θan=60o, Mr=0.55. Increasing the outer swirl angle reduces the shear between the outer
and annular streams, indicated by the gradually disappearance of the steeper temperature decay at early
axial distances (see Figs. 16-17). The peak flame temperature at the reaction boundary is increased with
more widely the flat temperature region. These circumstances leads to a slightly increase. Also, with
increasing θout, the NO concentration is following the radial temperature profile, even at the early axial
distance. This indicates that with higher annular swirl angle, associate with higher mixing, the HC

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 consumption is high at early axial distance together with short residence time controlling the prompt NO
mechanism.
3.4.4 Presentation and discussion of Ionization measurments
Figure 19-a shows the radial distribution of mean ion current at several axial distances and the
corssponding mean gas temperature for flame running conditions of [Φout = 0.4, Mr = 0.55, an = 45o, out =
30o]. The results indicate that, although the recirculation zone exhibits high value of the mean temperature,
the ion current signal within it, showed diminished levels, see Fig. 19-b, which shows the row ion signal at
different radial locations in the flame zone. The ionization level shows rapidly rise at the inner side of the
flame sheet reaching a peak value and it shows a gradual decline at the outer direction. These findings
suggest that the recirculation zone is occupied with hot recirculated gases interspersed with small
percentages of reactants which occasional react. Figure. 20 illustrates the distributions of the pdf of the ion
current at the axial location of x/d=0.13 which have the maximum reaction intensity within the flame front
for Mr=0.55, θan=45o, θout=30o at different Φout.
Five regions having different pdf shapes are seen to characterize the flame zone as follows: (a) Within
the recirculation zone, as shown in Fig.20, panel (a ), single peaked Pdf associated with the rather low levels
of ion current appear. The most probable value nearly coincides with the mean value of Ĭ, (zero value on
abscissa), and very low probabilities of occurrence at higher levels of I, (positive side on abscissa), are also
observed. This proves that the recirculation zone is not always filled with fully burnt gas but reaction may
take place intermittently in accordance with the engulfment of unburned mixture into the recirculation
zone. (b) At the immediate inner boundaries of the flame front, Fig. 20, panel (b), shows a higher levels of
reaction rates which evidently proved by both the probabilities shown at the R.H.S., and the positive
skeweness of the pdf''s signal. The former indicates that the absolute level of the ion current at which the
most probable value occurs is lower than the mean value of the ion current. This suggests that the
unburned or burned gases of very low reactedness exist as well. While the later suggests the existence of
a fine eddies of various reactedness. (c) Within the flame front, Higher reaction rates are evidently proved
by the higher values of the probabilities at R.H.S of the profile this suggests the existence of fine eddies of
various reactedness, also higher values of probability at L.H.S of the profile suggest that unburned or burnet
gases of very low reactedness exist as well, see panel (c). (d) At the immediate outer boundaries of the
flame front, the pdf profile in Fig. 20, panel (d), are generally characterized by the existence of two peaks.
The first peak located in the L.H.S of the profile corresponding to the presence of the main reaction zone
and the second at the R.H.S of the profile, corresponding to the existence of the unburned mixture. (e) At
the outer boundaries of the flame front, panel (e), the percentage of the surrounding outer mixture stream
(lean) increases, but the reacting eddies still exist as evidenced by the smeared profiles on the R.H.S, the
probabilities would be a near Gaussian and a Dirac delta for the two parts respectively. The observed
profiles are a combination of these two distributions.
Summary and conclusions
The present work aims at providing a comprehensive experimental study on the flame characteristics
of staged double swirl low NOx gaseous burner. This burner configuration is a replacement of the traditional
coaxial burner having a central fuel jet with a single coaxial swirler. The proposed configuration allows for
better control of the degree of mixing and charge stratification by varying the swirl angles, the inlet
momentum ratio and equivalence ratio of the annular and outer streams.The Experiments are executed in
a horizontal water-cooled flame tube. The burner assembly is coaxially mounted onto a flange being fitted
to the entry section of the tube. The scope of the experimental program is divided into three distinct stages
namely; the flame stability (stage1), exhaust emissions (stage2) and in-flame measurements (stage3).
Complete mapping of the value of the lean blowout equivalence ratio at different operating conditions
are conducted. Also a comprehensive mapping of the dry exhaust gas analysis at different operating
conditions that cover the effect of momentum ratio (Mr), the annular and outer swirler angle (θan and θout),
the outer stream equivalence ratio (Φout ) are conducted. The overall equivalence ratio is kept constant at

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 a lean value of 0.73. The entire measurements are conducted at constant central stream equivalence ratio
namely, Φcen=10. The experimental program include also studies of the in-flame structure associated with
varying the local equivalence ratio (Φout, Φan) and swirling angles (annular and outer) at different
momentum ratios between the annular and outer streams. The measurements are conducted on a
macroscopic level to yield the mean gas temperature and the dry volumetric analysis of the gaseous species
(CO, NO, HC, O2) throughout the flame regions. The measurements are also extended to cover the
ionization measurements on the microscopic level.
The results of the flame stability showed that as the fuel is admitted near the boundary of the
recirculation zone, as the flame stability is improved. The annular fuel admittance gives better flame
stability than the outer admittance, while the central fuel admittance gives extra improvement to the flame
stability through the creation of the forward stagnation point. The effect of the momentum ratio on the
annular lean stability limit depends on the mixture strength of the outer stream. With a relatively higher
outer stream equivalence ratio increasing the momentum ratio results in increasing both the annular
stream equivalence ratio and the overall equivalence ratio at lean blow off limits. On the contrary, with the
lean outer stream equivalence ratio the effect of increasing the momentum ratio is to lower the annular
equivalence ratio and increases the overall equivalence ratio. The annular swirl angle has no effect on flame
stability for low momentum ratio and very lean outer stream equivalence ratio. On the contrary, it has a
great effect on the central equivalence ratio at blow off, where increasing the annular swirl angle results in
increasing the central equivalence ratio and the overall equivalence ratio.
Stage2 of the experimental program indicates that the higher momentum ratio, higher annular swirl
angle, uniform mixture strength together with low outer swirl angle are considered the best conditions low
NO emissions. The in-flame measurements stage show that at the immediate vicinity of the burner exit, the
flame structure can be divided into three distinct regions, the reversed region, the reaction region, and the
outer flame region. NO concentration was limited to the internal recirculation zone which also, has a higher
temperature at its reaction zone envelop. Increasing the annular swirl angle together with small outer swirl
angle increase the width of the recirculation zone and has a great effect in reducing the overall temperature
of the flame as due to the higher mass recirculated toward the flame root. This in turn gives low NO
concentration.

References
[1] J.M. Bee´r, N.A. Chigier, Combustion Aerodynamics, Krieger Pub Co., 1983.
[2] A.K. Gupta, D.G. Lilley, N. Syred, Swirl Flows, Abacus Press, 1984.
[3] A.H. Lefebvre, Gas Turbine Combustion, second ed., Taylor & Francis, 1999.
[4] A.K. Gupta, M.S. Ramavajjala, J. Chomiak, N. Marchionna, , AIAA J. Propulsion 7 (2) (1991) 473–480.
[5] J. Ballester, C. Dopazo, N. Fueyo, M. Herna´ndez, P. Vidal, Fuel 76 (5) (1997) 435–446.
[6] T.-C.A. Hsieh, W.J.A. Dahm, J.F. Driscoll, Combust. Flame 114 (1998) 54–80.
[7] J.M. Bee´r,M.A. Toqan, J.M. Haynes, R.W. Borio, J. Eng. Gas Turb. Power 126 (2004) 248–253.
[8] S.C. Li, F.A. Williams, Combust. Flame 118 (1999) 399–414.
[9] S. Naha, S.K. Aggarwal, Combust. Flame 139 (2004) 90–105.
[10] Marshall. A.W, Gupta. A.K., Combustion Science and Technology, 176 (2004) 437-451.
[11] Beér, J.M. and Chigier, N.A. (1972), Applied Science Publishers, London.
[12] Lockwood, F.C. and Moneib, H.A., Combustion and Flame, 47, (1982) 291-314.

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 Central nozzle
Outer mixture (Фout)

Annular mixture (Фan)

(a) Central mixture (Фcen)
Combustor

Annular swirler Outer swirler

swirler

Burner head

Central mixture from

mixing chamber
( Фcen)
Combustor
LPG for outer mixture
LPG for annular mixture
Фan Фout
(b) Air for annular mixture Air for outer mixture

Controlling valve

Air for annular Air for outer

Flow meter Flow meter
mixture Settling Chamber mixture
Settling Chamber
1

Fig. 1. Experimental set up, (a) double swirl burner, (b) layout of the experimental setup, burner, combustor,
and air supply lines

(a)

(b)

Fig. 2. Flame appearance, (a) flame at an/out = 30o/30o, Φan = 1, Φout = 0.4, Φout = 0.73, and Mr =2.2, and (b)
flame at an/out = 30o/30o, Φan = 1, Φout = 0.4, Φout = 0.73, and Mr =4.9.

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 out=30o
cen=0, an=45o out=45o
Mr=0.8  cen=0, an=45o
(a) out=60o (b) (a) (b) out=30o,
0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 OUT=0.4
flame OUT=0.6
0.70 0.70 flame 0.70 0.70 OUT=0.8
an,bo

ov,bo

ov,bo
an,bo
0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

flame extinction flame extinction

0.40 0.40 0.40 0.40

0.4 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.8 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5
Mr Mr
out out
Mr=2.2 out=45o,
0.80 0.80 (d) (d)
(c) 0.80
(c)
0.80
OUT=0.4
OUT=0.6
0.70 0.70
0.70 0.70 OUT=0.8
an,bo

ov,bo

ov,bo
0.60 0.60

an,bo
0.60 0.60

0.50 0.50
0.50 0.50

0.40 0.40 0.40 0.40

0.4 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.8 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5
out out Mr Mr

0.80 0.80 (f) Mr=4.9 out=60o,

(e) 0.80 (e) 0.80 (f) OUT=0.4
0.70 0.70 OUT=0.6
0.70 0.70
OUT=0.8
an,bo

ov,bo

an,bo

ov,bo
0.60 0.60
0.60 0.60

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

0.40 0.40 0.40 0.40

0.4 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.8 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5
out out Mr Mr

Fig. 3. Effect of outer stream equivalence ratio Fig. 4. Effect momentum ratio Mr on the annular
(Φout) on the annular and overall blow off limits and overall blow off limits (Φan,bo)& (Φov,bo) at
(Φan,bo)& (Φov,bo) at different Mr of 0.8, 2.2, 4.9, different Mr of 0.8, 2.2, 4.9, Φcen=0, an/an
Φcen=0, an=45o =45o/30o, 45o/45o, 45o/60o

cen=0,out=45o Mr=0.8

an=30o

0.80 0.80 an=45o

an=60o
0.70 0.70
an,bo

ov,bo

0.60 0.60

0.50 0.50

0.40 0.40

0.4 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.8

out out

Fig. 5. Effect of outer swirl angle an on the annular and overall blow off limits (Φan,bo)& (Φov,bo) at out =
45o and Mr = 0.8

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 an=0, an=45o
90 0.54
(a) 0.52 (b)
80
0.5
70 0.48
60 0.46 Mr=0.8

cen,bo

ov,bo
50
0.44 out=30o
0.42
40 out=45o
0.4
30 0.38 out=60o
0.36
20
0.34
10 0.32
0.4 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.8
out out
(c)
90 0.54
(d)
0.52
80
0.5
70 0.48
60 0.46
Mr=2.2
cen,bo

ov,bo
0.44
50 out=30o
0.42
40 0.4 out=45o
30 0.38 out=60o
0.36
20
0.34
10 0.32
0.4 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.8
out out
90
(e)
0.54 (f)
0.52
80
0.5
70 0.48
Mr=4.9
60 0.46
out=30o
cen,bo

ov,bo

0.44
50
0.42 out=45o
40 0.4 out=60o
30 0.38
0.36
20 0.34
10 0.32
0.4 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.8
out out
Fig. 6. Effect of Φout on Φcen,bo and Φov,bo at different Mr , an = 45o
Mr=0.8
an=30o
(a) an=0, out=45o an=45o
an=60o
90 0.54
0.52
80
0.5
70 0.48
60 0.46
cen,bo

ov,bo

0.44
50
0.42
40 0.4
30 0.38
0.36
20
0.34
10 0.32
0.4 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.8
out out

Fig. 7. Effect of annular swirl angle on the central blow off limit and the overall blow off equivalence ratio
at Mr = 0.8.

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 (a) (b) (a) (b)
25 750
50 Mr=0.55 750
Mr=4.9
45 an=30o,out=30o an=30o,out=30o 700

NO ppm (at 15% O2)

700 20
NO ppm (at 15% O2)

40 an=45o,out=30o

Temperature (Co)
an=45o,out=30o

Temperature (Co)
35 650
an=60o,out=30o 650 15 an=60o,out=30o
30
600
25 600
10
20 550
550
15
5
10 500
500
5
0 450
0 450
0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
out out out out

50
(c) 750
(d) 25 (c) 750 (d)
Mr=0.55
45 an=30o,out=45o Mr=4.9
700

NO ppm (at 15% O2)

700 20
an=45o,out=45o an=30o,out=45o
NO ppm (at 15% O2)

40

Temperature (Co)
Temperature (Co)

35 an=60o,out=45o 650 an=45o,out=45o 650

15
30 an=60o,out=45o
25 600 600

20 10
550 550
15
10 5
500 500
5
0 450 0 450
0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
out out out out

50
(e) 750 (f) 25 (e) 750 (f)
Mr=0.55
45 Mr=4.9
an=30o,out=60o 700
700 ann=30 ,out=60

NO ppm (at 15% O2)

20 o o
NO ppm (at 15% O2)

40 an=45o,out=60o

Temperature (Co)
Temperature (Co)

35 ann=45o,out=60o 650
an=60o,out=60o 650
30 15 ann=60o,out=60o
25 600 600
20 10
550 550
15
10 5
500 500
5
0 450 0 450
0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
out out out out

Fig. 8. Effect of the local equivalence ratio on Fig. 9. Effect of the local equivalence ratio on
the NO emission and men temperature at the NO emission and men temperature at
different an and Mr = 0.55 different an and Mr = 4.9
out=30o (b)
50
(a) 50
out=0.4, an=1.3
45 45 out=45o
out=0.5, an=1.1
40 40
out=0.6, an=0.9
NO ppm ( at 15 %O2)

NO ppm ( at 15 %O2)

35 35
30 out=0.7, an=0.7 30
25 25
20 20
15 15
10 10
5 5
0 0
30 45
an 60 30 45
an 60

50
(c)
45 out=60o
40
NO ppm ( at 15 %O2)

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
30 45
an 60

Fig. 10. Effect of the annular swirl angle on the NO emission and men temperature at
fixed out and Mr = 0.55

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 out=0.4
at early axial distances close to the burner exit at further downstream axial distances at early axial distances
out=0.7
further downstream axial distances
1600 (a) 1600 (f) (a)
x/d=0.13 x/d=0.73
1600
x/d=0.13
1600 (f) x/d=0.73
1400 1400 1400 1400
x/d=0.23 x/d=2.4 x/d=0.23 x/d=2.4

Temperature (Co)
Temperature (Co)

Temperature (Co)
Temperature (Co)
1200 x/d=0.33 1200 x/d=5.9 1200 x/d=0.33 1200 x/d=5.9
1000 1000
1000 1000
800 800
800 800
600 600
600 600
400 400
400 400
200 200
200 200
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R r/R 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
25 25
25 r/R 25 r/R
(g)
(g)
NO (ppm at 15% O2)

NO (ppm at 15% O2)

20 (b) 20

NO (ppm at 15% O2)

NO (ppm at 15% O2)

20 (b) 20
15 15
15 15
10 10
10 10
5 5
5 5
0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0
15000 r/R 5000 r/R 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
(c) 15000 r/R 5000 r/R
12500 4000
(h) (c)
12500 4000
(h)
10000
3000
CO ppm
CO ppm

10000
7500 3000

CO ppm
CO ppm
2000 7500
5000
2000
2500 1000 5000

2500 1000
0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R r/R 0 0
40000 20000 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
35000 (d) r/R r/R
(i) 40000 20000
16000
30000 35000 (d)
25000 16000 (i)
HC ppm

12000
HC ppm

30000
20000
25000
HC ppm

12000

HC ppm
15000 8000
20000
10000 8000
4000 15000
5000
10000
0 0 4000
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 5000
20 r/R 20 r/R 0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
16 (e) 16 (j) 20 r/R 20 r/R
(e) (j)
12 12 16 16
O2%
O2%

8 8 12 12

O2 %
O2 %

4 4 8 8

0 0 4 4
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R r/R
0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R r/R

Fig. 11. Radial profiles of species concentrations and Fig. 12. Radial profiles of species concentrations and
temperature, an/out = 45o/30o, and Mr = 0.55, Φout = temperature, an/out = 45o/30o, and Mr = 0.55, Φout =
0.4 0.7

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 an=30o
at early axial distances further downstream axial distances
(a) at early axial distances an=45o further downstream axial distances
1600
x/d=0.13
1600 (f) x/d=0.73 1600 (a) 1600 (f)
1400 1400 x/d=0.13 x/d=0.73
x/d=0.23 x/d=2.4 1400 1400

Temperature (Co)
Temperature (Co)

1200 1200 x/d=0.23 x/d=2.4

x/d=0.33 x/d=5.9

Temperature (Co)
Temperature (Co)
1200 x/d=0.33 1200 x/d=5.9
1000 1000
1000 1000
800 800
800 800
600 600
600 600
400 400
400 400
200 200
200 200
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R r/R 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
16 16 r/R r/R
16 16
(g)
(g)
NO (ppm at 15% O2)

NO (ppm at 15% O2)

(b)

NO (ppm at 15% O2)

NO (ppm at 15% O2)

12 12 (b)
12 12

8 8
8 8

4 4
4 4

0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
15000 r/R 5000 r/R
15000 r/R 5000 r/R
(c) (c)
12500 4000
(h) 12500 (h)
4000
10000
3000 10000
CO ppm
CO ppm

3000

CO ppm
CO ppm
7500
7500
2000
5000 2000
5000
2500 1000
2500 1000

0 0
0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R 20000
r/R r/R r/R
40000 40000 20000
35000 (d) (d)
16000 (i) 35000
(i)
30000 16000
30000
25000
HC ppm

HC ppm

12000 25000

HC ppm
12000

HC ppm
20000 20000
15000 8000 8000
15000
10000 10000
4000 4000
5000 5000
0 0 0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 (d)0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
20 r/R 20 r/R 20 r/R 20 r/R

16 (e) 16 (j) 16 (e) 16 (j)

12 12 12 12
O2%

O2%

O2%
O2%

8 8 8 8

4 4 4 4

0 0 0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R r/R r/R r/R

Fig. 13. Radial profiles of species concentrations and Fig. 14. Radial profiles of species concentrations and
temperature, out =30o, an =30o and Mr = 4.9, Φout = 0.4 temperature, out =30o, an =45o and Mr = 4.9, Φout = 0.4
at early axial distances an=60o further downstream axial distances
1600 (a) x/d=0.13 1600 (f)
x/d=0.23 x/d=0.73
1400 x/d=0.33 1400
x/d=2.4
Temperature (Co)
Temperature (Co)

1200 1200 x/d=5.9

1000 1000
800 800
600 600
400 400
200 200
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
16 r/R 16 r/R
(g)
NO (ppm at 15% O2)

NO (ppm at 15% O2)

(b)
12 12

8 8

4 4

0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
15000 r/R 5000 r/R
(c)
12500 4000
(h)
10000
3000
CO ppm
CO ppm

7500
2000
5000

2500 1000

0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R 20000
r/R
40000
35000 (d)
16000 (i)
30000
25000
HC ppm

HC ppm

12000
20000
15000 8000

10000
4000
5000
0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
20 r/R 20 r/R

16 (e) 16
(j)
12 12
O2%
O2%

8 8

4 4

0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R r/R

Fig. 15. Radial profiles of species concentrations and

temperature, out =60o, an =60o and Mr = 4.9, Φout = 0.4

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 out=30o at early axial distances out=45o further downstream axial distances
at early axial distances further downstream axial distances
(a) 1600 (a) 1600 (f)
1600
x/d=0.13
1600 (f) x/d=0.73
x/d=0.13 x/d=0.73
1400 1400
1400 1400 x/d=0.23 x/d=2.4

Temperature (Co)
Temperature (Co)
x/d=0.23 x/d=2.4

Temperature (Co)
Temperature (Co)
1200 x/d=0.33 1200
1200 x/d=0.33 1200 x/d=5.9 x/d=5.9
1000 1000
1000 1000
800 800
800 800
600 600
600 600
400 400
400 400
200 200
200 200
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R r/R 16 r/R 16 r/R
16 16
(g) (g)

NO (ppm at 15% O2)

NO (ppm at 15% O2)

(b)
NO (ppm at 15% O2)

NO (ppm at 15% O2)

(b) 12 12
12 12

8 8 8 8

4 4 4 4

0 0 0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R r/R 15000 r/R 5000 r/R
15000 5000
(c) (c)
12500 (h) 12500 4000
(h)
4000
10000 10000
3000

CO ppm
CO ppm
3000
CO ppm
CO ppm

7500 7500
2000 2000
5000 5000

1000 2500 1000

2500

0 0 0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R r/R r/R 20000
r/R
40000 20000 40000
35000 (d) 35000 (d)
16000 (i) 16000 (i)
30000 30000
25000 25000

HC ppm

HC ppm
12000
HC ppm

12000
HC ppm

20000 20000
8000 15000 8000
15000
10000 10000
4000 4000
5000 5000
0 0 0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
20 r/R 20 r/R 20 r/R 20 r/R
(j) (e)
16
(e) 16 16 16 (j)
12 12 12 12

O2%
O 2%

O2%
O 2%

8 8 8 8

4 4 4 4

0 0 0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R r/R r/R r/R

Fig. 16. Radial profiles of species concentrations and Fig. 17. Radial profiles of species concentrations and
temperature, an =60o, out =30o and Mr = 0.55, Φout = 0.4 temperature, an =60o, out =45o and Mr = 0.55, Φout = 0.4
out=60o

at early axial distances further downstream axial distances

(a)
1600
x/d=0.13
1600 (f) x/d=0.73
1400 x/d=0.23 1400
x/d=2.4
Temperature (Co)
Temperature (Co)

1200 x/d=0.33 1200 x/d=5.9

1000 1000
800 800
600 600
400 400
200 200
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
16 r/R 16 r/R
(g)
NO (ppm at 15% O2)

NO (ppm at 15% O2)

(b)
12 12

8 8

4 4

0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R 5000 r/R
15000 (c)
4000
(h)
12500
3000
CO ppm
CO ppm

10000

7500
2000
5000
1000
2500

0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R 20000
r/R
40000
35000 (d)
16000 (i)
30000
25000
HC ppm

HC ppm

12000
20000
15000 8000

10000
4000
5000
0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
20 r/R 20 r/R
(e) (j)
16 16

12 12
O2%
O2%

8 8

4 4

0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R r/R

Fig. 18. Radial profiles of species concentrations and

temperature, an =60o, out =60o and Mr = 4.9, Φout = 0.4

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 Mr=0.55
1600
2 out=0.4
(a) x/d=0.13
1200 1.6 x/d=0.23

Temperature (Co)
(a)

I (
1.2
800
0.8

400 0.4

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R r/R

within the flame sheet

5

I(
Mr=0.55, out=0.4
an=45o, out=30o 2
x/d=0.13
1

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
at the immediate inner boundaies of
the flame front Time in (sec)
4
2
3
1.6
I(

2
I (

1.2

1
0.8

0
(b) 0 0.2 0.4 0.6
Time in (sec)
0.8 1 1.2 1.4
0.4

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
r/R
at the immediate outerboundaies of
within the recirculation zone the flame front
2.5 2.5

2 2

1.5
I(

1.5
I(

1 1

0.5 0.5

0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
Time in (sec) Time in (sec)

Fig. 19. (a) Radial distribution of the ion current at different axial locations at Mr = 0.5 and Φout = 0.4, (b)
row ion current signal at different radial location in the flame zone.

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah
 panel (a): within therecirculation zone
10 10 10
out=0.4 out=0.5 out=0.7
8 8 8

6 6 6

Pdf
Pdf

Pdf
4 4 4

2 2 2

0 0 0
-4 -2 0 2 4 6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
(I-Imean)/ (I-Imean)/ (I-Imean)/
panel (b): at the immediate inner boundaries of the flame front
10 10 10
out=0.5 out=0.7
8
out=0.4 8 8

6 6 6
Pdf

Pdf

Pdf
4 4 4

2 2 2

0 0 0
-4 -2 0 2 4 6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
(I-Imean)/ (I-Imean)/ (I-Imean)/
panel (c): within the flame front
10 10 10
out=0.7
8 out=0.4 8 out=0.5 8

6 6 6
Pdf

Pdf
Pdf

4 4 4

2 2 2

0 0 0
-4 -2 0 2 4 6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
(I-Imean)/ (I-Imean)/ (I-Imean)/
panel (d): at the immediate outer boundaries of the flame front
10 10 10
out=0.7
out=0.4 out=0.5
8 8 8

6 6 6
Pdf

Pdf

Pdf

4 4 4

2 2 2

0 0 0
-4 -2 0 2 4 6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
(I-Imean)/ (I-Imean)/ (I-Imean)/

panel (e): at the outer boundaries of the flame front

30 30 30
out=0.4 out=0.5 out=0.7

20 20 20
Pdf

Pdf

Pdf

10 10 10

0 0 0
-4 -2 0 2 4 6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
(I-Imean)/ (I-Imean)/ (I-Imean)/

Fig.(4.43) Selected distribution of the probability density function,at different

Fig. 20. Selected distribution of the probability density function, at different
radial locations with diffrent outer equivelane ratio, fixed ov=0.73, x/d=0.13,
axial locations with different equivalence ratio, an/out = 45o/30o, Mr = 0.55
Mr=0.55, an=45o,out=30o

AFCR 2015 Industrial Combustion Symposium, September 9-11, University of Utah, Utah