Swirling spray flames dynamical blow out induced by transverse acoustic oscillations

Abstract

Recent experiments on a laboratory scale annular system comprising multiple injectors (namely, MICCA-Spray), indicate that combustion instabilities coupled with azimuthal modes may induce large amplitude oscillations, which under certain conditions, lead to blow out of some of the flames established in the system, a phenomenon designated as dynamical blow out (DBO). An attempt is made in the present investigation to reproduce this phenomenon in a linear array of injectors (namely, TACC-Spray), where the acoustic field is externally applied to flames established by injector units that are identical to those used in the annular combustor. The acoustic field is generated by driver units placed on the lateral sides of a rectangular cavity. The pressure level induced in TACC-Spray can reach a peak value of 1700 Pa in a frequency range extending from 680 to 780 Hz, which corresponds to the typical frequency of azimuthal instabilities observed in the annular system. A theoretical model based on dimensional analysis serves to guide the choice of operating conditions that may lead to the DBO phenomenon. Experiments carried out in TACC-Spray and MICCA-Spray are then used to determine the DBO boundary, define the conditions that need to be fulfilled to observe this phenomenon, and gather high-speed visualizations providing some insights on the mechanisms that induce blow out.