Experimental investigation of flow characteristics in tailpipe of a pulsation reactor

Abstract

Flow characteristics within the tailpipe of a pulsation reactor are crucial for understanding and optimizing system performance, particularly in relation to heat transfer, acoustic interactions, and flow dynamics. This study examines the fluid flow velocity in the tailpipe of a laboratory-scale pulsation reactor using phase-locked PIV measurements. The results provide spatially and temporally resolved velocity profiles under different operating conditions, along with (phase-averaged) mean flow velocity measurements. The findings confirm a periodic velocity variation in the tailpipe that correlates with the pulsation cycle. The velocity field and oscillatory velocity amplitude in the core flow region are analyzed, revealing that the mean velocity and oscillatory amplitude vary significantly with the air–fuel equivalence ratio. Under stable pulsation conditions, an increase in the air–fuel equivalence ratio leads to a decrease in velocity amplitude, while the mean velocity increases. This indicates that optimizing operating conditions can influence not only the combustion process but also the flow characteristics. Additionally, CFD simulations are conducted to complement the PIV measurements by providing further insights into the velocity distribution and flow field dynamics.