Investigation of NOx scaling laws in swirled partially premixed hydrogen flames on a coaxial injector.

In the context of the growing use of hydrogen for decarbonization in combustion, understanding NO x emissions from hydrogen burners is crucial. This study focuses on the impact of partial premixing on NO x production in hydrogen flames using a coaxial injector with swirl. The goal is to expand conventional jet scaling laws to encompass additional physical phenomena. The flexible injection system employed allows the stabilization of various flame types depending on the operating conditions, and double-front flames are obtained in several configurations. Observing the limitations of known scaling laws, particularly in coaxial flows with low-velocity differences or swirl, we conduct experiments measuring NO x and flame volume. Two Large Eddy Simulations explore distinct flame configurations to deepen our understanding about coaxial jet and recirculating flames, especially in the presence of a secondary premixed front due to rich premixing. Our investigation delves into the relationship between NO production and strain rate, considering turbulent and strain-related timescales. Notably, the presence of a premixed flame front alters the velocity profile on the shear layer, and the observed relationship between strain and turbulence in jet flames does not hold for recirculating flames. Thanks to this new insight, we propose a novel formulation for NO x scaling in coaxial jets, leveraging existing literature on coaxial jet modeling. Additionally, we propose a simple model to represent the piloting strain rate for NO emission in recirculating flames. Intricate effects of both swirl and partial-premixing are then included in the derived NO x scaling laws. [Display omitted] • Nitrogen oxide (NO x) emissions are measured in many swirled hydrogen flames. • Large-eddy simulations are used to enlighten the formation mechanisms. • Scaling laws for NO x emissions are derived to work for different flame topologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]