Dynamic responses of anchored ducted flames to harmonic velocity forcing

Abstract

This paper aims at developing a computationally inexpensive method to investigate the premixed flame instabilities. The kinematic G-equation is combined with a two-dimensional discrete vortex method, and the conformal mapping is applied to make calculations for complicated geometries more efficiently. The vortex dynamics and flame response to harmonic velocity forcing of an anchored ducted V-flame are investigated, and the effects of harmonic forcing, Reynolds number, and bluff body geometry are examined. Results show that the vortex structures, flow instability, and flame response are closely coupled with each other. The unsteady vortex structures generate instabilities at the flame base, and the convection of the flame wrinkles then influences the flame dynamics downstream. The flame heat release fluctuates with larger amplitude under low-frequency forcings, while the phase of the flame transfer function is quasi-linear with increasing forcing frequency. Both higher inflow velocity and sharper bluff body corners can result in more unsteady large-scale vortex structures and hence influence the flame responses.