Liftoff height behavior in a non-premixed turbulent hydrogen jet with coaxial air

To understand hydrogen lifted flames, the experimental approximation of liftoff height in non-premixed turbulent conditions was studied. The objectives were to analyze liftoff height behavior and to derive the normalized expression for lifted jet with the effective diameter (d(F,eff)). Hydrogen flow velocity varied from 100 m/s to 300 m/s. Coaxial air velocity was regulated from 12 m/s to 20 m/s. For the simultaneous measurement of velocity field and reaction zone, particle image velocimetry using hydroxyl radicals (PIV/OH) planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) techniques with neodymium-droped yttrium-aluminumgamet (Nd:YAG) lasers and charge-coupled device/intensified charge-coupled device (CCD/ICCD) cameras were used. Liftoff height decreased with increased fuel velocity. The flame stabilized in a lower velocity region next to the faster fuel jet due to the mixing effects of the coaxial air flow. The stabilization point was defined as the point where local flow velocity is balanced with turbulent flame propagation velocity. On the basis of the far field concept, we could derive the experimental approximation of the liftoff height divided by the effective diameter. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.