Non-premixed Hydrogen Flame Structure in Supersonic Coflowing Air Flows

Experiments have been performed to investigate the structure of axisymmetric hydrogen diffusion flame in a supersonic coflow air. The characteristics and structure of supersonic flames are compared with those of subsonic flames as the velocity of coflow air increases from subsonic to supersonic velocity of Mach 1.8. Also, the subsonic and supersonic flow fields are analyzed numerically for the non-reacting conditions and the possible flame contours indicated by fuel mass fraction are compared with the measured OH radical distributions. It is found that the flame structure indicates more like a partially premixed flame as the coflow air velocity is increased from subsonic to supersonic regimes; strong reaction zone indicated by intense OH signal is found at the center, which is different from subsonic flame cases. And it is shown that the fuel jet passes along the recirculation zones behind the bluff-body fuel nozzle resulting in relatively long mixing time. This is believed to be the reason of the partially premixed flame characteristics found in the present supersonic flames.