Improving volume-averaged simulations of matrix-stabilized combustion through direct X-ray µCT characterization: Application to NH3/H2-air combustion

Porous media combustion (PMC) relies on internal heat recirculation in an open-cell ceramic foam matrix to enhance the flame speed of fuels with poor combustion properties. Volume-averaged simulations are often used to study the combustion performance and pollutant emissions of such systems. However, due to the varying complexity of matrix geometries found in practical burners, as well as the wide range of closure models for the constitutive relations of the solid phase, contradicting statements about the predictive accuracy of these volume-averaged models can be found in the literature. In this work, we propose an open-source modeling framework for accurate volume-averaged PMC simulations by using first-principles methods to determine effective properties used in closure models. This framework relies on adequately characterizing the topology of the solid matrix, using commonly available X-ray computed microtomography. With this approach, significant improvements in accuracy are reported compared to empirical models from the literature. The framework based on first-principle evaluations of constitutive relations is compared against experimental measurements conducted on an interface-stabilized burner operated with premixed NH₃/H₂-air. The model shows good agreement for exhaust gas composition and stability limits. The proposed simulation framework performs significantly better than state-of-the-art techniques that employ commonly used empirical correlations for effective matrix properties.

Statement of Significance

We present a new open-source simulation framework for improved characterization of porous media combustion. By utilizing µCT techniques, accurate effective matrix properties can be determined from first-principle simulations. These effective properties are used in closure models for 1D volume-averaged reacting flow simulations using appropriate sub-models for heat recirculation. This modeling framework is able to reliably predict stability limits while conventional closure models yield erroneous trends. Assessment of the resulting modeling framework is performed using experiments with exhaust gas characterization performed on a NH₃/H₂-air porous media burner.