Blowout Limits of a Jet Diffusion Flame in the Presence of Small Surrounding Jet Pilot Flames

Abstract

The blowout limit of a methane jet diffusion flame is examined in the presence of a number of much smaller pilot jet flames of different fuels arranged within an experimental burner assembly in a co-flowing stream of air. It is shown that the blowout limit of the central jet flame can be extended very appreciably by increasing the flow rate through the smaller pilot jets. The basis for this extension to the blowout limit and the role of some changes in the operating parameters are discussed. It is suggested that the extension to the blowout limit observed is due mainly to the thermal contribution of the pilot jet flames.