Laminar diffusion flame in the reacting mixing layer

Abstract

Laminar flows in which mixing and chemical reactions take place between parallel streams of reactive species are studied numerically. The governing equations for laminar flows are from two-dimensional compressible boundary-layer equations. The relevant chemistry is a finite rate single step irreversible reaction with Arrhenius kinetics. Ignition, premixed flame, and diffusion flame regimes are found to exist in the laminar reacting mixing layer at high activation energy. At high Mach numbers, ignition occurs earlier due to the higher temperatures in the unburnt gas. In diffusion regimes, property variations affect the laminar profiles considerably and, thus, need to be included when there are large temperature differences. The maximum temperature of a laminar reacting mixing layer is in the almost linear relationship with the adiabatic flame temperature at low heat release, but is only weakly linearly-correlated at high heat release.