Influence of Burner Material, Tip Temperature, and Geometrical Flame Configuration on Flashback Propensity of H2-Air Jet Flames

Flashback is a key operability issue for low emission premixed combustion systems operated on high hydrogen content fuels. Previous work investigated fuel composition impacts on flashback propensity and found that burner tip temperature was important in correlating flashback data in premixed jet flames. An enclosure around the jet flame was found to enhance the flame-burner rim interaction. The present study further addresses these issues using a jet burner with various geometric configurations and interchangeable materials. Systematic studies addressing the quantitative influence of various parameters such as tip temperature, burner material, enclosure size, and burner diameter on flashback propensity were carried out. A comprehensive overview of the flashback limits for all conditions tested in the current study as well as those published previously is given. The collective results indicate that the burner materials, tip temperature, and flame confinement play significant roles for flashback propensity and thus help explain previous scatter in flashback data. Furthermore, the present work indicates that the upstream flame propagation during flashback is affected by the burner material. The material with lower thermal conductivity yields larger flashback propensity but slower flame regression inside the tube. These observations can be potentially exploited to minimize the negative impacts of flashback in practical applications.