944 FLAME HOLDING~ SELECTED ENGINE COMBUSTION PROBLEMS
100
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF FLAME STABILIZATION IN A
DEFLECTED JET
By G. E. BROMAN AND E. E. ZUKOSKI
I. Introduction ~ where l* is the length of the wake, and u0 is
Modern jet engines require combustors capable
of stabilizing a flame at flow speeds considerably
higher than the speed of flame propagation.
Two different types of combustors have been
developed to meet this requirement. The first
type, the bluff body flameholder, makes use of
the wake behind the body as a heat source
from which the flame can propagate through the
flow, as illustrated by Figure la. The second
combustor design, the so-called can-type com-
bustion chamber, also operates with a hot
wake created by a deflection of the flow, as
indicated in Figure lb. Both of these combnstors
are presently in common use in the turbojet
and ramjet engines.
One of the performance qualities of primary
interest in these combustors is the relationship
between the speed of the flow and the range of
fuel-air ratios for which a stable operation can
be maintained. The limits of the range of stable
operation, as a rule, are determined by blowoff
experiments. It is, however, desirable to find
the similarity laws for stability, so that the
stability limits of combustors can be predicted
without necessitating actual tests in every case.
Because of the complexity of the stabilization
process, the actual mechanism of flame stabili-
zation must be understood before these similarity
laws can be developed in a rational manner.
One approach to the problem of flame stabili-
zation by bluff bodies has led to a considerable
clarification of the process, and in particular,
to a simple separation of the effects on stability
of flow parameters on one side and of chemical
parameters on the other. Zukoski and Marble I
have shown that the stability limits can be cor-
related by a characteristic time parameter,
l*
Tc --
ltO
This paper presents the results of one phase of
research carried out at the Jet Propulsion Lab-
oratory, California Institute of Technology, under
Contract No. NASw-6, sponsored by the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration.
the blowoff speed of the fresh mixture past the
wake as shown in Figure la. I t was found that
this parameter is determined exclusively by
the factors affecting the combustion chemistry.
The corresponding stabilization mechanism is
based on the concept of a continuous ignition
process occurring in the mixing zone between
the stream of fresh fuel-air mixture and the
hot gas in the wake. It is important to note
that the recirculation zone is considered as an
independent steady heat source in the flow field,
not only under normal stable operation but also
throughout the blowoff process. Blowoff of the
flame propagating through the mixture down-
stream from the wake occurs when the material
involved in the continuous ignition process is
not given a long enough residence time in con-
tact with the hot wake. Thus, the characteristic
time rc is a measure of a chemical ignition-delay
time. The question of stability has been reduced
to a question of whether or not the time avail-
able in the flow field is longer than the minimum
chemical time required for ignition. The in-
fluence of the different parameters on the sta-
bility limits follows immediately from this
consideration. Experiments by Wright ~ further
illustrate the usefulness of the ignition delay
time as a correlation parameter for bluff body
fiameholders.
The can burner models which have been sug-
gested,~, 4.5 on the other hand, do not very
clearly relate the proposed stability parameters
to the actual flow picture. Nor is the stabiliza-
tion mechanism explained by the structure of
the flow field. The basic reason for this situation
is that, because of its complexity, the important
features of the flow in the can burner are not
well understood. Therefore, it was decided to
study some of the aspects of the flame stabiliza-
tion process in the can burner by use of a rela-
tively simple model which permitted a de-
termination of the flow parameters, and at the
same time preserved important features of the
processes which occurred in the can burner. A
two-dimensional deflected jet of fuel-air mixture
 FLAME STABILIZATION IN A DEFLECTED JET
BLUFF BODY \ \ PROPAGATN
I GFLAMEA
ZO~E~~
MIXING ZONE
(3
RECIRCULATION
~-INLET HOLES
b circulation zone gases. Hence, the results for
FIG. 1. Schematic flow diagram for (a) bluff
body flameholder and (b) can type combustion
chamber.
was chosen as a suitable model for this purpose.
By variation of geometry, a model of this type
can be made to exhibit some of the characteristics
of the bluff body flameholder as well as the can
burner. The objective of the present investiga-
tion, then, was to study the flame stabilization
in a deflected jet with particular reference to
the concept of an ignition-delay time.
II. Experimental Equipment and
Technique
The general features of the deflected jet model
are shown in Figure 2. By the right-angle de-
flection of the jet, a recirculation zone is created
between the initial undefleeted part of the jet
and the downstream part of the deflected flow.
Consequently, a flame can be stabilized in the
jet and the flow parameters can easily be de-
termined in the resulting two-dimensional flow
pattern.
The geometric configuration of this model is
defined by the ratio between the slot width
and the combustion chamber height h. For the
sake of brevity, this ratio wilt be denoted by
the expression "slot ratio." Given a certain
slot ratio, the length l* of the recireulation
zone would be expected to depend primarily
945
on the height h. Consequently, h is a convenient
parameter which defines the combustion chamber
size. The only requirement on the length l is the
obvious one that it be long enough to cover the
complete length of the recirculation zone. The
combustion chamber size and geometrical
configuration are defined by the notation 5 x h x l.
]n order to provide facilities for visual ob-
servation of the two-dimensional flow pattern,
the test chamber is equipped with side walls of
l-in. thick Vycor glass plates. The mechanical
design of the chamber is such that a wide range
of slot ratios and burner sizes can be achieved.
The burners used in experiments described in
Section IIIA were water cooled, and those used
in the experiments discussed in Section IIIB
were insulated with quartz plates on top of the
reeirculation zone. The diflerent burner design
leads to slightly different blowoff limits because
of the different rates of heat transfer from re-
these sections are not directly comparable.
The fuel used during all experiments was
propane gas supplied under the commerical
name, "Rockgas". The exact fuel composition
was 97.8 per cent propane and 2.2 per cent
ethane. A homogeneous mixture of fuel and
air was supplied to the duct at 70°F and a
pressure of about one atmosphere.
III. Experimental Results
The flame stabilization process is governed by
a number of fluid mechanical and chemical
parameters. It was decided to study principally
the influence of the flow parameters. Of these
LENGTH
s~. ,,
-- SLOT WIDTH
L~xx\\\\\\ ,\x\-.x~xx\\~\\\\\\\\\\\,.\\\\\\)\\\\\-.\\-~
I--'
z~,
'..9",
MIXING ZONE PROPAGATING
FLAME
FIG. 2. Schematic diagram of geometry and
flame configuration of two-dimensional slot-type
combustion chamber; burner geometry is specified
by standard notation (~ x h x 1).
946 FLAME H O L D I N G : SELECTED E N G I N E C O M B U S T I O N
variables, the two which appear to be most
important in fixing the flow field are the burner
size and geometry. I t is reasonable to assume
that these may be characterized by the duct
height and the slot ratio, respectively.
A, G E O M E T R I C A L L Y SIMILAR COMBUSTION
BERS OF VARYING SIZES
The influence of burner size was determined
for three different values of the slot ratio and
for duct heights of ½, 1 and 2 inches. Thus, the
effect of changing both of these fluid dynamic
parameters was illustrated separately.
Schlieren photographs showed that the flow
fields for a particular family scale exactly with
burner size. However, a comparison of the
schlieren photographs of the flow fields of the
three families, shown schematically in Figure 3,
confirmed that the slot width has a strong
influence on the location of the mixing zone
boundary. Figure 3 shows schematically that
the mixing zone for the burners of family
(½h x h x 5h) does not reach the lower wall be-
fore the end of the recirculation zone, whereas
that for the family (lh x h x 5h) reaches the
bottom boundary a short distance downstream
from the deflection of the jet.
Measurements of recirculation zone length,
normalized by the duct height, showed that
j.///
BURNER FAMILY (l12h x h x 5h)A
BURNER FAMILY(I/4h x h x 5h)A
BURNER FAMILY(I/8hx h x 5h)A
FIO. 3. Schematic diagram of flow field for
three different burner families in combustor
type A.
PROBLEMS
although this parameter varied between the
three duct geometries, it was substantially the
same for various sized ducts of similar geometry.
Further, sodium line-reversal temperature meas-
urements showed that the recirculation zone
temperature was insensitive to changes in
CHAM-
either scale or geometry. These experimental
results indicate that flow conditions within each
burner family are quite similar from a fluid
mechanical point of view, and that the chemical
parameters are basically the same, not only for
burners within one family, but also between
different families. Because of the similarity
within each family of burners, it seems reasonable
to assume that simple scaling laws for the sta-
bility limits may be found.
Correlation parameter for stability. An attempt
was made to separately correlate the stability
data for each of the three families by use of a
parameter,
l*
TO ~ --
Y0
which is similar to the characteristic time in-
troduced as a bluff-body scaling parameter.
The data show that within each family the
stability limits for different sized burners are
surprisingly well correlated over the complete
range of operation (Fig. 4). However, comparison
of the stability limit based on TOreveals that the
slot ratio parameter has a strong influence on
the correlation. In general, as slot ratio is de-
creased, the stability curves are moved down-
ward toward lower values of r0. For example,
the minimum values of To are 0.33, 0.31, and
0.22 msec for the ½, ¼ and ~ slot ratio families,
respectively.
If the stabilization mechanism for the present
system is similar to that of the bluff body flame-
holder, as is suggested by the excellent correla-
tion within each family, then the deviations in
correlation between families can be easily ex-
plained. The reference speed used in the defini-
tion of r0 only, is representative for the initial
jet speed and does not take into account the
flow situation along the rest of the characteristic
dimension. In burners with small slot ratios, the
relative speeds in the downstream part of the
mixing zone are lower than in burners with
larger slot ratios. This follows from the fact that
for small slots, all of the fresh mixture enters
the mixing zone before the downstream end of
the recireulation zone is reached. Because the
 FLAME STABILIZATION IN A DEFLECTED JET 947

2.~

<>

O HEIGHT h = 112 in. 0 I- •

O HEIGHT h = I in.
o
F'I HEIGHT h : 2 in.

Io0 L~

o
o

o
o
¢

0 J

0.6 0.8 hO ~ 1.4 1.6

EQUIVALENCE RATIO '~,

FIG. 4. Stability limits expressed in terms of r0 for burner family (~h x h x 5h)A.

cross-sectional area of the duct is constant, the
speed in the mixing zone at the end of the re-
circulation zone will be proportional to the mass
flow rate. As the slot area is reduced, the mass
flow rate for a given jet speed decreases, and
hence, the flow speed in the mixing zone will also
decrease. Consequently, the residence time for
the material in the mixing zone will increase as
the slot ratio is reduced for a constant jet speed.
Under such circumstances it is clear that the
burner with the smaller slot can operate at higher
initial jet speed for any given fuel-air ratio, than
a burner with a larger slot. Because To is based
on the initial speed, lower minimum values
would be expected for smaller slot ratios.
B. COMBUSTIONCHAMBERSOF VARYINGGEOMETRY
I n order to elucidate the role of the residence
time, more detailed information about the flow
field must be obtained. For this purpose, it is
desirable to test a burner of a given size over an
even wider range of slot ratios than studied
during the scaling experiment. Such experiments
are described in this section.
948 FLAME HOLDING: SELECTED ENGINE COMBUSTION PROBLEMS

The burner used has a height of 1 in., and
slot widths of ~ , i-, ¼, ½, ~ and 1 in. were tested.
Figure 5 presents direct flame and schlieren
pictures of the combustion chamber (~ x 1 x 6)
for the six different slot ratios. These pictures,
taken at maximum speed and stoichiometric
fuel-air ratios, demonstrate the very pronounced
change in flow configuration which occurs when
the slot ratio varies over a wide range.
For the three largest slot ratios, ½, ~ and 1,
both the flame and the schlieren pictures show
that the wake is covered by a stream of fresh
mixture along the total length of the recircula-
tion zone. This length is about 4 in. on the scale
shown in the flame pictures. The burners with
smaller slot ratios, on the other hand, exhibit a
direct contact between the mixing zone and the
bottom boundary. Although the lower surface
of the flame appears at a small height above the
bottom wall, schlieren pictures clearly demon-
strate that the mixing layer reaches down to the
bottom wall. The point at which all of the fresh
mixture has entered the mixing zone occurs
farther upstream as the slot ratio is reduced.
Again, blowoff velocities and recirculation
zone lengths and temperatures were determined
for these configurations. The temperature meas-
urements show almost identical temperatures of
the recirculation zone gases when comparison
is made at similar values of the relative speed,
i.e., for similar values of the ratio of jet speed
to the jet speed at blowoff. Hence, on this basis
of comparison, the chemical parameters govern-
ing the flame stabilization process are the same
for all of the burners.
Stability limits in terms of "to. Although the
experiments established that the chemical
parameters in the different burners are almost

FIG. 5. Direct flame and schlieren photographs of combustion chamber (8 x 1 x 6)B for various slot
ratios and stoichiometric operation at maximum blowoff speed.
 FLAME STABILIZATION IN A DEFLECTED JET 949

identical when compared for similar values
of the relative speed, the flow parameters,
on the other hand, exhibit a great deal of
variation between the burners, due to the
differences in slot ratio. Hence, a comparison
betweeen the stability limits of the different
burners will demonstrate the influence of slot
ratio alone.
Figure 6 shows the stability limits in terms of
T0 for the different burners, and demonstrates
several very interesting effects of the burner ge-
ometry on the stability limits.
Burners with slot ratios ½, ~, and 1 show a
good correlation. This is perhaps not surprising
because the mixing zone in these burners does
not have any direct interaction with the bottom
boundary before the end of the reeircul~tion
zone.
Reducing the slot ratio below ½ leads to a
widening of the stability limits. Again, this

2,5

O ~:~ SLOT RATIO 8/h = 1/16

~7 SLOT RATIO 8/h = I/8 I

A SLOT RATIO ~/h I//4 r'l O

O SLOT RATIO '~/h I//2

l O S L O T RATIO 8/h 3/4

t /
[7 SLOT RATIO B//h I
)

! o ,/s--~
t/
~ '/~ - -

~-: /--,/s SLOT RAT,O ~/,,= ,-3/'~.,/2~. /

,/,6 ---/ ~---- V~6

0,5 - ~

V__ so~,i ~T s ~ o ~-- so.,c ~T S.~O

I
0.5 0.6 0.7 0,8 0.9 1,0 I,I I~ 1.3 1.4 1,5 1.6
EOUlVALENCE R A T I O @

FIG. 6. Stability limits expressed in terms of To for combustion chamber (a x 1 x 6) B with various
slot ratios.
950 FLAME HOLDING= SELECTED ENGINE COMBUSTION PROBLEMS

effect may be expected, because an increasingly
strong interaction between the mixing zone and
the bottom boundary was observed as the
slot was reduced.
Clearly, the trend observed here is the same
as that found when comparing the different
families of burners in Section IIIA. As was ex-
pected, the greater variation of geometry used
in this case has led to a considerable amplifi-
cation of the discrepancies in the stability curves
expressed in terms of r0.
Previously, the trend in the discrepancies
was explained by a qualitative comparison of
the residence times in the mixing zone. In order
to obtain a quantitative correlation, it will be
necessary to actually measure these times.
This requires a more detailed study of the flow
field in the mixing zone.
IV. F l o w F i e l d i n t h e M i x i n g Z o n e
The mixing zone structure is not very likely
with slot ratios equal to ½and smaller. With these,
it will be possible to compare the flow in the
mixing zone for a case without any interaction
with the bottom boundary with cases in which a
weak or strong interaction is present. Measure-
ments of velocity and temperature were made in
at least three locations in the mixing zones of
ducts with slot ratios ½, ~, ½ and 1 . As would be
expected, the distribution of velocity and temper-
ature depends in a rather complicated manner
on location in the duct and also on the slot
ratio for the burner. However, certain similarities
exist for the velocity and temperature profiles
which greatly simplify the discussion of the
results and analysis of the residence time at
blowoff. The flow in the mixing zone of com-
bustion chamber (½ x 1 x 6) will be treated
first and in greater detail than for the smaller
slots.
A. S L O T :RATIO ~lh = ½

to be affected by the burner geometry for slot I t is of interest to consider the flow speeds of
ratios equal to and larger than ½. The present in- different temperature regions in the mixing zone,
vestigation will, therefore, be limited to burners because consideration of the local temperature

I I I /

IOOO ~ 0
LOCATION OF TRAVERSES
o

~, "/.I/, / / / "///; "//x " ~ i l l / l , "~//.////, /

~oo "~>'/////,i, "///~r,'//, "//,,~/// / / / / / / / , "~,'///// "/ /

.J

0
o o.z o.4 o.,s ~ o.8 I.o LZ
SPEEDRATIO v/v o
FIG. 7. Temperature versus velocity distributions at several locations in combustion chamber
(½ x 1 x 6)B operating close to the lean limit and at jet speed ratio vo/vo max = 0.5.
 FLAME STABILIZATION IN A DEFLECTED JET 951

versus the corresponding speed facilitates a The scatter observed for the section farthest
comparison of the flow conditions at various upstream is probably caused by inaccuracies in
sections which have different mixer-layer thick- the location of the probes. At this section, the
nesses. Such a cross-plot of the temperature and velocity and temperature gradients are very
velocity profiles is shown in Figure 7 for (~ x 1 x 6) high because of the small width of the mixing
burner. The resulting T(v/vo) profiles are sur- zone. Hence, a small dislocation of a probe wilt
prisingly similar at the different locations along give rise to large errors in the quantity measured.
the flow. The locations of isotherms in the flow field
can be determined from the temperature distri-
bution measurements. Figure 8 indicates the
~J /~ RECIRCULATION locations of the isotherms for 500, 1000 and
IC ~ZONE BOUNDARY
1300°K in the mixing zone. It will be noted that
the 500°K isotherm has about the same shape
as the lower boundary of the zone.
? ~ ~ ~ ~ 1300°K
Thus far, the situation in the mixing zone has
only been considered at a certain intermediate
" "/ /" . . . . MIXI~IGZONE "" jet speed. The influence of the jet speed on the
BOUNDARIES ~ISOTHERMS
temperature distribution through the end of the
FIG. 8. Location of isotherms for 500, 1000 and recirculation zone is illustrated by Figure 9.
1300°K in combustion chamber (½x i x 6)B operat- All data have been taken with the combustion
ing close to the lean limit and at jet speed ratio chamber operating close to the lean stability
Vo/VoIn~.~ = 0.5. limit. In the first case, the measurements were

Z~ vo : 170 ft/sec; (~ = 0.75 /

O
[Z]
vo : 3(30 ft/sec; <~ = O.81
vo = 560 fVsec; 9~ = I.OI
A/enn
O.E OPEN POINTS BY THERMOCOUPLE MEASUREMENTS /
SOLID POINTS BY LINE-REVERSAL MEASUREMENTS /
/
/
/
/
LJ
z
f
A.

g
O 0.4

DyA S
OF TRAVERSES
iI .....
."•CATI
~I
ON ¥]h

[] o -

O 5OO IO00 1500 2000

TEMPERATURE. =K

FIG. 9. Temperature distributions at the end of the recireulation zone in combustion cham-
ber (½ x 1 x 6)B operating close to the lean limit and at several jet speeds.
952 FLAME HOLDING: SELECTED ENGINE COMBUSTION PROBLEMS

made at maximum speed and stoichiometrie
fuel-air ratio; in the second the jet speed was
about half of maximum, with an equivalence
ratio of 0.8; and finally, the last case corre-
sponded to a jet speed ratio of about 0.3 and an
equivalence ratio of 0.75. Considering the
differences in adiabatic-flame temperature ob-
tained with such widely different equivalence
ratios, the similarity in the temperature profiles
(Fig. 9) is surprisingly good.
An even more striking similarity is exhibited
in the T(v/vo) profiles at the end of the recireula-
tion zone for the three jet speeds studied. Ma-
terial of a certain temperature travels with the
same relative speed close to blowoff (Fig. 10).
The similarity in T(v/Vo) implies that the relative
velocity profiles at the end of the recirculation
zone also are similar, because it has been shown
that the temperature profiles are similar.
Summarizing the results obtained from the
investigation of the mixing zone in combustion
chamber (½ x 1 x 6), it has been found that the
velocities and the temperature distribution in
the mixing zone close to blowoff are similar.
The most striking similarity occurs in the
T(v/vo) profiles which are relatively independent
of jet speed and location along the flow. This
implies that all elements at a given temperature
level move with the same relative speed regard-
less of absolute speed and location. I t should be
emphasized that this result is only valid for
flows near the blowoff limits.
Under such circumstances, it is not surprising
that the characteristic time r0 constitutes a
useful stability parameter. Clearly, the actual
residence time along a certain streamline in the
mixing zone will again be proportional to To
for the burner in question. This explains the
excellent correlation of the stability limits by
To obtained for the geometrically similar burners
discussed in Section IIIA.
The discussion has thus far been restricted to
a flow field in which the mixing zone is covered
by a flow of fresh mixture along the complete

' n'~', o

~o
\

A vo = 170 ft/sec~ ~, = 0.75 n

0 ve = 300 ft/sec; ~ : 0.81 ~
r'l ve = 560 fl/sec; ~ = h01

~ ION OF TRAVERSES

I//////,///ll///,/,I,//,/l//l////~//,/I///l//l ~,j

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2

LOCAL SPEED RATIO v//vo

FIG. 10. Temperature versus velocity distributions at the end of the recirculation zone in combustion
chamber (½ x I x 6)B operating close to the lean limit and at several jet speeds.
 FLAME STABILIZATION IN A DEFLECTED JET 953

"\ ,~ 0 .~

150C \ \

\ \
X ~ " ~. jK'- SLOT RATIO

o IOOC

a_

/
/
/
F °
500

"1 I of
0 8/h = 1/16 ; vo = 9 5 0 ft sec ; ~ :0.7

V ~/h= ,Is ; Vo : 8 9 0 f l sec ~ @ = 0 8

A ~/h : I/4 ; Vo= 5 9 0 f t s e c ; ¢:0.8

0 8 / h = I/2 ; Vo = 3 0 0 f t s e c ; ~=0,8

0 I I
o 0.2 0,4 0.6 0.~, hO
SPEEDRATIO v / vo

FZG. 11. Temperature versus velocity distribution in the mixing zone at the end of the recirculation
zone for various slot ratios in combustion chamber (5 x 1 x 6)B operating close to the lean limit.

length of the recireulation zone. It is reasonable bottom boundary of the burner. The smaller
to assume that the burners with larger slot ratio the slot ratio, the less the relative speed in the
will behave in an identical manner, although mixing zone.
only the burner with slot ratio } has been in- The situation in the mixing layer at the middle
vestigated. For smaller slot ratios, however, the of the recirculation zone was found to be about
flow in the mixing zone will presumably be the same as that at the end of the zone. The
affected by the burner geometry. This case will smallest slot ratio shows higher relative speeds
be considered next. at low and intermediate temperatures, which
indicates a stronger influence of the initial
B. SLOT RATIOS ~/h = 1, 1, 16 speed of the jet.
The effect of the burner geometry on the flow In addition, these data demonstrate that the
in the mixing zone is best illustrated by the similarity in T(v/vo) found at slot ratio ½ for
T(v/vo) profiles. Figure 11 shows these profiles at different locations along the mixing zone is no
the end of the recirculation zone for all of the slot longer present at small slot ratios. Thus, for
ratios investigated. Each curve is based on small slot ratios, the similarity in T(v/vo) be-
traverses taken at an intermediate speed and tween different locations has been lost. Another
mixture ratio, and again, the data are obtained type of similarity, however, may still be present
at the blowoff limit. for the small slot ratios. It will be recalled that
The over-all trend exhibited (Fig. 11) gives, slot ratio ½ showed similarity in T(v/vo) at blow-
indeed, a confirmation of the repeatedly discussed off for different speeds at the same location. The
interaction between the mixing zone and the data available for the smaller slot ratios indicate
954 FLAME HOLDING: SELECTED ENGINE COMBUSTION PROBLEMS

that T(v/Vo) at a given location is also fairly

independent of the jet speed close to blowoff.
A further indication in this direction is given by
the satisfactory correlation of the stability
limits obtained within the small slot ratio families
with the use of To.
Correlation of stability limits. An attempt at
correlation of the stability limits (Fig. 6) is
now made by considering the residence time in
the mixing zone. This presents a problem as to
what path to use for the determination of the
time. The streamlines through the zone have
not been determined, and if they were, it is not
clear which part of the flow is the most significant
for the stability of the flame.
On the other hand, the measurements that
have been made yield the locations of the iso-
therms in the flow field (Fig. 8). In order to
evaluate the effects of the residence time in
different regions of the flow, it was decided to
determine this time along three separate iso-
therms. The isotherms for 500, 1000 and 1300°K
0.6 0.8 LO 12
were chosen. The data above 1300°K are not 1.4

EQUIVALENCE RATIO ~b
sufficiently accurate to justify a study of higher
temperature isotherms. FIG. 12. Stability limits expressed in terms of
The isothermal residence time T(T°K) was r(1300°K) for various slot ratios in combustion
determined by graphical integration of the ex- chamber (~ x 1 x 6)B.
pression
T(T°K) is 5, 12 and 25 per cent longer than the
r ( T O K ) = fo r ds characteristic time r0 at 500, 1000 and 1300°K,
v(T°K) respectively. The ratio T(T°K)/T0 increases
steadily as the slot ratio is reduced. At slot
in which ds is a line element of the isotherm
ratio ~ , the isothermal times are 2 to 3 times
T°K, and v(T°K) is the corresponding local
longer than the characteristic time.
speed. The integration range extends from the
Up to the present point, the isothermal resi-
origin of the isotherm at the edge of the slot
dence times have been determined at only one
to the end of the recirculation zone.
state of operation close to the lean limit for each
The results of the computation of the iso-
burner. However, it has been shown that the
thermal residence times are summarized in
distributions T(v/vo) at blowoff are independent
Table 1. A t slot ratio ½, the isothermal time
of speed. Consequently, the ratio ~-(T°K)/To
will be constant all along the stability limits as
TABLE 1. ISOTHERMAL RESIDENCE T I M E S FOR
long as the recirculation zone length l* remains
VARIOUS SLOT RATIOS IN COMBUSTION CHAM-
BER (~ x 1 x 6)B OPERATING CLOSE TO TItE
unchanged. (Relatively small variations in l*
LEAN LIMIT. are encountered in the present burners.) Hence,
it is legitimate to transform the complete sta-
Isothermal Residence Time Ratio bility limits of a burner from To to T(T°K) by
Slot Characteris- r(T°K)/ro
Ratio tic Time r o multiplying the ordinate of Figure 6 by a constant
500°K 1000°K 1300°K factor, (T(T°K)/T0), although this factor has
been determined at only one point of operation
msec
for each burner.
½ 1.01 1.05 1.12 1.25 The resulting stability limits in terms of
0.64 1.16 1.44 1.77
the isothermal residence times are presented in
0.505 1.52 1.94 2.62
0.54 2.22 2.26 3.13 Figure 12 for the 1300°K isotherm. The correla-
tion is excellent. Although values of the residence
 FLAME STABILIZATION IN A DEFLECTED JET
time based on this temperature give the best
correlation of the limits, all three isotherms give
satisfactory results.
V. S u m m a r y
The discrepancies in the stability limits based
on the characteristic time r0, which were ob-
served when burner families of different ge-
ometry were compared in Section III, have been
explained by use of the residence time concept.
Thus, the present experiments with burners of
varying geometry have clearly shown that the
residence time in the mixing zone is the proper
correlation parameter for the stability limits.
This parameter is not affected by the great vari-
ation the flow field encounters when the slot
ratio is changed over a wide range. The experi-
ment also has shown that the most satisfactory
correlation is obtained by use of a residence
time for the material in the inner part of the
mixing zone.
The small slot-ratio burner shows several
interesting similarities with the can-type com-
bustion chamber. 6 The primary similarity lies
in the structure of the mixing zone, because
there is good reason to believe that the mixing
zone in the can burner also is covered by a
flow of fresh mixture for only a short distance.
Hence, the successful correlation of stability
limits for small slot-ratio burners, shown here,
strongly suggests that the mechanism of govern-
ing importance for flame stabilization in can
burners is the same as that for bluff-body flame
stabilization.
REFERENCES
1. ZUKOSKI, E. E., AND MARBLE, F. E.: Proceed-
ings of the Gas Dynamics S y m p o s i u m on
Aerothermochemistry (held at Evanston, Ill.,
August 22-24, 1955), p. 205, Northwestern
University Press.
2. WRIGHT, F. H. : Bluff body flame stabilization:
blockage effects, Progress Report No. 20-
327, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena,
California, June 3, 1958.
3. WEISS, M. A., AND LONGWELL, J. P.: Jet Pro-
pulsion, 26, 749 (1956).
4. WAY, S.: A G A R D , Selected Combustion Prob-
lems, II, Butterworths Scientific Publications,
London, 1956.
5. HERBERT, M. V.: A theoretical analysis of
reaction-rate controlled systems, Part II,
Report No. R 196, National Gas Turbine
Establishment, (England), 1957.
6. BROMAN, G. E.: Experimental investigation of
955
flame stabilization in a deflected jet, Report
No. 30-5, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasa-
dena, California, September 30, 1959.
Nomenclature
h combustion chamber height
l combustion chamber length
l* recirculation zone length
u0 velocity past wake of bluff body flameholder
v velocity
v0 reference velocity based on pot and Pres
pot total pressure at combustion chamber inlet
P~e/ static pressure in recirculation zone
slot width
rc characteristic time (l*/uo) for bluff body
flameholder
To characteristic time (l*/vo)
DISCUSSION BY C. W. SHIPMAN
The results reported in this paper appear to be
in substantial agreement with those of Scurlock '.~
presented at the Third Symposium in 1948. The
larger apparatus used by the present authors
means that the results reinforce Scurlock's conclu-
sions. The pressure profiles are as expected and
are similar to those obtained by Barbor et al. 3
and published in the form of the relevant velocity
profiles.
Scurlock explained the substantial independ-
ence of rate of flame spreading and inlet condi~
tions by pointing out that the combustion of the
central part of the stream generates a steep
velocity gradient (called by him the second region
of steep velocity gradient in order to distinguish
it from the immediate wake of the flameholder),
and that such gradients can produce turbulence,
higher feed velocities producing stronger gradients
and presumably a higher level of turbulence.
Presumably the simple spreading law indicates
that the increased turbulence offsets the increased
feed rate, and the rate of spread of the flame
appears to be unaffected by variation of inlet
conditions. As pointed out by Chairman Hottel
the simple spreading law obtained by photo-
graphic examination is, although useful, an in-
complete statement of the propagation rate,
because it is probable that considerable unburned
fuel finds its way through the "flame front." It
would seem, therefore, profitable to study the
propagation of confined flames in a more detailed
manner as was done, for example by Petrein and
Longwell 4 or by Barbor et al. 3
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES
1. SCURLOC~,A. C.: M. I. T. Fuels Research Lab-
oratory, Meteor Rept. No. 19, (May, 1948).
2. WILLIAMS, G. C., I'~OTTEL, H. S., AND SCURLOCK,
A. C.: Third S y m p o s i u m on Combustion,
956 FLAME HOLDING: SELECTED ENGINE COMBUSTION PROBLEMS
Flame, and Explosion Phenomena, p. 21. The
Williams & Wilkins Company, Baltimore,
1949.
3. BARBOR~R. P.~ LARKIN, J. D., VON ROSENBERG,
H. E., AND SHIPIV[AN,C. W.: Am. Inst. Chem.
Eng., 5, 37 (1959).
4. PETREIN, R. J., LONOWELL, J. P., AND WEISS,
M. A.: Jet Propulsion, 26, 81 (1956).
AUTHOR'S REPLY
The M I T work referred to by Mr. Shipman, was
one of the pioneer works on flame stabilization
and flame spreading. However, since that time
certain important features of the phenomena,
such as the transition to turbulent flow in the
flame, have been clarified, and the necessity of
using large scale equipment has become more
obvious.
Unfortunately the greater part of the MIT
results were obtained when the fame was either
laminar or in the transition region. The data
which were reported for turbulent conditions
concern the effect of approach stream speed and
they are so scanty that although they may be
said to foreshadow the results presented in the
101
CONTROL OF BLUFF-BODY FLAMEHOLDER STABILITY LIMITS
By F. FILIPPI AND L. FABBROVICH-MAZZA
Introduction
Flame stabilization in high-velocity, turbulent
premixed-gas streams has been the object of
many theoretical and experimental studies since
the now classic experiments by Scurlock. I Recent
summaries of the extensive literature on this sub-
ject were given by Zukoski, 2 Penner and Williams ~
and by one of the authors. 4 Therefore, reference
will be made only to particular aspects of the
problem pertinent to the present work.
Special attention has been given to bluff-body
flameholders and their behavior can be predicted
with reasonable accuracy at the present time. The
biggest drawbacks of this type of flameholder are:
the highest velocities at which a flame can be
stabilized in a premixed air-fuel gas stream
correspond to mixture ratios near the stoichio-
metric value. Owing to temperature limitations
this fact precludes the possibility of using fully
premixed gases in many practical combustors.
present paper, they did not at that time warrant
the drawing of any firm conclusions. Certainly
the authors of the third symposium paper drew
none. In addition, the effects of approach-stream
temperature and fuel type, and flameholder scale
and blockage ratio were not even discussed.
The present authors agree that chemical samp-
ling measurements are necessary to complete the
picture presented here. Work of this type has
been carried out. 1 Results show composition
profiles which indicate that wake-width measure-
ments may be used to imply combustion
efficiencies.
No mysterious areas of unburned gas, such as
those suggested by Nir. Shipman, are found to
exist within the mixing zones. The slow oxidation
rates of carbon dioxide appear to be the only
factor preventing complete combustion in the
area inside the mixing zones.
The authors also wish to emphasize the fact
that work reported here is for steady flow. The
work of Petrein and Longwell was, with little
doubt, carried out in a highly fluctuating flow
and hence is not comparable with the results
presented here.
This, in turn, usually means a less efficient utiliza-
tion of combustor volume. At a given mixture
ratio the maximum velocity at which a flame
can be stabilized is proportional to the flame-
holder equivalent diameter. Therefore, in order
to have stable combustion with high inlet
velocities to the combustor it is necessary to use
large diameter flameholders, i.e., large "blockage
ratios," with corresponding large pressure losses
and inefficient utilization of combustor volume.
The experiments summarized in this paper
were carried out during the period from Novem-
ber, 1957 to December, 1959, at the Istituto di
Macchine e Motori per Aeromobili of the Politec-
nico di Torino in a small scale combustor with a
single bluff-body flameholder in order to investi-
gate the feasibility of controlling the stability
limits of a given flameholder within a broad
range of air-fuel mixture ratios. Under certain
operating conditions with practical combustors,