Speed-up drivers for [formula omitted]-enriched flames in Porous Media Burners

Abstract

An experimental study on the influence of porosity and hydrogen enrichment on the stabilization of premixed -Air flames in Porous Media Burners (PMBs) is presented. Flame stabilization is analyzed via direct flame front tracking, which is made possible by a novel experimental apparatus. The use of additive manufacturing for computer-generated topologies allows making optically-accessible PMBs featuring see-through directions. This methodology also enables topology tailoring which is here exploited to study the influence of porosity on the performance of the burner. Flame front tracking reveals a different stabilization trend in highly -enriched flames. A comparison with a theoretical model is used to remove the effect of preheating and focus on other fuel properties. This suggests a flame-speed enhancement mechanism driven by Lewis number effects in mixtures. Together with recent 3D Direct Numerical Simulations, these results provide evidence that preferential diffusion effects are key in the stabilization of flames in PMBs. These phenomena, not considered in state-of-the art 1D-Volume Averaged Models, remain crucial for the design of efficient PMB using hydrogen as a fuel.