Large-eddy/Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulation of cavity-stabilized ethylene combustion

Abstract In this study, a hybrid large-eddy/Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (LES/RANS) method is used to simulate ethylene combustion inside a cavity flameholder. The cavity flameholder considered is Configuration E of University of Virginia’s Scramjet Combustion Facility, which consists of a Mach 2 inlet nozzle, a constant-area isolator, a combustor, and an extender, through which the exhaust gases are vented to the atmosphere. To increase the fuel-residence time, a cavity is fitted along the upper wall inside the combustor section of the flameholder. The configuration has the capability of injecting ethylene through a series of ports located upstream of and inside the cavity along the upper wall the combustor. In the simulations, ethylene combustion is modeled using a 22-species ethylene oxidation mechanism. Also, a synthetic eddy method is used to introduce turbulence at the inflow plane of the flameholder. For an equivalence ratio of 0.15, a cavity stabilized flame is predicted. Predictions are compared with line-of-sight temperature, water column-density, water mole-fraction, CO column-density, and CO 2 column-density measurements at three stations within and downstream of the cavity. Agreement with experiment is generally good within the cavity. Downstream of the cavity, the simulations predict higher temperatures near the wall. Analysis of the flame structure predicted by the LES/RANS method indicates that the flame propagates into a stoichiometric to fuel-rich mixture near the cavity. Flame angles captured in the simulation are in close agreement with those predicted through classical premixed turbulent flame-speed estimates. Further downstream, the flame structure is non-premixed in character, and near complete conversion of CO to CO 2 is observed by the time the flame reaches the combustor exit.