Lift-Off, Reattachment and Blowout Limits of Co-Flow Jet Diffusion Flames

The stability behaviour of jet diffusion flames in a co-flowing stream of air was examined. Their lift-off, reattachment and blowout limits were established for methane, propane, ethylene and hydrogen. The co-flowing air stream velocity affected significantly the mechanism of flame stabilization. Different flow regimes where the blowout of lifted flames or attached flames can occur were recognized. A transition region in which both the blowout of lifted flames as well as that of attached flames was observed and identified with respect to the value of the air stream velocity. It was found that the blowout limits for lifted flames in this region were much smaller than for the attached flames. The effects of changes in the nozzle geometry and co-flowing stream composition were also considered.