The Effects of Burner Geometry and Fuel Composition on the Stability of a Jet Diffusion Flame

Abstract

The effect of the burner configuration and fuel composition on the stability limits of jet diffusion flames issuing into a co-flowing air stream is presented. Circular and elliptic nozzles of various lip thicknesses and aspect ratios were employed with methane as the primary fuel and hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen as additives. It was found that the effects of nozzle geometry, fuel composition, and co-flowing stream velocity on the blowout limits were highly dependent on the type of flame stabilization mechanism, i.e., whether lifted or rim-attached, just prior to blowout. The blowout behavior of lifted flames did not appear to be significantly affected by a change in the nozzle shape as long as the discharge area remained constant, but it was greatly affected by the fuel composition. In contrast, attached flame stability was influenced by both the fuel composition and the nozzle geometry which had the potential to extend the maximum co-flowing stream velocity without causing the flame to blow out. The parameters affecting the limiting stream velocity were studied.