Burning Rates and Surface Characteristics of Hydrogen-Enriched Turbulent Lean Premixed Methane-Air Flames

The burning rates and surface characteristics of hydrogen-enriched turbulent lean premixed methane-air flames were experimentally studied by laser tomography visualization method using a V-shaped flame configuration. Turbulent burning velocities were measured and the variation of flame surface characteristics due to hydrogen addition was analyzed. The results show that hydrogen addition causes an increase in turbulent burning velocity for lean CH₄-air mixtures when the turbulent level in the unburned mixture is not changed. The increase rate of turbulent burning velocity is higher than that of the corresponding laminar burning velocity, suggesting that the increase in turbulent velocity due to hydrogen addition is caused by not only chemical kinetics effect, but also the variation in flame structure due to turbulence. The further analysis of flame surface characteristics and brush thickness indicate that hydrogen addition slightly decreases local flame surface density, but increases total flame surface area because of the increased flame brush thickness. As a result, turbulent burning velocity is intensified by the increase in total flame surface area and the increased laminar burning velocity, when hydrogen is added.