Simulation of the ignition of lean methane mixtures using CFD modelling and a reduced chemistry mechanism

This paper applies a recently developed coupled chemistry/hydrodynamics model to the study of combustion ignition. The problem studied is that of determination of the location of the ignition region for a lean methane mixture (1 vol%) at a low temperature (1000-1200 K). This is achieved by solving a skeletal chemical mechanism, involving 16 species and 28 reactions, together with hydrodynamic equations using the CFX4 model. Once validated, the model is used to demonstrate how such modelling can be used in the design of combustors to utilize low concentration methane mixture from coal mines or waste dumps. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.