Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC)

Combustion Process

PIs: James Glimm and Xaiolin Li

We have several projects in process or under initiation. We have a unique simulation capability for the study of the atomization and spray formation. The simulation models the flow in the injector nozzle, with the formation of phase transition bubbles of vapor to model the mixed phase region, of a phase transition. These bubbles grow and coalesce, in a process which leads to spray formation as the flow exits the nozzle and enters the combustion chamber. This capability will allow improved design of fuel injectors for diesel engines. It is our plan to work with combustion scientists at ORNL, who are interested in the same problem, but at longer length scales and later in the combustion process. They will use the standard combustion code KIVA, and the plan is to join our simulations to theirs, to allow a full modeling of the spray combustion process.

We are also modeling turbulent combustion and flame fronts. This work is presently targeted for astrophysical studies, but has application also for other combustion problems, for example combustion in engines. The plan is to model the effects of fine scale turbulence in terms of an enhancement to the laminar flame speed, and to validate these models by fine scale simulations. We will work jointly with Paul Woodard of the University of Minnesota and a team at Los Alamos National Laboratory in work currently being proposed. Additionally we plan to develop simulation models of turbulent mixing and turbulent combustion in a scram jet engine, in proposed work joint with the Naval Research Laboratory. (DOE)