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To cite this article: W. LANG & D. VORTMEYER (1987) Cross-Correlation of Sound Pressure and Heat Release Rate
for Oscillating Flames with Several Frequencies Excited, Combustion Science and Technology, 54:1-6, 399-406, DOI:
10.1080/00102208708947063
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Combust. Sci. and Tech.. 1987. Vol. 54. pp. 399-406 C 1987 Gordon and Breach Science Publishers. Inc .
Photocopying permitted by license only Printed in Great Britain
BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Abstract-Subject of the note are combustion oscillations in a small laboratory burner with premixed
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flames. Oscillations of sound pressure, energy conversion and gas velocity were measured
simultaneously within the domain of the flame. Having evaluated amplitudes and phase shifts of the
various oscillations, it was possible to find by an inspection of the graphical representation how the
conditions required for oscillations are fulfilled. The burner shows different forms of vibrations:
sinusoidal vibrations with one frequency, superposition of independent frequencies (beats) and
harmonic frequencies. A parameter study shows for which circumstances the different forms occur.
For periodic oscillations the experimental data support the known stability criteria (Rayleigh
integral). In the case of aperiodic oscillations we propose to replace the Rayleigh integral by a
corresponding cross-correlation function of sound pressure and conversion oscillations. It is suggested
that the cross-correlation function has to approach a positive limiting value which has been found for
all investigated cases.
1 INTRODUCTION
2 APPARATUS
The experiments were carried out using a laboratory burner for premixed
propane-air flames as described by Joos and Vortmeyer (1986). The variable
length of the mixing chamber and the combustion chamber (5-80 ern) leads to
longitudinal natural frequencies ranging between 200 and 1000 Hz. The length of
the side of the channel of square cross-section is 4 em. Since the natural
frequencies of transversal modes are too high to be excited (above 6000 Hz),
unidimensional acoustics can be applied. The flame holder was a multiple orifice
plate with 80 holes of 1.5 rom diameter each, generating laminar flames of about
3 rom length. The sound pressure P of the system was measured by capacitor
microphones, the heat release rate Q by a photomultiplier which measures the
radiation of the OH- -radical, an intermediate combustion product. Care is taken
to ensure that the radiation of the entire flame is measured. The intensity of the
OH- -radiation is a linear measurement of the energy conversion. The linearity
was checked in a preliminary experiment with a stable flame. The measurement of
the reaction rate by the radiation of the OH- -radical has been used by several
authors (John and Summerfield, 1955; Hurle et al; 1968; Lenz, 1979; Joos and
Vortmeyer, 1986). Recently Keller and Westbrook (1986) proved the applicability
of the method by comparison of measurements with calculated chemical
conversion rates. The velocity U was measured by a hot-wire probe just below the
flame holder and the shape of the flame by the Schlieren method .
In order to obtain correct phase relations, it was ensured by preliminary
experiments that there were no time lags due to the experimental setup. The data
were stored in a transient recorder and transmitted to a computer for digital
storage and processing.
TABLE I
Experimental parameter of oscillation measurements
Figure 1,2,6 7 8
u
'-------r------.-----.....,Jf
2 4 lmsl
FIGURE I Oscillation measurements. Velocity (V ), sound pressure (P), heat release rate (1) , and
height of flame (H ). For experimental data compare with Table I.
Harmonic vibrations and beats were observed when the chamber length and/or
the air equivalence ratio were varied. Those effects are plotted in Figure 3.
At first the equivalence ratio was changed from stoichiometric combustion to
the lean side. For stoichiometric combustion we find a very strong sine vibration.
When the mixture is lean, 1 = 1.15, another vibration mode with a lower frequency
is found. When the air equivalence ratio is increased, the flame speed decreases.
402 BRIEF COMMUNICATION
FIGURE 2 Motion pictures showing the break-away of the flame front. O· respresents the zero
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CL
[em!
20
1S
•
10
• • •
• • •
• • •
SL-_---r_~---,--_f_-.__--
0,7 O,B 0,9 1.0 1,1
FIGURE 3 Variation of the parameters in the plane of combustion chamber length and air equivalence
ratio.
Thus the characteristic response time of the flame to an acoustic excitation will
increase, which favours the excitation of the low frequency mode . The amplitudes
of both the vibration modes were scanned for a constant throughput of 200 mIls
and an equivalence ratio between 0.85 and 1.2 and are shown in Figure 4. The
high frequency mode has a high amplitude at stoichiometric combustion and
extinguishes at 1 = 1.15. The low frequency mode starts at 1 = 1.1 and extinguishes
at 1 = 1.2. In the region between 1 = 1.1 and 1 = 1.15 we find beats.
Beats are the simultaneous vibration of two independent oscillation modes. The
phase of the two modes changes with time. For harmonic frequencies, the phase of
the fundamental and the harmonic is constant with time. So the resulting
movement is a periodic process.
BRIEF COMMUNICATION 403
A
[Dbl ------------- .... ,
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", \
140 I
I
I
I
I
120 ~
--'O.-9·--1""T'".O---1~
!l- 1:2 ·l
A
\.5 , . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . . . . . ,
1.0
.5
a CL
5 10 15
FIGURE 5 Amplitudes of harmonic frequencies. The ratio I of the amplitude of the first and second
harmonic to the amplitude of the natural fequency is shown as a function of the length of the burning
chamber.•, First harmonic; + , second harmonic; - - -, theoretical calculation.
404 BRIEF COMMUNICATION
shown the way out of this situation with an integral criterion which not only takes
into consideration the location of the maximum but also the entire course of the
wave. Vibrations are excited if the Rayleigh integral is positive:
1 P *Qdt> O. (1)
The integral covers the entire cycle of an oscillation. Figures 6 to 8 show the
integrand of the Rayleigh integral which is the product of P and Q. One cycle is
indicated by two arrows. In Figures 6 and 7 it can be seen that the integral is
positive for one cycle.
The integral condition, Eq. (1), is a special case of a more general condition
which also requires integration over the volume (Lawn, 1982). However, since the
flames are small compared to the wavelength, the change of sound pressure along
the flame is negligible.
For aperiodic oscillations, e.g., beating (Figure 8), well-defined periods no longer
exist. So the Rayleigh integral, which requires integration over a single period,
cannot be applied. If, for example, the time between the two zero passages marked
in Figure 8 is considered to be a period, we find a negative integral. Certainly the
integration limits have to be extended to longer times. A criterion must be found
which is independent of the integration limits. This can be achieved by applying a
statistical criterion instead of an integral one. Therefore, averaging of the product
of P *(2 in terms of time appears to be a logical extension of the Rayleigh integral.
Now the postulation for the occurrence of an oscillation is:
Oscillations are induced if
limK(T» 0, (2)
T-«>
where
holds.
I ems]
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Urns]
p
Hmsl
15 30
FIGURE 8 Beats.
FIGURES 6-8 Measurements for the discussion of stability criteria. P, oscillation of sound pressure;
Q, oscillation of heat release rate; p*Q, integrand of the Rayleigh integral; K, cross-correlation function.
The experimental parameters are given in Table I.
406 BRIEF COMMUNICATION
6 SUMMARY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The experiments are being conducted with the support of the Stiftung Volkswagenwerk under the
programme "Fundamentals of industrial combustion proces ses".
REFERENCES