Adaptive methods for simulation of turbulent combustion

Abstract

Adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) is an effective approach for simulating fluid flow systems that exhibit a large range of numerical resolution requirements. For example, an AMR simulation could dynamically focus maximum numerical resolution near a propagating flame structure, while simultaneously placing coarser computational zones near relatively large flow structures in the exhaust region downstream of the flame. However, since turbulent reacting flow applications already tend to be significantly complex, an AMR implementation might quickly become prohibitively intricate. In this chapter, we discuss basic AMR algorithm design principles that can be applied in a straightforward way to build up extremely efficient multi-stage solution strategies. As an example, we discuss an adaptive projection scheme for low Mach number flows, which was used to analyze flame-turbulence interactions in a full-scale simulation of a turbulent premixed burner experiment using detailed chemistry and transport models. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011.