Assessment of Different Kinetic Mechanisms for DNS of Supersonic Combustion

That simulation results for reactive flows are as important as the kinetic mechanisms used has been reported for mass fraction PDF in reacting compressible mixing layers using DNS [1]. However, more accurate reduced mechanisms have since been developed that are well-suited to supersonic combustion simulations [2]. In this study, various such mechanisms for hydrogen-air combustion in canonical models of the scramjet engine combustor are investigated.  The non-premixed combustion type is focused on, and, even though the ultimate interest is supersonic combustion under turbulent conditions, various mechanisms for the opposed-jet flames are initially evaluated to provide some foundations for understanding the dynamics in the eventual turbulent system. A primary objective is the determination of the most computationally efficient kinetic mechanism that is able to accurately model the problem of interest. Mechanisms from a few reaction steps and species to those with scores of these parameters are being investigated and will be reported for DNS of supersonic combustion.

[1] Ladeinde, F. et al., 1999, In "Turbulence and Shear Flow - I'', Begell House, Inc.,

   Edit. S. Banerjee & J. Eaton, pp. 321-326.

[2] Burke et al., 2012, Int. J. of Chemical Kinetics, doi 10.1002/kin.20603