Direct numerical simulation of autoigniting mixing layers in MILD combustion

MILD combustion is a new combustion technology which promises an enhanced efficiency and reduced emission of pollutants. It is characterized by a high degree of preheating and dilution of the reactants. Since the temperature of the reactants is higher than that of autoignition, a complex interplay between turbulent mixing, molecular transport and chemical kinetics occurs. In order to reveal the fundamental reaction structures of MILD combustion, the process of a cold methane–hydrogen fuel jet issuing in a hot diluted coflow and the subsequent ignition process is modeled by direct numerical simulation of autoigniting mixing layers using detailed chemistry and transport models. Detailed analysis of one-dimensional laminar mixing layers shows that the ignition process is dominated by hydrogen chemistry and that non-unity Lewis number effects are of the utmost importance for modeling of autoignition. High scalar dissipation rates in mixing layers delay the autoignition time, but have a negligible effect on the chemical pathway followed during ignition. This supports the idea of using homogeneous reactor simulations for the construction of chemistry look-up tables. Simulations of two-dimensional turbulent mixing layers confirm the effect of scalar dissipation rate on autoignition time. The turbulence–chemistry interaction is limited under the investigated conditions, because the reaction layer lies at the edge of the mixing layer due to the very small value of the stoichiometric mixture fraction. When the oxidizer stream is more diluted, the autoignition time is delayed, allowing the developing turbulence to interact more with the ignition chemistry. The results of these direct numerical simulations employing a detailed reaction mechanism are expected to be used for the development of tabulated chemistry models and sub-grid scale models for large-eddy simulations of MILD combustion