Frequency jump of a flickering buoyant jet diffusion flame influenced by ambient coflow

Flickering of laminar diffusion flames is known to be caused by the buoyancy-induced toroidal vortices attached to the outer flame surface, making a classical model for understanding flame-vortex interactions. This work experimentally investigates the impacts of ambient coflow on the flickering behaviors of a buoyant jet diffusion flame. Utilizing a simultaneous high-speed flame imaging/OH^⁎ chemiluminescence imaging/particle image velocimetry measurement system, the evolutions and interactions of coherent flame and flow structures are resolved. The results demonstrate that the periodic deformation of the flame surface (i.e., flame flickering) arises from the periodic formation, growth, and shedding of the buoyancy-induced outer vortex rings (OVRs), manifesting as a hydrodynamic instability developing along the outer shear layer (OSL). Upon applying a weak-to-moderate coflow, the flame bulge's size gradually reduces, and the flickering frequency slightly increases with increasing coflow velocity. The notable frequency jump phenomenon is confirmed as the coflow velocity rises to a threshold value such that the flickering frequency undergoes a sudden increase of 3–4 Hz; this is also accompanied by a significant reduction in the flame bulge's size and a delay in flame pinch-off. Moreover, a second frequency jump of 2–3 Hz occurs at a higher coflow velocity. Based on quantitative analysis of the OVR core's evolution, we find that the frequency jumps result from a sudden downstream shift of the initial OVR core, essentially indicating the jump of the instability onset point of the OSL. From a hydrodynamic instability perspective, this phenomenon can be explained as a stabilization effect of the coflow on the OSL, resulting in the re-establishment of the instability condition in a downstream location.