Notes Lecture 14

Summer
2013
Lecture 14
Turbulent Combustion
Moshe Matalon
We know what a turbulent flow is, when we see it!

it is characterized by disorder, vorticity and mixing.
In a fluid flow , turbulence is characterized by fluctuations of velocities and state

variables in space and time. This occurs when the Reynolds number
Re = U L/⌫ 1
L is a characteristic dimension of the vessel
U is a characteristic velocity of the flow
⌫ is the kinematic viscosity µ/⇢ ( cm2 /s).
1 L/U ta overall time to advect a fluid particle a distance L

Re = = = ⌧1
L2 /⌫ td viscous dissipation time over distance L
Disturbances in the flow, due to instabilities, may develop large velocity gradi-
ents. At Re ⌧ 1, viscous dissipation prevents the development of these large
velocity gradients. But at Re 1, viscous dissipation is unable to smear out
the large developing gradients.
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
University of Illinois at Urbana-‐Champaign 1
Summer 2013
Statistical description
The aim is to describe the fluctuating velocity and scalar fields in terms of their
statistical distributions.
1. Averaging
time averaging
Z
1 T u(t)
ū(x) = lim u(t, x)dt ū
T !1 T 0
ensemble averaging
compiled from many di↵erent realizations t
where u(tn , x) is the nth realization ū
N
X
1
hu(t, x)i = lim u(tn , x)
N !1 N n=1 t1 t2 tn t
good also if ū depends on time measurements taken at a fixed point
If we decompose u(t, x) into a mean and a fluctuation u0 (t, x) then, by definition,

u0 (t, x) = hu0 (t, x)i = 0.
Moshe Matalon
2. Probability Density Functions (pdf )
The distribution function Fu (U ) of u is defined by the probability of finding a

value of u < U
Fu (U ) = p(u < U )
U is the sample space of the random variable u
consists of all possible realizations of u.
The probability of finding a value of u in an interval U < u < U + U is given by
p(U < u < U + U ) = Fu (U + U ) Fu (U )
The probability density function (pdf) of u is defined as
dFu (U )
Pu (U ) =
dU
Z 1
Clearly Pu (U )dU = 1
1
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
Summer 2013
In turbulent flows, the pdf of any stochastic variable depends, in principle, on

the position x and on time t, or Pu (U ; x, t) is the probability density in U -space
and a function of x and t. The simplified notation P (u; x, t) will be used from
now on.
Once the pdf of a variable is known one can define the average or mean value
Z 1
ū(x, t) = u P (u; x, t)du
1
the mean of a function g(u)

Z 1
ḡ(x, t) = g(u) P (u; x, t)du
1
and the variance (a measure of the width of the pdf)

Z 1
2
= (u ū)2 P (u; x, t))du
1
2
= (u ū)2 = u2 2uū + ū2 = u2 ū2 ) 2
= u0 2
u2 2
ū = (ū + u0 )2 2
ū = ū2 + 2u0 ū u 02 2
ū = u 02 mean of the
* fluctuations squared
u = ū + u0
Moshe Matalon
u(t)
bimodal pdf
ū
P (u)
normal pdf
u
ū
P (u)
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
Summer 2013
u0 2 is the variance - the extent of variation from the mean

p
the root mean square u0 2 is the intensity
the correlation of the fluctuations of two variables is often of interest
u v = (ū + u0 )(v̄ + v 0 ) = ū v̄ + ū0 v̄ + ūv¯0 + u0 v 0 = ū v̄ + u 0 v0

|{z}
correlation
Ruv
Ruv indicates the extent of the interdependence of the two variables
the correlation coefficient

u0 v 0
Ruv is often normalized Ruv = p
such that 1 < Ruv < 1 u0 2 v 0 2
Ruv ⇡ 0 u and v are poorly correlated

Ruv ⇡ ±1 u and v are nearly perfectly correlated (or anticorrelated)
Ruv > 0 u and v are correlated (and have the same sign most of the time)
Moshe Matalon
Turbulent Scales
Turbulent flows are said to be made up of small eddies with a multitude of sizes
and vorticities. A fluid eddy is a macroscopic fluid element in which the mi-
croscopic elements comprising the eddy behave as a unit. An eddy is identified
by a characteristic size and a characteristic velocity. A number of small eddies
may be embedded in a large eddy.
A characteristic of a turbulent flow is the existence of a wide range of length

scales, or eddy sizes. The largest size L, is the macroscale or the flow scale.
Eddies of size L are characterized by the mean flow velocity U . The Reynolds
number of these eddies Re = U L/⌫ is large so that the e↵ect of viscosity is
negligibly small.
The large eddies, however, break up as a result of instabilities, transferring their

energy to smaller eddies, characterized by smaller Reynolds numbers. This pro-
cess continues until the Reynolds number is sufficiently small; now viscosity acts
to smear out large velocity gradients or dissipate the available kinetic energy.
This is basically the eddy cascade hypothesis, proposed by Kolmogorov for
homogeneous isotropic turbulence.
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
Summer 2013
In order to characterize the distribution of eddy length scales at any position in

the flow field, we use the correlation of the axial velocity between two points.
The correlation of the axial velocity u at time t between two points separated
by a distance r, i.e., at x and x + r, is
R(x, r, t) = u0 (x, t) u0 (x + r, t)
it shows how related, or coherent, are the velocities at these two points in space
For homogeneous isotropic turbulence the location x is arbitrary and r may be

replaced by its absolute value r = |r|. The normalized correlation
f (r, t) = R(r, t)/u02 (t) 1
f (r, t)
defines a length scale
Z 1
`(t) = f (r, t)dr
0
` r
called the integral length scale f (0, t) = 1 due to the normalization
and goes to zero as r ! 1, because
very large eddies occur less frequent.
Moshe Matalon
If v 0 is a typical velocity scale, i.e., a measure of the velocity fluctuations around

the mean, the turbulence kinetic energy may be defined as
k= 1
2 vi0 vi0 = 32 v 02
so that r
2k 0
v =
3
represents the turnover velocity of eddies of the size of the integral scale, and
t = `/v 0 is the turnover time of these eddies.
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
Summer 2013
For very small values of r only very small eddies fit into the distance between
x and x + r. The motion of these small eddies is influenced by viscosity which
provides an additional dimensional quantity for scaling.
We denote the dissipation of kinetic energy, per unit mass, by ✏.

1
[✏] = (m/s)2 = m2 /s3 [ ⌫ ] = m2 /s
s
Dimensional analysis then yields the Kolmogorov length scale ⌘
✓ ◆1/4
⌫3
⌘=
✏
1
We can also define a Kolmogorov time scale
⇣ ⌫ ⌘1/2 f (r, t)
t⌘ =
✏
and velocity scale
v⌘ = (✏⌫)1/4
⌘ ` r
inertial range
the range of length scales
Moshe Matalon between the Kolmogorov scale
is called the inertial range.
According to Kolmogorov’s theory the energy transfer from the large eddies at
the integral scale (i.e, of length scale ` ) is equal to the dissipation of energy at
the Kolmogorov scale.
v 02 v 03 k 3/2
Since at the integral scale the energy transfer rate ✏ = 0
= =
`/v ` `
k 3/2
`=
✏
If we define the turbulent Reynolds number as ReT = `v 0 /⌫, the ratios of the
smallest to largest length, time and velocity scales are
⌘ (⌫ 3 /✏)1/4 ⇣ ⌫ ⌘3/4
3/4
= = = ReT
` ` `v 0
t⌘ (⌫/✏)1/2 ⇣ ⌫ ⌘1/2
1/2
= = = ReT
t v 0 /` `v 0
v⌘ (✏⌫)1/4 ⇣ ⌫ ⌘1/4
1/4
= = = ReT
v0 v0 `v 0
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
Summer 2013
Various approaches
• Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS). Resolves the entire range of

turbulent length scales, without recourse to any modeling assumptions.
All the turbulence scales must be resolved in the computational mesh,
from the smallest Kolmogorov scale up to the integral scale.
DNS is being used for fundamental turbulent studies in a limited way.
Because of the high computational cost, however, it is not a feasible tool
for wide parametric studies and, at the present, is not a useful approach
that can be used to simulate practical engineering problems.
Moshe Matalon
• Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS). Resolves the entire range of

turbulent length scales, without recourse to any modeling assumptions.
All the turbulence scales must be resolved in the computational mesh,
from the smallest Kolmogorov scale up to the integral scale.
The computational cost is extremely high. If N is the number of mesh
points along one coordinate direction, then
Nh > L
h < ⌘ ⇠ ReT 3/4
This implies that in a 3D calculations the umber of mesh points must
satisfy
N 3 > Re9/4
T
Furthermore, the explicit time integration requirement (the CFL condi-

tion)
v0 t
<1
L
also implies that the number of time integration steps grows as a power
law of ReT
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
Summer 2013
DNS of a nonpremixed methane-air jet flame with a 4-step chemistry model and
8 species. Computations used 100 millions grid points, 340, 000 processor hours
(4 months) to cover a region of approximately 1 cm3 in physical space.
Pantano, JFM 2004
methane oxygen
Temperature isocontours water CO
H2 H
Species mass fraction at a given instant in time

Formation of holes
Moshe Matalon
• Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS). In this ap-

proach any instantaneous quantity is decomposed into a time or ensemble
average and a fluctuating component, and introduced into the governing
equations. The equations for the mean quantities, however, contain un-
known correlation terms that call for the equations for the fluctuations.
These however, contain higher order correlations and the system does
not close. The “closure problem” is particularly critical in combustion
problems because of the numerous quantities arising from the chemical
source terms, the species and energy equations that need to be modeled,
in addition to the usual Reynolds stresses encountered in ordinary fluid
mechanics.
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
Summer 2013
Consider first the incompressible NS equations (we will be using index notation)
@vj
=0
@xj
✓ ◆
@vi @vi @ ij
⇢ + vj =
@t @xj @xj
Averaging the equations, using that the fluctuations have zero mean, yields
@v̄j
=0
@xj
✓ ◆
@v̄i @v̄i @ ⇣ ⌘
⇢ + v̄j = ¯ij ⇢(vi0 vj0 )
@t @xj @xj
the extra term on the RHS resulting from the fact that Dv/Dt 6= D̄v̄/D̄t
The mean velocity field must also satisfy the continuity equation. However in
the momentum equations there are additional terms – or e↵ective stresses, called
Reynolds stresses – that give the flow an “added” viscosity.
Moshe Matalon
One can write equations for the fluctuating quantities, but these produce addi-
tional unknown terms, of the form vi0 vj0 vk0 .
This is known as the closure problem of turbulence.
Turbulence modeling is an attempt to write empirical expressions for the

Reynolds stress. The level of closure depends on the complexity of the model.
The simplest closure approach is to model the additional stresses ⇢(vi0 vj0 ) in an
analogous way to the stress-strain relation for a Newtonian fluid - the turbulent-
viscosity hypothesis.
✓ ◆
@v̄i @v̄j
⇢(vi0 vj0 ) + 23 ⇢k ij = ⇢⌫T +
| {z } @xj @xi
deviatoric stress
1
where k= 2 vi0 vi0 is half the kinetic energy
⌫T is the turbulent viscosity (also referred to as eddy viscosity)
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
Summer 2013
Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS)
@v̄j
=0
@xj
 ✓ ◆
@v̄i @v̄i 1 @ @ @ ūi @ ūj
+ v̄j = p̄ + 23 ⇢k ij + ⌫e↵ +
@t @xj ⇢ @xj @xj @xj @xi
with ⌫e↵ = ⌫ + ⌫T the e↵ective viscosity
Unlike ⌫, the turbulence viscosity is not a material property; it is a function of

space and time; i.e. ⌫T = ⌫T (x, t).
Moshe Matalon
In combustion problems, the continuity equation must include density varia-

tions. When averaging the continuity equation
@⇢ @(⇢vj )
+ =0
@t @xj
the additional term ⇢0 vj0 arises. Similarly, triple correlations arise of the form
⇢0 vi0 vj0 arise from the momentum equations.
It is therefore convenient to introduce a density-weighted average velocity, called

the Favre average1 average, ⇢vi
ṽi =
⇢¯
and the fluctuations about the Favre-average, denoted by vi00 = vi ṽi .
When averaging the continuity equation, Favre-averaging ensures that ⇢vi00 van-
ishes and the averaged continuity equation retains the same form as the conti-
nuity equation itself, namely
@ ⇢¯ @(¯ ⇢ṽj )
+ =0
@t @xj
1
Introduced by Favre in 1969
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
Summer 2013
Note that the mean of the velocity fluctuation, in the Favre decomposition
vi = ṽi + vi00 , does not vanish, i.e.,
vi00 6= 0 rather ⇢vi00 = 0
More impressive is the simplification obtained in the momentum equation, be-

cause
⇢vi vj = ⇢¯ṽi ṽj + ⇢¯v]
00 00
i vj
instead of four terms in the more conventional approach. (Note that it has also
the same structure as the conventional average.)
There are of course questions as to whether ṽ is readily measurable experi-

mentally, and in extending the Reynolds-stress idea to ⇢¯v]
00 00
i vj (instead of the
conventional ⇢vi0 vj0 ), using
✓ ◆
@ṽi @ṽj
⇢¯(v]
00 00 2
i vj ) + 3 ⇢
¯k̃ ij = ⇢¯⌫T + with k̃ = 12 v]
00 00
i vi
@xj @xi
but the mathematical simplification is quite significant.
Moshe Matalon
There are of course additional terms that need to be modeled, when averaging
the combustion equations. These include ⇢¯v]
00 00 for any scalar
i , such as mass
fraction and temperature, arising from D /Dt and other arising from the highly
nonlinear chemical source term !.
To show the difficulties associated with the chemical source term, consider the
simple form ! = F (T ), where
E/RT
F (T ) = B(Ta T ) e
✓ ◆ ✓ ◆
T 00 E/RT̃ ET 00
F = ⇢B(Ta T̃ ) 1 e 1+ + ...
Ta T̃ RT̃ 2
✓ ◆
T 00 ET 00
F = F (T̃ ) 1 exp
Ta T̃ RT̃ 2
Because of the large Zel’dovich number, even small temperature fluctuations in
the reaction zone cause significant fluctuations of the chemical source term.
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
Summer 2013
• PDF Transport Equation. This approach consists of developing and

solving model transport equations for the pdf of a set of variables that
describe the hydrodynamics and/or thermochemical state of the mixture.
An advantage of this approach is that the pdf of a certain variable contains
more information than just the mean and the correlation. Another advan-
tage is that some aspects of turbulent transport are in closed form, which
limits the modeling requirements. The main drawback, however, is the
large number of independent variables that characterizes the pdf making
it computationally costly.
Moshe Matalon
• Large Eddy Simulations (LES). LES operates on the governing equa-

tions in order to reduce the range of length scales that need to be com-
puted, thus lowering the computational cost. A low-pass filtering is used
to remove the small scales, which are replaced by subgrid models. The
range of length scale filtered out, and reduction in the computational cost
compared to DNS, depend on the computational resources.
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
Summer 2013
Regimes of Premixed Turbulent Combustion

Damköhler, Z. Elektrochem., 1940.
Damköhler identified two distinct limiting regimes:

(i) a small scale turbulence regime where small eddies interact with the trans-
port mechanisms within the flame.
(ii) a large scale turbulence, where the flame is thin compared to the smallest
turbulence scale, turbulence-flame interaction is purely kinematic
These two regimes correspond, in the present terminology to the thin reaction zone
and corrugated flamelet regimes, respectively.
The expressions for the turbulent burning velocity ST proposed by Damköhler,

and the modifications due to Shelkin (NACA TM 1110, 1947) will be discussed
in the next lecture.
Moshe Matalon
Regimes of Premixed Turbulent Combustion
We assume equal di↵usivities for all reactive scalars, and a Schmidt number
equal to one
Dth = DF = DO ⌘ D; ⌫/D = 1
The flame thickness and flame (residence) time are then given by
lf = D/SL tf = D/SL2
As a result, the turbulent Reynolds number, may be expressed as
`v 0 `v 0 v0 `
ReT = ) ReT = =
⌫ D SL l f
The Damköhler number number (flow time/reaction time) may be defined as

✓ ◆ ✓ ◆
`/v 0 ` SL
D= = ⇥
lf /SL lf v0
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
Summer 2013
The various regimes of turbulent combustion will be presented on a log-log graph

depicting v 0 /SL versus `/lf . The first characterization is the line ReT = 1 sep-
arating laminar and turbulent combustion. Turbulent combustion corresponds
to large Reynolds numbers, i.e., the region to the right, sufficiently removed
from the line ReT = 1.
Another distinction is between small and large Damköhler numbers. “Flames”
are typically characterized by fast chemistry, or D 1, while the region D ⌧ 1
corresponds to “well stirred reactors” where all turbulent scales are smaller than
the chemical time scale.
well-stirred
103 reactor
1
=
D
v 0 /SL
✓ ◆ ✓ ◆
102
turbulent
v0 `
ReT = ⇥ flames
SL lf 10
✓ ◆ ✓ ◆
R
eT
SL `
=
D= ⇥
1
v0 lf 1
laminar
flames
1 10 102 103
`/lf
Moshe Matalon
Further refinement of this diagram involves the Karlovitz number Ka, which
relates the flame scales to the Kolmogorov scales. Two such numbers can be
defined, one based on the flame thickness lf and the other on the thickness of
the reaction zone lR . They represents the ratio of the residence time in the
flame zone, or reaction zone, relative to the smallest turbulent turnover time,
and thus whether turbulence penetrate and distort the flame or reaction zone
structures. t l2 /⌫ l2 l2 (⌫/S )2 v2 f f f f L ⌘
Ka = = = or Ka = = =
t⌘ ⌘ 2 /⌫ ⌘2 ⌘2 (⌫/v⌘ )2 SL2
2
lR 2
and using = lR /lf Ka = = Ka
⌘2
✓ ◆✓ ◆2 ✓ ◆2 ✓ ◆2
}
v0 ` SL ` v0 v0 v⌘
ReT = = =D
SL l f v 0 lf SL v⌘ SL
) ReT = D · Re1/2
T
· Ka
v⌘ (✏⌫)1/4 1/4
= = ReT
v0 v0
ReT = D2 ⇥Ka2
It should be noted that equalities were set here for scaling purpose only.
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
Summer 2013
The relation ReT = D2 Ka2 implies that

✓ ◆ 1 ✓ ◆ 1 ✓ ◆2 ✓ ◆ 1
v0 ` ` SL ` `
= ReT = D2 Ka2 = Ka2
SL lf lf v 0 lf lf
✓ ◆1/3
v0 `
= Ka2/3
SL lf
and may be used to identify, within the regime of large D, conditions under
which the smallest eddies are or are not able to penetrate the flame zone. This
depends on whether Ka is smaller/larger than one (say).
✓ ◆1/3
v0 `
The boundary Ka = 1 implies =
SL lf
Moshe Matalon
• When Ka < 1 the flame residence time is much shorter than any turbulent
time scales and the flame thickness is smaller than the smallest turbulent
scale. The flame retains the laminar structure but is wrinkled by the
turbulence motions.
(a) In the sub-region where v 0 < SL ,
known as the wrinkled flamelet
regime, the turnover velocity v 0 of
even the large eddies is not sufficient 103
to compete with the advancement of v 0 /SL 0.1)
( =
the flame front at the laminar speed =1
SL . The only e↵ect of turbulence is 102 Ka
to disturb the flame front, resulting tion
reac
thin nes
in wrinkled flames. zo
10
=1
Ka
R
(b) In the sub-region where v 0 > SL , re-

eT
corrugated flamelets
=
ferred to as the corrugated flamelet

1
1
regime, the entire flame is embed- laminar
flames wrinkled flames
ded in eddies of the size of the Kol-
mogorov scale with velocities ex- 1 10 102 103 /lf
ceeding SL , which are able to wrin-
kle the flame and form pockets of
fresh and burned gas.
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
Summer 2013
• When Ka < 1 the flame residence time is much shorter than any turbulent
time scales and the flame thickness is smaller than the smallest turbulent
scale. The flame retains the laminar structure but is wrinkled by the
turbulence motions.
(a) In the sub-region where v 0 < SL ,
known as the wrinkled flamelet
regime, the turnover velocity v 0 of
even the large eddies is not sufficient 103
to compete with the advancement of v 0 /SL 0.1)
( =
the flame front at the laminar speed =1
SL . The only e↵ect of turbulence is 102 Ka
to disturb the flame front, resulting tion
reac
thin nes
in wrinkled flames. zo
10
=1
Ka
R
(b) In the sub-region where v 0 > SL , re-
eT
=
ferred to as the corrugated flamelet (c)
1
1
regime, the entire flame is embed- laminar (b)
ded in eddies of the size of the Kol- flames (a) wrinkled flames
mogorov scale with velocities ex- 1 10 102 103 /lf

ceeding SL , which are able to wrin-
kle the flame and form pockets of
fresh and burned gas.
Moshe Matalon
Numerical simulations of turbulent premixed flames for various values of Ka,

in the (a)-(b) wrinkled and (c) corrugated flamelets regimes.
No. 2, 2008 TURBULENCE-FLAME INTERACTIONS IN SNe Ia
Apsden et al. (2008) 1177
Ka = No.
0.0167

2, 2008 Ka = 0.274

TURBULENCE-FLAME INTERACTIONS IN SNe Ia Ka = 0.968
1177
The figure shows instantaneous vertical slices of fuel con-

sumption rate (left panel) and temperature (right panel ),
both normalized by the corresponding laminar values, once a
quasi-steady state has been reached.
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon
University of Illinois at Urbana-‐Champaign Fig. 5.— Instantaneous vertical slices through each flame. In each case, the left-hand panel shows the fuel consumption rate, normalized by the corresponding lami-
16
nar value [except for case (e), which was normalized by one-fifth of the laminar value because it burns much less intensely than the laminar flame], and the right-hand
panel shows the temperature field, again normalized by the laminar value (refer to Table 2 for the values). The top legend shows the range for each normalized value
except fuel consumption rate in case (e), which is shown by the lower legend.
remains sharp. In case (b), the flame surface has been deformed increases. The burning appears to occur in small high-intensity
by the turbulence. Both regions of enhanced burning and regions pockets, punctuated by regions of local extinction.
of decreased burning are observed, and appear to be correlated In case (e), a dramatically different burning mode is observed.
Summer 2013
• When Ka > 1 the flame residence time is on the order of the turbu-
lent times (based on integral scale) but much larger then the Kolmogorov
turnover times, and the Kolmogorov scales are smaller than the laminar
flame thickness. Here the small eddies can presumably interact and modify
the flame internal structure.
103
0
v /SL 0.1)
( =
=1
102 Ka
tion
reac
thin nes
zo
10 (d) =1
Ka
R
eT
=
(c)
1
1
laminar (b)
flames (a) wrinkled flames
No. 2, 2008 TURBULENCE-FLAME

1 10 INTERACTIONS
102 IN
103 SNe Ia
/lf 1177
Moshe Matalon
No. 2, 2008 TURBULENCE-FLAME INTERACTIONS IN SNe Ia 1177
Numerical simulation of a turbulent premixed flame in the thin reaction zones

regime of turbulent combustion. Apsden et al. (2008)
Ka = 2.96

The figure shows instantaneous vertical slices of

fuel consumption rate (left panel) and temper-
ature (right panel ), both normalized by their
corresponding laminar values, once a quasi-steady
state has been reached.
Moshe Matalon
Fig. 5.—
Fig. 5.— Instantaneous vertical slices through each flame. Instantaneous
In each vertical
case, the left-hand panel showsslices
the through each flame.
fuel consumption In eachbycase,
rate, normalized the left-hand
the corresponding panel shows the fuel consumption rate, normalized by the corresponding lami-
lami-
narbyvalue
nar value [except for case (e), which was normalized [except
one-fifth for case
of the laminar value(e), which
because wasmuch
it burns normalized bythan
less intensely one-fifth of the
the laminar laminar
flame], and thevalue because it burns much less intensely than the laminar flame], and the right-hand
right-hand
panel shows the temperature field, again normalized by theshows
panel laminarthevalue (refer to Table field,
temperature 2 for the values).
again The top legend
normalized byshows the range value
the laminar for each(refer
normalized value 2 for the values). The top legend shows the range for each normalized value
to Table
by the turbulence. Both regions of enhanced burningsharp.
remains and regions
In case pockets,
(b), thepunctuated by regions
flame surface hasof been
local extinction.
deformed increases. The burning appears to occur in small high-intensity
by the turbulence.
enhanced BothTheregions of enhanced burning
and the and regions pockets, punctuated by regions of local extinction.
Moshe Matalon
with the curvature of the flame sheet. Specifically, temperature-mixed region burning region are much
burning appears to occur where the centerofofdecreased burning are
curvature is within observed,
broader. The burningandappears
appear tomuch
to be be correlated
less intense (recall the In case (e), a dramatically different burning mode is observed.
the fuel and reduced burning where the center of curvature is in image has been normalized
with the curvature of the flame sheet. Specifically, enhanced by a fifth of the laminar value for
The temperature-mixed region and the burning region are much
University of Illinois at Urbana-‐Champaign
the ash. The temperature field presents regions that are sharp and
burning appears to occur
regions that appear to be more diffuse. Again, this appears to be
correlated with curvature, with the morethe fuel and
diffusive reduced
regions oc-
contrast) and is restricted to the high-temperature end of the mix-
where the center of curvature is within
ing zone. There is no well-defined flame surface, but a broad
burning where
flame brush. the center
Interestingly, there of curvature
appears to be some is residual
in
broader. The burning appears to be much less intense (recall the
image has been normalized by a fifth of the laminar value for
low-
17
curring where the center of curvature is the ash.
in the The temperature
products. field
level presents
burning regions
well above thatburning
the main are sharpregion,and
suggestive contrast)
of and is restricted to the high-temperature end of the mix-
In cases (c) and (d), as lG /lL decreases further, the background incomplete burning in the main
regions that appear to be more diffuse. Again, this appears to be flame zone. ing zone. There is no well-defined flame surface, but a broad
turbulence becomes increasingly influential; the temperature field These observations are further reinforced by three-dimensional
correlated
becomes more mixed, and the deformation of the flame surface with curvature, with the more diffusive regions oc-
renderings of the fuel consumption rate, shown in Figure 6, which flame brush. Interestingly, there appears to be some residual low-
curring where the center of curvature is in the products. level burning well above the main burning region, suggestive of
In cases (c) and (d), as lG /lL decreases further, the background incomplete burning in the main flame zone.
Summer 2013
When Ka > 1 the small eddies penetrate the flame zone, but may or may not
modify the much thinner reaction zone. The distinction is between what has
been referred to as thin reaction zones and broken reaction zones. I the latter,
the laminar structure could no longer be identified. The boundary between
these two regions depends on the relative thickness of the reaction zone .
103
0
v /SL 0.1)
( =
(e)
=1
102 Ka
1
For ⇡ 10 ) Ka = 100 tion
reac
✓ ◆1/3 thin nes
v0 ` zo
= 104/3 10 (d) =1
SL lf Ka
R
eT
=
(c)
1
1
laminar (b)
flames (a) wrinkled flames

1 10 102 103 /lf
Moshe Matalon
Numerical simulation of a turbulent premixed flame in the distributed reaction

zones regime of turbulent combustion. Apsden et al. (2008)
Ka = 228

consumption temperature
rate
Fig. 5.— Instantaneous vertical slices through each flame. In each case, the left-hand panel shows the fuel consumption rate, normalized by the corresponding lami-
The figure shows instantaneous vertical slices of
fuel consumption rate (left panel) normalized by
by the turbulence. Both regions of enhanced burning and regions pockets, punctuated by regions ofone-fifth
local extinction.of the laminar value, because it burns
with the curvature of the flame sheet. Specifically, enhanced The temperature-mixed region and much
the burningless
regionintensely
are much than the laminar flame, and
burning appears to occur where the center of curvature is within
the fuel and reduced burning where the center of curvature is in
temperature
broader. The burning appears to be much less intense (recall the
image has been normalized by a fifth of the laminar value for
(right panel ) normalized by the
the ash. The temperature field presents regions that are sharp and
regions that appear to be more diffuse. Again, this appears to be
corresponding
contrast) and is restricted to the high-temperature laminar value, once a quasi-steady
end of the mix-
ing zone. There is no well-defined flame surface, but a broad
correlated with curvature, with the more diffusive regions oc-
curring where the center of curvature is in the products.
state
flame brush. Interestingly, there appears to behas beenlow-reached.
some residual
level burning well above the main burning region, suggestive of
In cases (c) and (d), as lG /lFig. 5.— Instantaneous vertical slices through each flame.
L decreases further, the background
In each case,
incomplete the left-hand
burning in the panel
mainshows
flamethezone.
fuel consumption rate, normalized by the corresponding lami-
panel shows theflame.

the temperature
temperature field, case,
field
again normalized
These
by thepanel
observations
laminarshows
value (refer
are further
to Table
Moshe
reinforced
2 for the values).
byM atalon the range for each normalized value
turbulence becomes increasingly influential; three-dimensional
Thenormalized
top legend shows
Fig. 5.— Instantaneous
becomes vertical slicesand
more mixed, through each
the deformation ofIn each
the the left-hand the the
fuelfuel consumption rate, in Figure 6,by the corresponding lami-
except fuel consumption rate inflame surface
case (e), renderings
which is shown of legend.
by the lower consumption rate, shown which
except fuel consumption rate in case (e), whichremainsissharp.
shownInby case
the(b),lowerthe legend.
flame surface has been deformed increases. The burning appears to occur in small high-intensity
by the turbulence. Both regions of enhanced burning and regions pockets, punctuated by regions of local extinction.
remains sharp. In case (b), the flame withsurface
the curvature of thedeformed
has been flame sheet. Specifically, enhanced
increases. The burning The temperature-mixed
appears to occur regionin
and the burning
small region are much
high-intensity
burning appears to occur where the center of curvature is within broader. The burning appears to be much less intense (recall the
by the turbulence. Both regions of the enhanced burning
fuel and reduced and regions
burning where the center pockets,
of curvaturepunctuated
is in imagebyhas regions of local by
been normalized extinction.
a fifth of the laminar value for
Moshe Matalon
of decreased burning are observed, theand
ash. Theappear to be field
temperature correlated
presents regions thatIn arecase
sharp(e),and a dramatically
contrast) and isdifferent
restricted toburning mode is observed.
the high-temperature end of the mix-
with the curvature of the flame sheet. regions that appear to be more
Specifically, diffuse. Again, this
enhanced Theappears to be
temperature-mixed ing zone.regionThere isand no the
well-defined
burningflame surface,
region are but
mucha broad
burning appears to occur where thecorrelated with curvature, with the more diffusive regions oc- flame brush. Interestingly, there appears to be some residual low-
University of Illinois at Urbana-‐Champaign
the fuel and reduced burning where Inthe
center of curvature is within
curring where the center of curvature is in the products.
casescenter
(c) andof(d),
curvature
broader.
is in further,image
as lG /lL decreases
The burning
has been normalized
the background
appears to be much less intense (recall
level burning well above the main burning region, suggestive of
incomplete burning by ainfifth of the
the main flamelaminar
zone. value for
the
18
the ash. The temperature field presents regions
turbulence thatincreasingly
becomes are sharpinfluential;
and thecontrast)temperatureand field is restricted to the high-temperature
These observations are further reinforcedend
by of the mix-
three-dimensional
becomes more
regions that appear to be more diffuse. Again, this appears to be mixed, and the deformation of the flame surface renderings of
ing zone. There is no well-defined flame surface, the fuel consumption rate, shown in Figure
but 6, which
a broad
correlated with curvature, with the more diffusive regions oc- flame brush. Interestingly, there appears to be some residual low-
curring where the center of curvature is in the products. level burning well above the main burning region, suggestive of
In cases (c) and (d), as lG /lL decreases further, the background incomplete burning in the main flame zone.
Summer 2013
n
actio
103
u ted re
ib
v 0 /SL distr zones 0.1)
( =
=1
102 Ka
tion
reac
thin nes
zo
10
=1
Ka
R
eT
=
1
1
laminar
flames wrinkled flames
1 10 102 103 `/lf

Regime diagram of premixed turbulent combustion on a log-log plot
Moshe Matalon
Moshe Matalon

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Summer

We know what a turbulent flow is, when we see it!

In a fluid flow , turbulence is characterized by fluctuations of velocities and state

1 L/U ta overall time to advect a fluid particle a distance L

If we decompose u(t, x) into a mean and a fluctuation u0 (t, x) then, by definition,

2. Probability Density Functions (pdf )

The distribution function Fu (U ) of u is defined by the probability of finding a

The probability of finding a value of u in an interval U < u < U + U is given by

p(U < u < U + U ) = Fu (U + U ) Fu (U )

The probability density function (pdf) of u is defined as

In turbulent flows, the pdf of any stochastic variable depends, in principle, on

the mean of a function g(u)

and the variance (a measure of the width of the pdf)

u0 2 is the variance - the extent of variation from the mean

the correlation of the fluctuations of two variables is often of interest

u v = (ū + u0 )(v̄ + v 0 ) = ū v̄ + ū0 v̄ + ūv¯0 + u0 v 0 = ū v̄ + u 0 v0

Ruv indicates the extent of the interdependence of the two variables

the correlation coefficient

Ruv ⇡ 0 u and v are poorly correlated

A characteristic of a turbulent flow is the existence of a wide range of length

The large eddies, however, break up as a result of instabilities, transferring their

In order to characterize the distribution of eddy length scales at any position in

For homogeneous isotropic turbulence the location x is arbitrary and r may be

f (r, t) = R(r, t)/u02 (t) 1

If v 0 is a typical velocity scale, i.e., a measure of the velocity fluctuations around

We denote the dissipation of kinetic energy, per unit mass, by ✏.

• Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS). Resolves the entire range of

• Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS). Resolves the entire range of

Furthermore, the explicit time integration requirement (the CFL condi-

Temperature isocontours water CO

Species mass fraction at a given instant in time

• Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS). In this ap-

Turbulence modeling is an attempt to write empirical expressions for the

⌫T is the turbulent viscosity (also referred to as eddy viscosity)

Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS)

with ⌫e↵ = ⌫ + ⌫T the e↵ective viscosity

Unlike ⌫, the turbulence viscosity is not a material property; it is a function of

In combustion problems, the continuity equation must include density varia-

It is therefore convenient to introduce a density-weighted average velocity, called

vi00 6= 0 rather ⇢vi00 = 0

More impressive is the simplification obtained in the momentum equation, be-

There are of course questions as to whether ṽ is readily measurable experi-

• PDF Transport Equation. This approach consists of developing and

• Large Eddy Simulations (LES). LES operates on the governing equa-

Regimes of Premixed Turbulent Combustion

Damköhler identified two distinct limiting regimes:

The expressions for the turbulent burning velocity ST proposed by Damköhler,

Regimes of Premixed Turbulent Combustion

As a result, the turbulent Reynolds number, may be expressed as

The Damköhler number number (flow time/reaction time) may be defined as

The various regimes of turbulent combustion will be presented on a log-log graph

The relation ReT = D2 Ka2 implies that

(b) In the sub-region where v 0 > SL , re-

ferred to as the corrugated flamelet

mogorov scale with velocities ex- 1 10 102 103 /lf

Numerical simulations of turbulent premixed flames for various values of Ka,

The figure shows instantaneous vertical slices of fuel con-

No. 2, 2008 TURBULENCE-FLAME

No. 2, 2008 TURBULENCE-FLAME INTERACTIONS IN SNe Ia 1177

Numerical simulation of a turbulent premixed flame in the thin reaction zones

The figure shows instantaneous vertical slices of

No. 2, 2008 TURBULENCE-FLAME INTERACTIONS IN SNe Ia 1177

No. 2, 2008 TURBULENCE-FLAME INTERACTIONS IN SNe Ia 1177

Numerical simulation of a turbulent premixed flame in the distributed reaction