Numerical simulation and modal decomposition analysis of flame-acoustic interaction in slender channels

Chengxi MIAO, Louis BENTEUX, Damir VALIEV

Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology) ›› 2025, Vol. 65 ›› Issue (11) : 2139-2148.

PDF(7255 KB)
PDF(7255 KB)
Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology) ›› 2025, Vol. 65 ›› Issue (11) : 2139-2148. DOI: 10.16511/j.cnki.qhdxxb.2024.27.035
Combustion and Fire Analysis in Confined Space

Numerical simulation and modal decomposition analysis of flame-acoustic interaction in slender channels

Author information +
History +

Abstract

Objective: Assessing thermoacoustic instability and flame-acoustic coupling is crucial for effectively designing and operating various combustion devices. Owing to the complex coupling among flame, acoustic waves, and the flow field, certain simplified configurations are typically adopted to capture fundamental dynamics. This study employs a propagating flame in semi-confined tubes to investigate these phenomena, focusing specifically on the role of hydrodynamic instability in flame oscillation and the development of thermoacoustic instability. Methods: The flame-acoustic interaction in a narrow, semi-open channel was investigated by numerically solving the compressible Navier-Stokes equations incorporating thermal conduction, mass diffusion, viscosity, and single-step irreversible chemical reaction kinetics. Modal decomposition techniques, specifically, the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and the spectral proper orthogonal decomposition (SPOD), were applied to the temperature field near the flame front zone to investigate the impact of hydrodynamic instability on flame oscillation during primary acoustic instability. Results: Numerical simulation results demonstrate that as the flame propagates from the open end toward the closed end of the channel, sustained flame oscillations occur owing to the development of primary acoustic instability. Cells or cusps appear on the flame front, initiating at the leading edge near one channel wall and moving along the flame front surface toward the other wall. This movement resembles the nonlinear process of Darrieus-Landau instability development. Statistical analysis indicates that the most probable wavelength of these cells corresponds closely to the most unstable wavelength predicted by linear theory for Darrieus-Landau instability. The periodic motion of these cells results in a sawtooth-like variation in the burning rate over time. POD analysis revealed that the wavelength of the coherent structure for the first three POD modes matches the most unstable wavelength of Darrieus-Landau instability, capturing flame front wrinkling and resembling the nonlinear process of Darieus-Landau instability development. Higher POD modes also describe similar physical phenomena but focus on smaller structural movements. The time evolution of the decomposition coefficients for different POD modes was also computed and compared. Additionally, a spectrogram of the pressure signal measured at the closed end of the channel was analyzed and compared with the channel eigenfrequency. It shows that during primary acoustic instability, the pressure signal predominantly aligns with the fundamental mode of the channel eigenfrequency, but a small manifestation of the first harmonic is also observed. Subsequently, SPOD was employed to gain a deeper understanding of the frequency-based flame dynamics. SPOD results indicate that the frequency associated with the wrinkle motion on the flame front aligns with the fundamental mode of the channel eigenfrequency. At the first harmonic, SPOD captures cell or cusp movement along the flame front surface, showing a smaller wavelength proportional to the frequency ratio between the harmonic and fundamental modes. Notably, SPOD results at harmonic frequencies exhibit similar structural patterns to those observed in higher POD modes. Finally, SPOD analysis of the vorticity and velocity vector fields identified weak vortices present in higher-frequency modes. These vortices can be captured in higher-frequency modes, which are associated with cusp motion on the flame front. Conclusions: The significance of hydrodynamic instability in flame-acoustic coupling for nonsymmetric flames in semi-open narrow channels is emphasized. Using modal decomposition methods, the study establishes a connection between hydrodynamic instability and flame oscillation frequencies. This connection provides insight into different flame oscillation behaviors at various acoustic modes and resents valuable information for controlling thermoacoustic instability.

Key words

flame-acoustic interaction / flame oscillation / hydrodynamic instability / proper orthogonal decomposition(POD) / spectral proper orthogonal decomposition(SPOD)

Cite this article

Download Citations
Chengxi MIAO , Louis BENTEUX , Damir VALIEV. Numerical simulation and modal decomposition analysis of flame-acoustic interaction in slender channels[J]. Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology). 2025, 65(11): 2139-2148 https://doi.org/10.16511/j.cnki.qhdxxb.2024.27.035

References

1
DUCRUIX S , SCHULLER T , DUROX D , et al. Combustion dynamics and instabilities: Elementary coupling and driving mechanisms[J]. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2003, 19 (5): 722- 734.
2
CANDEL S , DUROX D , DUCRUIX S , et al. Flame dynamics and combustion noise: Progress and challenges[J]. International Journal of Aeroacoustics, 2009, 8 (1): 1- 56.
3
SCHULLER T , POINSOT T , CANDEL S . Dynamics and control of premixed combustion systems based on flame transfer and describing functions[J]. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2020, 894, P1.
4
张昊, 朱民. 热声耦合振荡燃烧的实验研究与分析[J]. 推进技术, 2010, 31 (6): 730- 744.
ZHANG H , ZHU M . Experimental study and analysis of thermo-acoustic instabilities in natural gas premixed flames[J]. Journal of Propulsion Technology, 2010, 31 (6): 730- 744.
5
王译晨, 朱民. 火焰动力学及其对热声稳定性的影响[J]. 清华大学学报(自然科学版), 2022, 62 (4): 785- 793.
WANG Y C , ZHU M . Flame dynamics and their effect on thermoacoustic instabilities[J]. Journal of Tsinghua University (Science and Technology), 2022, 62 (4): 785- 793.
6
CLAVIN P , PELCÉ P , HE L T . One-dimensional vibratory instability of planar flames propagating in tubes[J]. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1990, 216, 299- 322.
7
SEARBY G . Acoustic instability in premixed flames[J]. Combustion Science and Technology, 1992, 81 (4-6): 221- 231.
8
DUBEY A K , KOYAMA Y , HASHIMOTO N , et al. Acoustic parametric instability, its suppression and a beating instability in a mesoscale combustion tube[J]. Combustion and Flame, 2021, 228, 277- 291.
9
PELCÉ P , ROCHWERGER D . Vibratory instability of cellular flames propagating in tubes[J]. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1992, 239, 293- 307.
10
CLANET C , SEARBY G , CLAVIN P . Primary acoustic instability of flames propagating in tubes: Cases of spray and premixed gas combustion[J]. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1999, 385, 157- 197.
11
DUBEY A K , KOYAMA Y , HASHIMOTO N , et al. Experimental and theoretical study of secondary acoustic instability of downward propagating flames: Higher modes and growth rates[J]. Combustion and Flame, 2019, 205, 316- 326.
12
PETCHENKO A , BYCHKOV V , AKKERMAN V , et al. Violent folding of a flame front in a flame-acoustic resonance[J]. Physical Review Letters, 2006, 97 (16): 164501.
13
VEIGA-LÓPEZ F , MARTÍNEZ-RUIZ D , FERNÁNDEZ-TARRAZO E , et al. Experimental analysis of oscillatory premixed flames in a Hele-Shaw cell propagating towards a closed end[J]. Combustion and Flame, 2019, 201, 1- 11.
14
JIMÉNEZ C , FERNÁNDEZ-GALISTEO D , KURDYUMOV V N . Flame-acoustics interaction for symmetric and non-symmetric flames propagating in a narrow duct from an open to a closed end[J]. Combustion and Flame, 2021, 225, 499- 512.
15
LI W X , ZHAO D , ZHANG L Q , et al. Proper orthogonal and dynamic mode decomposition analyses of nonlinear combustion instabilities in a solid-fuel ramjet combustor[J]. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, 2022, 27, 101147.
16
赖安卿, 刘云鹏, 付尧明, 等. 振荡燃烧火焰图像处理[J]. 燃烧科学与技术, 2020, 26 (1): 10- 17.
LAI A Q , LIU Y P , FU Y M , et al. Image processing of combustion oscillating flame[J]. Journal of Combustion Science and Technology, 2020, 26 (1): 10- 17.
17
BOULAL S , GENOT A , KLEIN J M , et al. On the hydro-acoustic coupling responsible for the flashback limit-cycle of a premixed flame at a backward-facing step[J]. Combustion and Flame, 2023, 257, 112999.
18
TOWNE A , SCHMIDT O T , COLONIUS T . Spectral proper orthogonal decomposition and its relationship to dynamic mode decomposition and resolvent analysis[J]. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2018, 847, 821- 867.
19
VALIEV D M , AKKERMAN V , KUZNETSOV M , et al. Influence of gas compression on flame acceleration in the early stage of burning in tubes[J]. Combustion and Flame, 2013, 160 (1): 97- 111.
20
冯瑞雪, 钟弘韬, DAMIRV. 预混火焰与正弦剪切流相互作用的数值研究[J]. 工程热物理学报, 2021, 42 (5): 1352- 1356.
FENG R X , ZHONG H T , DAMIR V . Numerical study of the interaction of premixed flame front with sinusoidal shear[J]. Journal of Engineering Thermophysics, 2021, 42 (5): 1352- 1356.
21
PETCHENKO A , BYCHKOV V , AKKERMAN V , et al. Flame-sound interaction in tubes with nonslip walls[J]. Combustion and Flame, 2007, 149 (4): 418- 434.
22
MIAO C X , BENTEUX L , VALIEV D M . On the role of hydrodynamic instability and flame symmetry in flame-acoustic coupling in narrow channels[J]. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 2024, 40 (1-4): 105333.
23
BYCHKOV V V , LIBERMAN M A . Dynamics and stability of premixed flames[J]. Physics Reports, 2000, 325 (4-5): 115- 237.
24
CHEN H , REUSS D L , SICK V . On the use and interpretation of proper orthogonal decomposition of in-cylinder engine flows[J]. Measurement Science and Technology, 2012, 23 (8): 085302.
25
秦文瑾, 徐礼辉, 卢登标, 等. 本征正交分解法对正十二烷喷雾射流的解析[J]. 航空动力学报, 2021, 36 (9): 1917- 1923.
QIN W J , XU L H , LU D B , et al. Analysis of n -dodecane spray jet by proper orthogonal decomposition[J]. Journal of Aerospace Power, 2021, 36 (9): 1917- 1923.
26
柳伟杰. 燃气轮机燃烧室多喷嘴预混燃烧特性研究[D]. 上海: 上海交通大学, 2017.
LIU W J. Study on the characteristics of premixed multi-nozzle combustion in a gas turbine model combustor[D]. Shanghai: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2017. (in Chinese)
27
SCHMIDT O T , COLONIUS T . Guide to spectral proper orthogonal decomposition[J]. AIAA Journal, 2020, 58 (3): 1023- 1033.
28
ZEL'DOVICH A B , ISTRATOV A G , KIDIN N I , et al. Flame propagation in tubes: Hydrodynamics and stability[J]. Combustion Science and Technology, 1980, 24 (1-2): 1- 13.
29
LIBERMAN M A , IVANOV M F , PEIL O E , et al. Numerical studies of curved stationary flames in wide tubes[J]. Combustion Theory and Modelling, 2003, 7 (4): 653- 676.
30
SHARPE G J , FALLE S A E G . Nonlinear cellular instabilities of planar premixed flames: Numerical simulations of the reactive Navier-Stokes equations[J]. Combustion Theory and Modelling, 2006, 10 (3): 483- 514.
31
GONZALEZ M , BORGHI R , SAOUAB A . Interaction of a flame front with its self-generated flow in an enclosure: The "tulip flame" phenomenon[J]. Combustion and Flame, 1992, 88 (2): 201- 220.
32
WEISS J. A tutorial on the proper orthogonal decomposition[C]//AIAA Aviation 2019 Forum. Dallas, USA: AIAA, 2019. DOI: 10.2514/6.2019-3333.
33
FENG R X , VALIEV D . Influence of gas expansion on the velocity and stability limits of stationary curved flames in channels[J]. Combustion Science and Technology, 2024, 196 (5): 716- 729.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
PDF(7255 KB)

Accesses

Citation

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/