Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

(4.1) Laminar Premixed Flame

In laminar premixed flame, fuel and oxidizer are premixed before
combustion and the flow is laminar.

Figure 4.1 Schematic illustration of a laminar flat flame (left) and of a

Bunsen flame (right), both premixed

(4.1) Conservation equations

Deriving mass conservation :
Change mass
with time

Mass in Mass out

x
x+dx

Figure 4.2 control volume

By applied the continuity equation for control volume shown, get:

Mass out – Mass out = Mass change (4.1)

Assuming, mass in= mx , and mass out = mx dx

Ch. Four |1
Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

But ( mass   . u . A ),

 ( m) m 
mx  mxdx  ,   V  (4.2)
t t t

If cross-section area is constant (A=constant) and,

 (mx )
mx dx  mx  dx from mathematical definitions,
x

 (  A dx) (  u A )
 dx , but V  A. dx  const.
t x

(  ) (  u )
 0 (4.3)
t x

Then, for laminar one-dimensional premixed flames, the conservation

equations are :

• mass conservation
 (  u )
 0 (4.4)
t x

• Species conservation. For i = 1 to n - 1

 ( Yi )  (  u Yi )
  i (4.5)
t x

• Energy

 T T    2T  n
 Cp  u   k  2    i hi
o
(4.6)
 t x    x  i 1

Where hi o enthalpy formation species i.

These equations describe a wave propagating from the burnt to the fresh
gas at a speed which reaches a constant value SL(burning velocity) when
transients are ignored.

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

When the flame is steady, writing Eq. (4.4) to (4.6) in the reference frame
of the flame (moving at speed SL) leads to
 u   S L  const. (4.7)
 (  u Yi )
 i (4.8)
x

T   2T  n
 Cp u  k  2    i hio (4.9)
x  x  i 1

The momentum equation is not needed anymore. it can be used to

compute the pressure field after all fields have been computed by
integrating (viscous terms are neglected):
p u
 u or p( x)  p1  1 S L u ( x)  u1  (4.10)
x x
The pressure jump through a steady flame front is obtained by integrating
this equation between -∞ to ∞:

p2  p1  1 u1 (1  u2 / u1 )  1S L (1  T2 / T1 )
2 2
(4.11)

Where (1) refer to unburned and (2) refer to burnt state.

To solution equation (4.8 4.9), the proper boundary conditions are

provided. For premixed flames, these boundary conditions may raise
some difficulties. Typical inlet conditions (at location x = 0) correspond
to a cold premixed gas flow (Fig. 4.3): u(x = 0) = ul, imposed for
reactants (in proportions imposed by the code user), T(x = 0) = T1
imposed.

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

Figure 4.3 Basic configuration for computations of one-dimensional

premixed flames. State 1: fresh gas quantities; State 2: burnt gas
quantities.

(4.1)Theoretical solutions for laminar premixed flames

The computation of premixed flames with complex chemistry and
transport is possible but severe restrictions prevent the use of these tools
in many situations (for example, unsteady flames). Furthermore, one-
dimensional planar steady premixed flames represent only one flame
configuration: many more must be studied and understood for example to
address the problem of turbulent combustion.
The fuel mass fraction in the fresh gas is imposed (YF = Yfo). The
corresponding conservation equations become (in the flame reference
frame):

(4.12)

(4.13)

(4.14)

In these expressions, the fuel reaction rate ωF is negative.

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

1. Calculation adiabatic flame temperature

The temperature that would be achieved by the products in the

limit of adiabatic operation of the reactor is called the adiabatic flame
temperature or adiabatic combustion temperature. The adiabatic flame
temperature can be determined by use of the conservation of mass and
conservation of energy principles. To illustrate the procedure, let us
suppose that the combustion air and the combustion products each form
ideal gas mixtures. Then, with the other assumptions stated above, the
energy rate balance on a per mole of fuel basis, then:

(4.15)

where i denotes the incoming fuel and air streams and e the exiting
combustion products. With this expression, with table data to evaluate
enthalpy terms,

(4.16)

The n’s are obtained on a per mole of fuel basis from the balanced
chemical reaction equation. The enthalpies of formation of the reactants
and products are obtained from Table A-25 .Enthalpy of combustion data
might be employed in situations where the enthalpy of formation for the
fuel is not available. Knowing the states of the reactants as they enter the
_
reactor, the ( h) terms for the reactants can be evaluated as discussed
previously. Thus, all terms on the right side of Eq. 4.16 can be evaluated.
_
The terms ( h) e on the left side account for the changes in enthalpy of

Ch. Four |5
Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

the products from Tref to the unknown adiabatic flame temperature. Since
the unknown temperature appears in each term of the sum on the left side
of the equation, determination of the adiabatic flame temperature requires
iteration: A temperature for the products is assumed and used to evaluate
the left side of Eq. 13.21b. The value obtained is compared with the
previously determined value for the right side of the equation. The
procedure continues until satisfactory agreement is attained.
Where,
_ T2

( h) i   Cpi dT (4.17)
T1

By return to equation (4.16), the right hand is constant then :

_

 n (  h)   n ( 
T2
i i i Cpi dT )  sun1 (4.18)
T1
P p

_ _ _
sum1   ni ( h) i   ni h f o ,i   ne h f o ,e (4.19)
R R P

The specific heat (Cp) can be calculation from the equation:

Cpi (T )  a0  a1 T  a2T 2  a3T 3 (4.20)

The values of constant( a0 , a1 , a 2 , a3 ) in above equation are presented

in table (C3) or table (2.5)

Note:
Also, the equation 4.16 can be solution by an iterative procedure, using
table A-23

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

Example: Liquid octane at 250C, 1 atm enters a well-insulated reactor and

reacts with air entering at the same temperature and pressure. For steady-
state operation and negligible effects of kinetic and potential energy,
determine the temperature of the combustion products for complete
combustion with (a) the theoretical amount of air, (b) 400% theoretical
air (Ф=0.2042).
Solution:

By applied equation 4.16 ,4.18 and 4.19, we get:

_ _ _
sum1   ni ( h) i   ni h f o ,i   ne h f o ,e
R R P

_
Since the reactants enter at 25oC, the ( h)i terms on the right side vanish,
and the energy rate equation becomes:
_ _ _

 n (  h)   n (  Cpi dT )  sum1   ni h f o ,i   ne h f o ,e
T2
i i i
T1
(a)
P p R P

(a) For combustion of liquid octane with the theoretical amount of air,
the chemical equation is:
C8H18+ 12.5 O2 +47N2 8CO2 + 9H2O(g)+ 47N2

Introducing the coefficients of this equation, Eq. (a) takes the form

_ _ _
 _ _ _

8( h) co 2  9( h) H 2O  47( h) N 2  (h f o ) C8H18  12.5(h f o ) O2  47(h f o ) N2 
 
 _ _ _

 8(h f o ) CO2  9(h f o ) H 2O  47(h f o ) N2 
 

But

_ _
(h f o ) O2  (h f o ) N 2  0

The right side of the above equation can be evaluated with enthalpy of
formation data from Table A-25, giving :

Ch. Four |7
Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

_ _ _
8( h) co 2  9( h) H 2O  47( h) N 2  5,074,630 kJ/kmol (fuel)

Ta Ta Ta
8(  Cp dT ) co 2  9(  Cp dT ) H 2O  47(  Cp dT ) N 2  5074630
298 298 298

Cp can be calculated from equation:

Cpi (T )  ai ,0  ai ,1 T

Where ai,0 , ai,1 can be evaluated from table 4.1

_ _ _
 _ _ _

8( h) co 2  9( h) H 2O  47( h) N 2  (h f o ) C8H18  12.5(h f o ) O2  47(h f o ) N2 
 
 _ _ _

 8(h f o ) CO2  9(h f o ) H 2O  47(h f o ) N2 
 

8( h) co 2  9( h) H 2O  47( h) N 2   249910 12.5 * 0  47 * 0

_ _ _

 8 * 393520 9 * 241820 47 * 0
 5074630 kJ / kmol ( fuel)

Ta Ta Ta
8(  Cp dT ) co 2  9(  Cp dT ) H 2O  47(  Cp dT ) N 2  5074630000 J / kmol
298 298 298

8   (a  bT ) dT   9  (a  bT ) dT   47  (a  bT ) dT   5074630000

Ta Ta Ta

 298  co 2  298  H 2O  298 N 2

 bT 2  
Ta
 bT 2  
Ta
 bT 2  
Ta

8 aT  
 9 aT  
 47 aT   5074630000
 2  298   2  298   2  298 
 CO2   H 2O  N 2

 bTa 
2
 bTa 
2
 bTa 
2

8  aTa       
2   9 aTa  2   47 aTa 
2 
  CO2   H 2O  N 2
 b(298) 2   b(298) 2   b(298) 2 
8  a (298)    9 a (298)    47 a (298)    5074630000
 2  CO2  2  H 2O  2 N 2

From table 4.1:

CO2 a=55721.8528 b=2.351 141 l9

Ch. Four |8
Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

H2O a=39814.7790 b=5.69745764

N2 a=33544.6935 b=1.257773

 2.351141l9 Ta  
2
5.69745764Ta 
2
8  55721.8528Ta    9 39814.7790Ta 
 


 2   2 
 1.257773Ta 
2
 2.351141l9 * (298) 2 
 47 33544.6935Ta    8  55721.8528* (298) 
  
 2   2 
 5.69745764* (298) 2 
 9 39814.7790* (298)  
 2 
 1.257773* (298) 2 
 47 33544.6935* (298)    5074630000
 2 

Then, after rearrangement we get:

64.6 Ta2  2380708Ta  5789817896 0

Ta  2289.7 K , or Ta  39142.8K neglected

(b) For complete combustion of liquid octane with 400% theoretical

air, the chemical equation is:
C8H18+ 50O2 +188N2 8CO2 + 9H2O + 37.5O2 +188N2

_ _ _ _
8( h) co 2  9( h) H 2O  37.5( h)O 2  188( h) N 2  5074630000 J / kmol ( fuel)

 bTa 
2
 bTa 
2
 bTa 
2
 bTa 
2

8  aTa        
2   9 aTa  2   37.5 aTa 
2   188 aTa  2  
  CO2   H 2O  O 2  N 2
 b(298) 2   b(298) 2   b(298) 2 
8  a (298)    9 a (298)    37.5 a (298)   
 2  CO2  2  H 2O  2 O 2
 b(298) 2 

188 a (298)    5074630000
 2 N 2

From table 4.1:

O2 a= 32921.252 b= 2.43240952

Ch. Four |9
Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

 2.351141l9 Ta  
2
5.69745764Ta 
2
8  55721.8528Ta    9 39814.7790Ta 
 


 2   2 
 2.43240952Ta 
2
 1.257773Ta 
2

 37.5 32921.252Ta    
2   188 33544.6935Ta  2 
   
 2.351141l9 * (298) 2   5.69745764* (298) 2 
8  55721.8528* (298)    9 39814.7790* (298)  
 2   2 
 2.43240952* (298) 2   1.257773* (298) 2 
37.5 32921.252* (298)    188 33544.6935* (298)  
 2   2 
 5074630000
After rearrangement we get
198.88Ta2  8345057Ta  7579118504 0

Ta  889.4 K , or Ta  23166.9 K neglected

Can be solution this example by using iterative procedure and the data on
table A-23 as:
(a) The following table gives a summary of the iterative procedure for
three trial values of TP. Since the summation of the enthalpies of
the products equals 5,074,630 kJ/kmol, the actual value of Ta is in
the interval from 2350 to 2400 K. Interpolation between these
temperatures gives Ta = 2395 K.

(b) Proceeding iteratively as above, the temperature of the products is

Ta = 962 K.

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

The adiabatic flame temperature can be determined from the equation :

C1 Ta  C2 Ta2  C3Ta3  C4Ta4  Sum  0 (3.21)

For Lean combustion:

C x H y  a(O2  3.76N 2 )  bCO2  dH 2 O  fO2  3.76aN2

 4   4  n .a   4  n .a 
C1    ni . ai ,0  , C 2     i i ,1   , C3     i i , 2  
 i 1 P  i 1   i 1 
  2 P   3 P

 4  ni . a i , 3   3   3  n .a 
C 4       , C5    ni . ai ,0  , C 6     i i ,1  
  i 1 R  i 1 
 i 1  4 P   2 R

 3  ni . a i , 2   3  n .a 
C 7       , C8     i i ,3
  i 1
 

 i 1  3 R   4 R

   
Sum  C1To  C 2To2  C 3To3  C 4To4  C 5 Ti  To   C 6 Ti 2  To2  C 7 Ti 3  To3  C 8 Ti 4  To4  
 Sum1

 3   1 
 
Sum1    n h of i     n h of i   
 i 1  R  i 1 P

Where:

ni : number moles of productions (CO2, H2O, O2 and N2 )

[b, d, f and 3.76a]

For Rich combustion :

Cx H y  a(O2  3.76N2 )  bCO2  cCO  dH2O  eH2  3.76aN2

The water-gas shift equilibrium can be assumed function of temperature

as:

b.e  2180.6 
Kp   exp   2.4198  0.0003855 T  
c.d  T 

Then,

C h . F o u r | 11
Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

1/ 2
2a( K p  1)  x  y / 2 1 (2a( K p  1)  x  y / 2) 2 
b   
2( K p  1) 2( K p  1)  4 K p ( K p  1)(2ax  x 2) 

c  x  b , d  2a  b  x , e  2a  b  x  y / 2

 5   5  n .a   5  n .a 
C1    ni . ai ,0  , C 2     i i ,1   , C3     i i , 2  
 i 1 P  i 1   i 1 
  2 P   3 P

 5  ni . a i , 3   3   3  n .a 
C 4       , C5    ni . ai ,0  , C 6     i i ,1  
  i 1 R  i 1 
 i 1  4 P   2 R

 3  ni . a i , 2   3  n .a 
C 7       , C8     i i ,3
  i 1
 

 i 1  3 R   4 R

   
Sum  C1To  C 2To2  C 3To3  C 4To4  C 5 Ti  To   C 6 Ti 2  To2  C 7 Ti 3  To3  C 8 Ti 4  To4 
 Sum1

 3   1 
 
Sum1    n h of i     n h of i   
 i 1  R  i 1 P

ni : number moles of productions (CO2, H2O, H2 and N2)

[b, c, d, e and 3.76a]

C h . F o u r | 12
Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

YO aMWO2
s( ) st 
Yf MW f

1
Yf 
s MWN 2
1 (1  3.76 )
 MWO2

 
Q r   ( ni h of ,i ) reactions  ( ni h of ,i ) products 
 
 
N
MWi 1
Cp mix (T2  T1 )   h of ,i  i Y f  Q * Y f1
i 1 MW f

Cp mix  3.5 Rmix

If T2=Tadi

C h . F o u r | 13
Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

Exercise about Adiabatic Flame Temperature

Note: if initial temperature not know take it 298K.
Q1: A one mole of Methane is burned at equivalence ratio (0.7), the fuel
– air mixture at initial temperature 298K. After complete combustion.
After complete combustion, determine (a) the mole fraction of
production analysis. (b) the adiabatic flame temperature.
Ans: xCO2=0.06849, xH2O=0.1369 , xN2=0.7358 ,xO2=0.0587 Ta=1856.9K

Q2: re-solution equation one but change the initial temperature of fresh
gases to 323K.
Ans: Ta=1877.6K

Q3: Analysis of production gases for IC engine show that the mole
fractions as: xCO2=0.08637, xH2O=0.1727,xO2=0.01192, xN2=0.7217.
Determine: (a) the equivalence ratio (b) the adiabatic flame temperature.
Ans: Ф=0.9 , Ta=2191.4K

Q4: When burned Propane in air, the approximation mole fraction

analysis of production gases is xCO2=0.1055, xH2O=0.14, xO2=0.0195,
xN2=0.7344. Fined the adiabatic flame temperature?
Ans: Ta=2357.1K

Q5: The mole fraction of exhaust gases analysis were: xCO2=0.1457,

xH2O=0.0729, xO2=0.0202, xN2=0.76. Find: (a) the type of fuel and
equivalence ratio (b) adiabatic flame temperature.
Ans: (a) C2H2 , Ф=0.9 , (b)Ta=2733.9K

Q6: A hydrocarbon fuel is burnt at theoretical condition, the number of

moles of production gases are: nCO2=2 , nH2O=2 and nN2=3.76a.
calculation (a) the hydrocarbon form as (CxHy) (b) the adiabatic flame
temperature.
Ans: (a) C2H4 (b) Ta=2582.6K

Q7: A gas turbine engine used a fuel – air mixture to production power,
at the first test, it was operating with excess air condition at equivalence
ratio 1.4, the analysis of exhaust gases shows that: nCO2+nCO=1 and

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

nN2=5.3714 moles. Evaluate the type of fuel and adiabatic flame

temperature?
Ans: Methane , Ta=1986.7K

Q8: To estimate the thermal efficiency of boiler in a steam power plant,

the mechanical engineering was doing analysis of the exhaust gases wear
reject in chimney, at some analysis, at equivalence ratio 1.8, shows the
results: nCO2=1.49119, nCO=6.5088, and nN2=26.1111. Estimate (a)
type of fuel (b) adiabatic flame temperature.
Ans: (a)=Octane C8H18 (b) Ta=1772.9K

Q9: the mass analysis of exhaust gases of the gas turbine engine as:
yCO2=0.06264, yH2O=0.05125, yO2=0.13667 and yN2=0.7494.
calculation: (a) the molars weight of burnt gases (b) the equivalence ratio
(c) the type of fuel (d) adiabatic flame temperature (e) adiabatic flame
temperature if the initial temperature of fresh gases is 323K.
Ans: (a) MWmix=28.322 (b) Ф=0.4 (c)Methane (d)Ta=1272.6K (e)Ta=1295K

Q10: A fuel – air mixture at 400K was burnt, the analysis of production
gases shown as : the number moles of gases are (nCO2=2, nH2O=2,
nO2=4.5). determine (a) equivalence ratio (b) type of fuel (c) adiabatic
flame temperature.
Ans: (a) Ф=0.4 (b) Ethylene C2H4 (c) Ta=1266.5K

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

2. Heat of Combustion

The heat of reaction is defined as the net enthalpy change resulting

from a chemical reaction. The energy effect can be net energy release (an
exothermic reaction) or energy absorption (an endothermic reaction). The
heat of reaction may be calculated as the difference in the heat of
formation (ΔH298) between products and reactants. Heat of formation
(tabulated in many handbooks) is the heat effect when the compound is
formed from its constituent elements in their standard states (usually
298K, at 1 atm).
 
Qr   ( ni h of ,i ) reactions  ( ni h of ,i ) products  (4.22)
 
Example : A stoicheometry Methane – air mixture at 298K , was burned,
find the heat of reaction (combustion)?

Solution:

CH 4  2(O2  3.76N 2 )  CO2  2H 2O  7.52N 2

For table heat formations we get,

hCH4  -74809 J/mole ,

hCO2=-393510 J/mol , hH2O=-241818, hN2=0

Q=1*(-74809)-[1*(-393510)+2*(-241818)+0]=802337J/mole of fuel

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

Estimation of Heat of Reaction from Bond Energies

The determination of the heat of reaction depends on the availability of

the heats of formation. In the event that they are not available, rough
estimates of their values can be obtained from the bond energies between
the atomic constituents of the reactant and product molecules (McMillen
& Golden 1982). The methodology is based on the concept that the
energy needed to break a particular type of bond between two atoms is
approximately the same regardless of the molecule in which the bond is
present. Thus the difference between the sums of the bond energies of the
reactants and the products can be approximated as the heat of reaction.
Table below lists the bond energies of a variety of atomic pairs.
Note: 1Cal=4.187 J
Table Mean bond energies (kcal/mole bond)

As an example, consider the hydrogenation reaction of ethylene to form

ethane,

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

In this reaction one C=C bond and one H-H bond are broken, while one
C-C bond and two C-H bonds are created. Thus the net change in the
bond energies given by Table above is (1)(85.5) + (2)(98.1) − (1)(145) −
(1)(104.2) = 32.5 kcal/mole. The positive value indicates that the
products are more tightly bound and hence less reactive. Thus this
reaction is exothermic, with q= 32.5 kcal/mole. Using the values of heats
of formation given in, we have q= (12.5) − (−20.2) = 32.7 kcal/mole. The
comparison is close in this case.

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

The burning velocity

The burning velocity, of normal combustion, is more precisely

defined as the velocity at which unburned gases move through the
combustion wave in the direction normal to the wave surface .
Mitani derived a more general expression for burning velocity which is
not as explicit but converse more case as.


2 A D 
1 
2 1 1/ 2
SL  e (4.23)
 th

Where:

Dth1  K / 1 Cp is the heat diffusivity in the fresh gas (m2/s)

T1 : fresh gas temperature

A : pre-exponential constant, can be taken from table 3.1

 , are two parameters measure the heat released by the flame and
T  T1 
activation temperature respectively and    adi  ,    Ta / Tadi where:
 Tadi 

Ta :activation temperature set from table 3.1 and Tadi adiabatic flame
temperature calculate from equation 4.16.

3. Premixed Flame Thicknesses

Defining and estimating a flame thickness before computation is an

obvious requirement for many numerical combustion problems because
this thickness controls the required mesh resolution: in most combustion
approaches, the flame structure must be resolve enough points must be
localized within the flame thickness.

Now, by using simple chemistry, the flame thickness (δ) defined as:

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

K in Dth1
  (4.24)
 in CpS L S L

Which can also written as flame Reynolds number :

 * SL
Re f  1 (4.25)
Dth1

Where all quantities Dth1  K in /( inCp) , Cp , ρ and Kin are evaluated
in the fresh gases. The thickness δ (called her "diffusive thickness") may
be evaluated easily before computation as soon as the flame speed is
known.

4. Analytic solution of one-dimensional laminar combustion

The elementary case of a one – dimensional laminar flame

propagating into a premixed gas is basic problem in combustion, both for
theory and for numerical techniques[ ]. There are many ways to compute
laminar flame structure and speed depending on the complexity of the
chemistry and transport descriptions. However, when chemistry and
transport are suitably simplified, analytical or semi- analytical solution
may be developed and these shed an essential light on the behavior of
flame and on the numerical challenges to face when on tries to compute
them in simple or complex situations. We can explain the computation of
one dimension premixed flames as in figure (4.1):

Return to equations (4.13) and (4.14) may be simplified introducing

reduced variables:

Cp (T( x )  Tin )  T( x )  T1 
    (4.26)
QY 1
f  adi
T  T1 

The normalized temperature profiles solution gives as :

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

x
  1  1/  e  for x  0 (4.27)

1
  1 for x  0 (4.28)
1   x
e 

Then, initialize temperature is:

T( x )   Tadi  T1   T1 (4.29)

T  T1 
Where :  ,  are flame parameters    adi  ,    Ta / Tadi
 Tadi 

Ta :activation temperature, S L ,  are burning velocity and flame thickness

Dth1 is the heat diffusivity in the fresh gas.

Initialize velocity filed as:

T 
u( x )  u1  S L  ( x )  1 (4.30)
 Tin 

In general case u1=SL

Initialize density as:

 ( x )  in
1 (4.31)

1
(1   )
initialize fuel reaction rate as:

Ta
 S 2  2 e(  /  ) 
 
f ( x)   L
Dth1
  ( x ) Y f e T ( x ) (4.32)
 

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

5. Flame Front Structure

An equation for G can be derived by considering an iso-scalar surface
G( x, t )  Go (4.33)
As shown in figure 4.4 this surface divided the flow field into two regions
where G>Go is the region of burnt gas and G<Go is that of the unburned
mixture. The choice of Go is arbitrary but fixed for a particular
combustion event.

y
G(x,t)=Go

n
G >Go
dx
G <Go -n
dxn
unburned burnt

x
Figure 4.4 A schematic representation of the flame front as an iso-scalar
surface G(x,t)=Go.

The general form of the G function is:

G
 uin . G  S L G (4.34)
t

The general solution of G function is :

G( x, t )  Go  x  F ( y, t ) (4.35)
Thus the flame front displacement F(y,t) is assumed to be a single valued
function of y as shown for the two-dimensional case in figure 4.5.

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department
y
G=Go
unburnt

t -n
xn β
dy β
dF G burnt
F

Figure 4.5 Graphical interpretation of the G-filed. The movement of the

instantaneous flame front position G=Go is related to spatial fluctuations F.

Applications
Bunsen Burner:

Bunsen flame cone

Mixing chamber

Bunsen tube

Premixing region

air air

Fuel from supply

Fuel orifice
needle

Orifice adjustment screw

Figure 4.6 The design of a classical Bunsen burner.

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

ut,b=ut,u

b ub
un,b
u
Oblique flame front
un,u
SL,u
uu
α
ut,u

uu

Figure 4.7 Kinematic balance for a steady oblique flame

The kinematic balance between the flow velocity and the burning
velocity is illustrated for a steady oblique flame in figure 4.7. The
oncoming flow velocity vector uu of the unburned mixture is split into a
component ut,u that is tangential to the flame front and a component un,u
normal to the flame front. Owing to gas expansion within the flame front
the normal velocity component un,b on the burnt gas side is larger than
un,u, since, because of continuity, the mass flow ρun in normal direction
through the flame must be same in the unburned mixture and in burnt gas:
( u n ) u  ( u n ) b , (4.36)
While the density decrease. Therefore
u
un, b  un, u (4.37)
b

The tangential velocity component ut is not affected by the gas expansion

and remains the same:
ut , b  ut , u (4.38)
For a laminar flow the laminar burning velocity is obtained from the
kinematic balance as:
S L  un,u (4.39)

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

With the angle of the Bunsen flame cone in figure 4.7 denoted by α, the
normal velocity is:
un,u  uu sin  (4.40)
Therefore, the laminar burning velocity with respect to the unburned gas
is :
S L  uu sin  (4.41)

The Laminar Bunsen Flame on a Slot Burner

Assuming an infinite length of the slot it may be viewed as the
two-dimensional version of the axi-symmetric Bunsen burner. If the
vertical velocity u is constant and the horizontal velocity is zero in the
unburned mixture, the steady two-dimensional G-equation takes the form:
For steady state :
G G G G
 0, and G    but G is function of x and t only
t x y z

G
or G 
x

therefore, the G – function (equation 4.34) becomes as :

1/ 2
G   G  2  G  2 
 SL      (4.42)
  x 
u
x  y  
 

But the general solution of G– function gives in equation (4.35) as:

G( x, t )  Go  x  F ( y, z, t )

Inserting this into equation above (4.42), we get:

1/ 2
  F  2 
u  S L 1     (4.43)
  y  
 

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

α
x

Figure 4.8 A planar premixed laminar flame on a slot burner.

Re-arrangement equation (4.43) and integrated it, we get

F 
u 2
 S L2   y  consta.
1/ 2
(4.44)
SL

Steady flame on Bunsen burner can only be obtained when u>SL. with the
burner rim located at x=0, y=+ b/2 where F=0, the constant in equation
4.44 is evaluated as b/2. This leads to the solution of the G – function as:

G
u 2
 S L2 
1/ 2
 b
 y    x  Go (4.45)
SL  2

The flame surface x=xf is given by setting G=Go as

xf 
u 2
 S L2 
1/ 2
b 
  yf  (4.46)
SL  2 

The flame tip lies on the axis of the symmetry yf=0:

xo 

b u 2  S L2  1/ 2
(4.47)
2 SL

The flame angle α is then given by:

b/2 SL
tan    (4.48)
xo u 2  S L2  
1/ 2

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 Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

With tan 2   sin 2  /(1  sin 2  ) it follows that

SL
sin   (4.49)
u

_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
Example1: for a stationary two-dimensional planer flame (2LxL m2),
suggest approximation shape for this flame.
Solution:
Assuming a F function as :
F 
 y  9L / 6
2

Then, the solution of the G function is:

G( x)  Go  x 
 y  9 L / 6
2

If (G-Go- < 0) unburned mixture, (G-Go > 0) burned and (G-Go=0)

flame front.
Then, we are divided the region into number of small square as:

.
. . . ... . . . ..
.. .. .. ...... .. .. .. ....
L

Δy
.. .. .. ...... .. .. .. ....
Δx=Δy=L/6, Δx 2L
Evaluated the G function at all nodes shown above as:
G( L / 6)  Go  x 
 y  9L / 6  L / 6  L / 6  9L / 6  L / 6  8L / 12   L / 2 (negative) unburned mixture
2 2
As similar that, we well solution all nodes as shown in table below:
X 0 L/6 2L/6 3L/6 4L/6 5L/6 6L/6 7L/6 8L/6 9L/6 10L/6 11L/6 12L/6
y
0 -3L/4 -7L/12 -5L/12 -L/4 -L/12 L/12 L/4 5L/12 7L/12 9L/12 11L/12 13L/12 15L/12
L/6 -4L/6 -L/2 -L/3 -L/6 0 L/6 + + + + + + +
2L/6 -7L/12 -5L/12 -L/4 -L/12 L/12 L/4 + + + + + + +
3L/6 -L/2 -L/3 -L/6 0 L/6 L/3 + + + + + + +
4L/6 -5L/12 -L/4 -L/12 L/12 L/4 5L/12 + + + + + + +
5L/6 -L/3 -L/6 0 L/6 L/3 + + + + + + + +
6L/6 -L/4 -L/12 L/12 L/4 5L/12 + + + + + + + +

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

The approximation shape of flame can be as above

_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

Exercise about Flame Front Structure

Q1: Re-solution example1 with change the F-function as :

1) F   y  9L / 6 2) F  2 y  9L / 6 3) F 
y 2
 9 L2 / 4 
4

Q2: For a stationary two-dimensional planer flame (1x1 cm2), suggest

approximation shape for this flame.
Q3: Draw the shape of flame for Bunsen burner if it size 5mm and the
the fresh gases velocity is 40cm/s and burning velocity is
45 / 2 cm/s.
Q4: Suggest approximation shape for two-dimensional flame, if the F-
function in the forms:
1) sin( ) wave 2) cos( ) wav 3)sin( ).cos( ) wav
Q5: For the figures, derive the form of the F-function:

L
2L/3 5L/4 L/2 5L/2

y 5L/4 2L L/2 3L/2 L/2

Q6: For Bunsen burner, if the F –function as second order equation

respect with y, draw the shape of flame front.
Q7: For Bunsen burner, if the flame angle and the fresh gases velocity
are 30o, 60cm/s respectively. Analysis the flame front structure.

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

Example 2: For the two-dimensional flame (2LxLm2), draw

approximation shape if the F – function was descript as

F  ( y / 1000)1 / 2  9L / 6 / 2 . where L=1000mm, y in mm.
Solution:
Then, the solution of the G function is:

G ( x)  Go  x 
( y / 1000) 0.5
 9L / 6 
2

If (G-Go- < 0) unburned mixture, (G-Go > 0) burned and (G-Go=0)

flame front.
After divided the domain into many finite volume, the results as:

_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
Example 3: re-solution example 2 with change the F – function as:
1) 
F  ( y / 1000) 0.7  9L / 6 / 2 
2) F  ( y / 1000) 4
 9L / 6 / 2
3) F  1.5( y / 1000)^5  1.2  0.3 cos(4 y / 1000)  0.3sin(4 y / 1000)

Solution:
1) The solution as

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Chapter Four Laminar Combustion Fuel & Energy Department

2) The solution as:

3) The solution as:

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