doi:10.3850/978-981-08-7724-8_02-06

ABSTRACT

Due to the characteristic sizes of industrial environments, ranging up to hundreds of metres, the numerical modelling of accidents involving deflagrations of hydrogen clouds would imply highly under-resolved combustion simulations. In this work we propose a computational combustion model, KYLCOM, suitable for engineering and scientific simulations and applicable equally to resolved and under-resolved problem conditions. It is based on a mathematical algorithm in which a desired combustion speed, obtained by using empirical correlation, is delivered to the gas-dynamic solver of a CFD code. Several expressions, differing in complexity and sets of parameters, were tested in simulations of experiments with a view to selecting the most accurate one. To evaluate the performance of the flame propagation model and select the most suitable empirical expression both KYLCOM and the Zimont `gradient' model were used. The benchmark experiments were performed in the DRIVER facility, consisting of several cylindrical combustion tube sections, with a set of circular obstacles positioned along the whole length.

Keywords: Numerical simulation, Turbulent combustion, Combustion model, Turbulent flame speed.

© 2011 CPD Unit, University of Leeds