On the Effect of Presumed PDF and Intermittency on the Numerical Simulation of a Diffusion Flame

In the present work, the effect of PDF selection and intermittency on the result of the numerical simulation are examined by the simulation of a turbulent methane-air jet diffusion flame. As to the PDFs, beta-function and clipped Gaussian are considered. Results for the pure mixing jet are compared with experimental results. Then, the turbulent flame is calculated for the same conditions and the results obtained for the several models are compared. It is found that the clipped Gaussian distribution coupled with consideration of intermittency recovers the experimental data very well. As to the reacting flow results, the main overall properties of the turbulent jet diffusion flame such as maximum flame temperature are less affected by the choice of the PDF. Flame height and NO emissions, on the contrary, appear to be significantly influenced.