Validation of Industrial Gas Burner Models Using In-Furnace Laboratory Measurements

Natural gas combustion modeling is studied in swirling flames. The various interacting processes which occur during combustion are modeled: turbulent flow, chemical reaction, and heat transfer. Gas phase reactions are based on a two-step method with an initial fast step producing a pool of carbon monoxide and products, and a final step in which the carbon monoxide is oxidized based on the relative turbulence and kinetic time scales. Radiation heat transfer in the participating media is modeled by the discrete ordinates method. Numerical predictions are compared to detailed in-flame experimental data for the mean flow field, temperature, and species concentrations. Axisymmetric and 3-D predictions are compared to the data with excellent results. The work has been useful in understanding combustion processes, validating the combustion model, and guiding future research to meet long-term objectives of using the models as design tools.