This paper describes a benchmark case suitable for validation of multiphase combustion models and submodels. The benchmark includes a reference spray combustor to provide well-defined input and boundary conditions, enabling measurements to characterize the fuel spray, combustion air, wall temperatures, exhaust gas temperatures and species concentrations. The characteristics (i.e., size, velocity, volume flux, etc.) of the methanol spray were determined using phase Doppler interferometry. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to measure species concentrations in the reactor exhaust and the conversion of methanol. The inlet combustion air was characterized using particle image velocimetry and a five-hole pitot probe. The measurements constitute a database sufficiently complete for code validation; subsequently, several research groups have carried out simulations of the facility to varying degrees of success. This paper describes the salient features of the database, and some of the modeling issues and needs.

Volume Subject Area:
Fluids Engineering
Topics:
Aerosols, Databases, Sprays, Combustion, Exhaust systems, Methanol, Boundary-value problems, Combustion chambers, Fourier transforms, Fuels, Infrared spectroscopy, Interferometry, Modeling, Particulate matter, Probes, Simulation, Temperature, Wall temperature
1.
Oberkampf, W.L., Sindir, M.M., and Conlisk, A.T., “Guide for the Verification and Validation of Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations.” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Guide G-077-98, 1997.
2.
McDonell
V. G.
, and
Samuelsen
G. S.
, “
An Experimental Data Base for the Computational Fluid Dynamics of Reacting and Nonreacting Methanol Sprays
,”
Journal of Fluids Engineering
, Vol.
117
, pp.
145
–
153
,
1995
.
3.
Faeth
G. M.
, and
Samuelsen
G. S.
, “
Fast Reaction Nonpremixed Combustion
,”
Progress in Energy and Combustion Science
, Vol.
12
, pp.
305
–
341
,
1986
.
4.
Widmann
J. F.
,
Charagundla
S. R.
,
Presser
C.
, “
Reference Spray Combustion Facility for Computational Fluid Dynamics Model Validation
,”
Technical Note, Journal of Propulsion and Power
, Vol.
16
, No.
4
, pp.
720
–
723
,
2000
.
5.
Widmann
J. F.
, and
Presser
C.
, “
A Benchmark Experimental Database for Multiphase Combustion Model Input and Validation
,”
Combustion and Flame
, Vol.
129
, Nos.
1/2
, pp.
47
–
86
,
2002
. An erratum is published in Vol. 130, No. 4, pp. 386–390, 2002.
6.
Gmurczyk, G., Presser, C., and Gupta, A.K., “CFD Modeling of Spray Flames in an Enclosure,” 1997 International Joint Power Generation Conference, Vol. 1, EC - Vol. 5 (A. Sanyal, A. Gupta, and J. Veilleux, Eds.), pp. 399–410, Am. Soc. Mech. Eng., New York, NY, 1997
7.
Widmann
J. F.
,
Charagundla
S. R.
,
Presser
C.
, “
Aerodynamic Study of a Vane-Cascade Swirl Generator
,”
Chemical Engineering Science
, Vol.
55
, pp.
5311
–
5320
,
2000
.
8.
Widmann, J.F., Charagundla, S.R., Presser, C., and Heckert, A., “Benchmark Experimental Database for Multiphase Combustion Model Input and Validation: Baseline Case,” Progress Report, NISTIR 6286, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, February 1999.
9.
Widmann, J.F., Charagundla, S.R., and Presser, C., “Benchmark Experimental Database for Multiphase Combustion Model Input and Validation: Characterization of the Inlet Combustion Air,” National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, NISTIR 6370, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, July 1999.
10.
Widmann, J.F., Charagundla, S.R., and Presser, C., “Characterization of the Inlet Combustion Air in NIST’s Reference Spray Combustion Facility: Effect of Vane Angle and Reynolds Number,” NISTIR 6458, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, January 2000.
11.
Crowe, C., Sommerfeld, M., Tsuji, Y., Multiphase Flows with Droplets and Particles, CRC Press, New York, 1998.
12.
Sirignano, W.A., Fluid dynamics and Transport of Droplets and Sprays, Cambridge University, Cambridge, 1999.
13.
Crocker, D.S., Widmann, J.F., and Presser, C., “CFD Modeling and Comparison with Data from the NIST Reference Spray Combustor,” 2001 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Vol. 1, HTD-24236 (on CD), Am. Soc. Mech. Eng., New York, NY, 2001.
14.
“Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement,” International Organization for Standardization, Switzerland, 1993. Also, published as “US Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement,” ANSI/NCSL Z540-2-1997, American National Standards Institute, Boulder, CO, 1997.
15.
Afeefy H.Y., Liebman J.F., and Stein S.E., “Neutral Thermochemical Data” in NIST Chemistry WebBook, NIST Standard Reference Database Number 69, Eds. W.G. Mallard and P.J. Linstrom, March 1998, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg MD, 20899.
16.
Itoh, Y., Taniguchi, N., Kobayashi, T., and Tominaga, T., “Large-Eddy Simulation of Spray Combustion in Swirling Flows,” Fourth ASME/JSME Joint Fluids Engineering Conference, FEDSM2003-45383 (on CD), 2003.
17.
Widmann, J.F., and Bedford, F.C., “Simulation of the NIST Reference Spray Combustor,” Seventeenth Annual Conference on Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems (ILASS Americas 2004), NIST Special Publication 1016 (C. Presser and B. Helenbrook, Eds.), on CD, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, 2004.
18.
Chung
I.-P.
,
Presser
C.
, and
Dressler
J. L.
, “
The Effect of Piezoelectric Transducer Modulation on Liquid Sheet Disintegration
,”
Atomization and Sprays
, Vol.
8
, No.
5
, pp.
479
–
502
,
1998
.
19.
Lord Rayleigh
, “
On the Capillary Phenomena of Jets
,”
R. Soc. London
, Vol.
29
, p.
71
71
,
1879
.
20.
Schmidt D.P., Nouar I., Senecal, P.K., Rutland, C.J., Martin, J.K., Reitz, R.D., and Hoffman, J.A., “Pressure-Swirl Atomization in the Near Field,” SAE International Congress and Exposition, SAE paper 1999-01-0496, Detroit, MI, 1999.
This content is only available via PDF.
You do not currently have access to this content.