Experimental and numerical investigation of the acoustic response of multi-slit Bunsen burners

Abstract

Acoustic resonances in combustion systems like central heating boilers prohibit further technological advances in these systems. The design and construction is obstructed by acoustic problems because they are largely misunderstood. The flame often acts as an active element in the acoustic field, because the flame transfer function of acoustic waves has a large amplitude at low frequencies. Current models of the phase of the flame transfer function of Bunsen-type flames, based on kinematic behavior of the flame dynamics, completely miss the experimentally observed phase, unless the measured flow field is used in the model. In the current paper we analyze numerical results of the flame dynamics, flow field and flame transfer function found with a 2D detailed numerical model of the flow and structure of the flame on a multiple-slit burner. The model is validated with experiments of the flame dynamics (using chemiluminescence), flow dynamics (using PIV) and flame transfer function (using OH luminescence for the heat release fluctuations and heated wire probe for the acoustic distortions) on exactly the same configuration. A very good agreement is found which indicates the importance of predicting all the influences of the flow on the flame and vise-versa. © 2008 Acoustical Society of America.