Flame Front Dynamics in Flow of Hydrogen-Air Mixture in a Channel with Sudden Expansion and Polyurethane Foam

This paper presents experimental investigations of the polyurethane foam influence on the combustion dynamics of hydrogen-air flames propagating in a channel with a sudden change in cross-section (i.e. expansion). The channel is open at both ends. Porous media of various lengths and pore size are considered. The porous inserts are placed downstream of the sudden expansion, inside the diagnostic section of dimensions 20 × 40 mm. A Schlieren visualization technique is used to monitor flame shape and propagation dynamics. Various equivalence ratios ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 are tested. The results show that depending on the equivalence ratio, porous length and pore size, the mixture can either propagate throughout the foam or be quenched. In propagating regime, it is found that the output velocity just behind the foam increases linearly with porous matrix length, indicating that the tortuous flow within the foam plays a significant role in the propagation of the flame. These results could be used both to increase the efficiency of gaseous combustion and to ensure the explosion safety of the gas equipment.