Combustion Science and Technology, Vol.175, No.7, 1263-1291, 2003
Influence of water spray on normal and inverted Bunsen flame
The structure of normal and inverted Bunsen flame tips under the influence of preferential diffusion, flame stretch, and inert (water) spray is theoretically studied using large-activation-energy asymptotics. A completely prevaporized mode and a partially prevaporized mode are identified. Analytic parameters for open and closed flame tips consist of amount of liquid loading and initial droplet size, indicating internal heat loss associated with liquid water vaporization, and negative (or positive) stretch coupled with Lewis number ( Le ), strengthening (or decreasing) and weakening (or increasing) burning intensity of the Le >1 and Le 1) and a lean methane/air and rich propane/air invertedBunsenflame( Le <1),closed-tip solutions are obtained. Burning intensity increases toward the flame tip, which has the largest curvature, and is enhanced with decreasing liquid-water loading, increasing initial droplet size, or increasing stretch. Conversely, stretch weakens burning intensity of the lean methane/air and rich propane/air normal Bunsen flame ( Le <1), and the rich methane/air and lean propane/airinverted Bunsen flame ( Le >1), eventually leading to tip opening; that is, flame extinction. Burning intensity is further reduced with increasing liquid-water loading, increasing stretch, or decreasing initial droplet size. In addition, the opening becomes wider for an open-tip normal and inverted Bunsen flame when liquid-water loading or upstream flow velocity increases or initial droplet size decreases.