The Effect of Swirl Intensity on the Flow Behavior and Combustion Characteristics of a Lean Propane-Air Flame

The effect of swirl number(Sn)on the flow behavior and combustion characteristics of a lean premixed propane FlameФ=0.5 in a swirl burner configuration was numerically verified in this study.Two-dimensional numerical simulations were performed using ANSYS-Fluent software.For turbulence closure,a standard K-εturbulence model was applied.The turbulence-chemistry interaction scheme was modeled using the Finite Rate-Eddy Dissipation hybrid model(FR/EDM)with a reduced three-step reaction mechanism.The P1 radiation model was used for the flame radiation inside the combustion chamber.Four different swirl numbers were selected(0,0.72,1.05,and 1.4)corresponding to different angles(0°,39°,50°,and 57.8°).The results show that the predicted model agrees very well with the experimental data,especially with respect to the axial and radial velocity and temperature profiles.An outer recirculation zone(ORZ)is present in the combustor corner at Sn=0 and an inner recirculation zone(IRZ)appears at the combustor centerline inlet at a critical Sn=0.72.When the Sn reaches an excessive value,the IRZ moves toward the premixing tube,leading to a flame flashback.The flame structure and its length are strongly affected by changes in the Sn as well as the formation of NOx and CO at the combustor exit.