Experimental investigation of distance between v-gutters on flame stabilization and NOx emissions

Abstract

Blow-off performance and NOx emissions of the propane and air mixture in a rectangular combustion chamber with bluff bodies were investigated experimentally and numerically. The effects of distance between bluff bodies on NOx emissions, the blow-off limit, and exhaust gas temperature were examined. It was observed that NOx emissions are highly dependent on distance between V-gutters. The re-circulation zone behind the bluff body expands in width based on the decrease of distance between V-gutters, and expands in length with the increase of inlet velocity. The temperature fields behind the bluff body show a similar change, the temperature behind the bluff body reaches its highest when the distance between V-gutters reaches 20 mm, meaning it has better flame stability. The blow-off limit is significantly improved with the decrease of distance between V-gutters. The blow-off limit is greatly improved by reducing the distance between the V-gutters. Maximum blow-off limit of 0.11 is reached in the case of 20 mm, compared with 0.16 at 50 mm at a speed of 10 m/s.