A Large Eddy Simulation Study on the Effect of Devolatilization Modelling and Char Combustion Mode Modelling on the Structure of a Large-Scale, Biomass and Coal Co-Fired Flame

This work focuses on the impact of the devolatilization and char combustion mode modelling on the structure of a large-scale, biomass and coal co-fired flame using large eddy simulations. The coal modelling framework previously developed for the simulation of combustion in large-scale facilities is...

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Main Authors: Miriam Rabaçal, Mário Costa, Michele Vascellari, Christian Hasse, Martin Rieth, Andreas M. Kempf
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Journal of Combustion
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/7036425
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author Miriam Rabaçal
Mário Costa
Michele Vascellari
Christian Hasse
Martin Rieth
Andreas M. Kempf
author_facet Miriam Rabaçal
Mário Costa
Michele Vascellari
Christian Hasse
Martin Rieth
Andreas M. Kempf
author_sort Miriam Rabaçal
collection DOAJ
description This work focuses on the impact of the devolatilization and char combustion mode modelling on the structure of a large-scale, biomass and coal co-fired flame using large eddy simulations. The coal modelling framework previously developed for the simulation of combustion in large-scale facilities is extended for biomass capabilities. An iterative procedure is used to obtain devolatilization kinetics of coal and biomass for the test-case specific fuels and heating conditions. This is achieved by calibrating the model constants of two empirical models: the single first-order model and the distributed activation energy model. The reference data for calibration are devolatilization yields obtained with predictive coal and biomass multistep kinetic mechanisms. The variation of both particle density and diameter during char combustion is governed by the conversion mode, which is modelled using two approaches: the power law using a constant parameter that assumes a constant mode during char combustion and a constant-free model that considers a variable mode during combustion. Three numerical cases are considered: single first-order reaction with constant char combustion mode, distributed activation energy with constant char combustion mode, and single first-order reaction with variable char combustion mode. The numerical predictions from the large eddy simulations are compared with experimental results of a high co-firing rate large-scale laboratory flame of coal and biomass. Furthermore, results from single particle conversion under idealised conditions, isolating the effects of turbulence, are presented to assist the interpretation of the predictions obtained with large eddy simulations. The effects of the devolatilization and conversion mode modelling on the flame lift-off, flame length, and spatial distribution and radial profiles of O2 and CO2 are presented and discussed. Both the devolatilization and conversion mode modelling have a significant effect on the conversion of particles under idealised conditions. The large eddy simulations results show that the devolatilization model has a strong impact on the flame structure, but not on the flame lift-off. On the other hand, for the tested numerical conditions, the char combustion mode model has a marginal impact on the predicted results.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2018-01-01
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spelling doaj-art-e672a4000fe04b76823ec3cff59194762025-08-20T03:26:00ZengWileyJournal of Combustion2090-19682090-19762018-01-01201810.1155/2018/70364257036425A Large Eddy Simulation Study on the Effect of Devolatilization Modelling and Char Combustion Mode Modelling on the Structure of a Large-Scale, Biomass and Coal Co-Fired FlameMiriam Rabaçal0Mário Costa1Michele Vascellari2Christian Hasse3Martin Rieth4Andreas M. Kempf5IDMEC, Mechanical Engineering Department, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, Lisboa, PortugalIDMEC, Mechanical Engineering Department, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, Lisboa, PortugalTechnische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, GermanyTechnische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, GermanyInstitute for Combustion and Gasdynamics (IVG), Chair of Fluid Dynamics, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, GermanyInstitute for Combustion and Gasdynamics (IVG), Chair of Fluid Dynamics, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, GermanyThis work focuses on the impact of the devolatilization and char combustion mode modelling on the structure of a large-scale, biomass and coal co-fired flame using large eddy simulations. The coal modelling framework previously developed for the simulation of combustion in large-scale facilities is extended for biomass capabilities. An iterative procedure is used to obtain devolatilization kinetics of coal and biomass for the test-case specific fuels and heating conditions. This is achieved by calibrating the model constants of two empirical models: the single first-order model and the distributed activation energy model. The reference data for calibration are devolatilization yields obtained with predictive coal and biomass multistep kinetic mechanisms. The variation of both particle density and diameter during char combustion is governed by the conversion mode, which is modelled using two approaches: the power law using a constant parameter that assumes a constant mode during char combustion and a constant-free model that considers a variable mode during combustion. Three numerical cases are considered: single first-order reaction with constant char combustion mode, distributed activation energy with constant char combustion mode, and single first-order reaction with variable char combustion mode. The numerical predictions from the large eddy simulations are compared with experimental results of a high co-firing rate large-scale laboratory flame of coal and biomass. Furthermore, results from single particle conversion under idealised conditions, isolating the effects of turbulence, are presented to assist the interpretation of the predictions obtained with large eddy simulations. The effects of the devolatilization and conversion mode modelling on the flame lift-off, flame length, and spatial distribution and radial profiles of O2 and CO2 are presented and discussed. Both the devolatilization and conversion mode modelling have a significant effect on the conversion of particles under idealised conditions. The large eddy simulations results show that the devolatilization model has a strong impact on the flame structure, but not on the flame lift-off. On the other hand, for the tested numerical conditions, the char combustion mode model has a marginal impact on the predicted results.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/7036425
spellingShingle Miriam Rabaçal
Mário Costa
Michele Vascellari
Christian Hasse
Martin Rieth
Andreas M. Kempf
A Large Eddy Simulation Study on the Effect of Devolatilization Modelling and Char Combustion Mode Modelling on the Structure of a Large-Scale, Biomass and Coal Co-Fired Flame
Journal of Combustion
title A Large Eddy Simulation Study on the Effect of Devolatilization Modelling and Char Combustion Mode Modelling on the Structure of a Large-Scale, Biomass and Coal Co-Fired Flame
title_full A Large Eddy Simulation Study on the Effect of Devolatilization Modelling and Char Combustion Mode Modelling on the Structure of a Large-Scale, Biomass and Coal Co-Fired Flame
title_fullStr A Large Eddy Simulation Study on the Effect of Devolatilization Modelling and Char Combustion Mode Modelling on the Structure of a Large-Scale, Biomass and Coal Co-Fired Flame
title_full_unstemmed A Large Eddy Simulation Study on the Effect of Devolatilization Modelling and Char Combustion Mode Modelling on the Structure of a Large-Scale, Biomass and Coal Co-Fired Flame
title_short A Large Eddy Simulation Study on the Effect of Devolatilization Modelling and Char Combustion Mode Modelling on the Structure of a Large-Scale, Biomass and Coal Co-Fired Flame
title_sort large eddy simulation study on the effect of devolatilization modelling and char combustion mode modelling on the structure of a large scale biomass and coal co fired flame
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/7036425
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