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Combined Reynolds-vorticity transport analysis of the shear layers in a premixed swirling flame

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2025

Qiuxiao Wang ,
Shuyue Lai ,
Fei Qi Open the ORCID record for Fei Qi [Opens in a new window]  and
Xi Xia Open the ORCID record for Xi Xia [Opens in a new window]
Qiuxiao Wang
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
Shuyue Lai
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
Fei Qi
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
Xi Xia*
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
*
Corresponding author: Xi Xia, xiaxiss@sjtu.edu.cn
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Abstract

This work focuses on the intensity variation mechanisms in the mean inner and outer shear layers of a premixed swirling flame. In order to close the gap between the Lagrangian vorticity transport and the Eulerian shear layer intensity ($\gamma$), we propose a combined Reynolds-vorticity transport approach to obtain the streamwise variation of $\gamma$ as the integrals of vorticity generation terms, including tilting, baroclinic torque, diffusion and dilatation. However, different from the classical vorticity (transport) equation, the vortex stretching vanishes, and the original dilatation is replaced by a shear-layer dilatation in the new model. It enables the quantitative evaluation of how the different vorticity transport terms affect the shear layer intensity; in particular, we have identified vortex tilting and baroclinic torque as the main cause of the inner shear layer enhancement in the swirling flame’s near field. Although this model is initially developed to study the flame-attached shear layers, the broader significance lies in its applicability to general axisymmetric shear flows.

JFM classification

Reacting Flows: Flames Wakes/Jets: Shear layers
Type
JFM Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 1006 , 10 March 2025 , A20
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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