Numerical Simulation Data Versus PIV Measurement Data for a Hydrogen-Fueled Afterburner System

The global concern regarding the reduction of carbon emissions has led to the development of hydrogen as a clean, carbon-free fuel for combustion systems. The present work combines Particle Image Velocimetry flow field measurements and Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes numerical simulations to investigate the reactive flow downstream of a newly developed flame holder as part of a hydrogen-fueled afterburner system. The obtained numerical results are in reasonable agreement, for a RANS simulation, with the PIV measured data. According to the results presented in this article, it can be seen that ignition occurs, the flame is attached to the flame holder, and vortices develop downstream of the flame holder. These vortices facilitate the mixing of hydrogen with the flue gas coming from the gas generator. The recirculation zone generated by the flame holder in the flow measures approximately 100 mm, with the peak negative velocity reaching around 10 m/s. Downstream of the recirculation zone, the far-field free stream velocity on the centerline reaches 20 m/s. Outside the recirculation region, in the radial direction, the free stream is accelerated to an experimentally measured value of approximately 40 m/s, at 20 mm downstream from the flame holder, and 35 m/s at 100 mm downstream of the flame holder. The information gathered thus far will aid further investigation of the presented hydrogen-fueled afterburner system.