A Computational Study of Laminar Counterflow Flames

Counterflow diffusion flames have been studied in depth as a one-dimensional flame, and are often used to study chemical kinetics, soot formation, and extinction and ignition characteristics of flames because of the low computing costs associated with one dimensional computations. Further, strained flames have been used in models of turbulent flames with the assumption that the underlying chemistry can be represented by a limited number of variables. Detailed three dimensional simulations of H₂/CH₄/air counterflow diffusion flames are performed using CONVERGE CFD [41] and compared to one dimensional simulation and experimental Dual-Pump Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (DPCARS) measurements of temperature and normalized mole fractions of H₂ and O₂[37]. The multi-dimensional effects of differential and advective diffusion are explored. The effects of boundary conditions far from the centerline axis of the burner one flow field and flame shape are investigated.