On the Stability of Planar Premixed Flames Under Nonadiabatic Conditions and Preferential Diffusion

In this paper, we provide a numerical study of the stability analysis of a planar premixed flame. The interaction of preferential diffusion and heat loss for a planar premixed flame is investigated using a thermodiffusive (constant density) model. The flame is studied as a function of three nondimensional parameters, namely, Damköhler number (ratio of diffusion time to chemical time), Lewis number (ratio of thermal to species diffusivity), and heat loss. A maximum of four solutions are identified in some cases, two of which are stable. The behavior of the eigenvalues of the linearized system of stabilty is also discussed. For low Lewis number, the heat loss plays a major role in stabilizing the flame for some moderately high values of Damköhler number. The results show the effect of increasing or decreasing Lewis number on adiabatic and nonadiabatic flames temperature and reaction rate as well as the range of heat loss at which flames can survive.