Spectral kinetic energy transfer in turbulent premixed reacting flows

C. A. Z. Towery, A. Y. Poludnenko, J. Urzay, J. O'Brien, M. Ihme, and P. E. Hamlington
Phys. Rev. E 93, 053115 – Published 23 May 2016

Abstract

Spectral kinetic energy transfer by advective processes in turbulent premixed reacting flows is examined using data from a direct numerical simulation of a statistically planar turbulent premixed flame. Two-dimensional turbulence kinetic-energy spectra conditioned on the planar-averaged reactant mass fraction are computed through the flame brush and variations in the spectra are connected to terms in the spectral kinetic energy transport equation. Conditional kinetic energy spectra show that turbulent small-scale motions are suppressed in the burnt combustion products, while the energy content of the mean flow increases. An analysis of spectral kinetic energy transfer further indicates that, contrary to the net down-scale transfer of energy found in the unburnt reactants, advective processes transfer energy from small to large scales in the flame brush close to the products. Triadic interactions calculated through the flame brush show that this net up-scale transfer of energy occurs primarily at spatial scales near the laminar flame thermal width. The present results thus indicate that advective processes in premixed reacting flows contribute to energy backscatter near the scale of the flame.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 30 December 2015
  • Revised 1 April 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.93.053115

©2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Research Areas
Fluid Dynamics

Authors & Affiliations

C. A. Z. Towery1, A. Y. Poludnenko2, J. Urzay3, J. O'Brien3, M. Ihme3, and P. E. Hamlington1,*

  • 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
  • 2Laboratories for Computational Physics and Fluid Dynamics, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375, USA
  • 3Center for Turbulence Research, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA

  • *peh@colorado.edu

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 93, Iss. 5 — May 2016

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review E

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×