Development of a gas phase combustion model suitable for low and high turbulence conditions

A novel hybrid gas phase combustion model suitable for low as well as high turbulent combustion conditions is proposed. In particular, in the region above the fuel bed of small-scale biomass combustion plants, gas phase mixing is highly influenced by laminar and low turbulence zones. Here, the eddy break-up combustion models are not valid because they were originally developed for highly turbulent flows. Therefore, a CFD gas phase reaction model applicable over the whole Reynolds range from laminar to turbulent flows is developed. It is a hybrid Eddy Dissipation Concept/finite rate kinetics model which calculates the effective reaction rate from laminar finite rate kinetics and the turbulent reaction rate and weights them depending on the local turbulent Reynolds number of the flow. To validate the proposed model, comparisons are made with experimental data for a series of jet flames covering laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow conditions. The simulation results show that the prediction of flame can be improved with the proposed hybrid combustion model. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.