Engineers have found a way to significantly reduce temperature fluctuations in methane flames, which are considered one of the causes of reduced efficiency and reliability of power plants. The development was presented by specialists from Tomsk State University and the V. E. Zuev Institute of Atmospheric Optics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Temperature pulsations occur during methane combustion in a diffusion mode, when fuel and air mix directly in the reaction zone. These processes are characteristic of gas turbines, industrial furnaces, and many other thermal installations. Strong temperature fluctuations can impair equipment operation and increase the load on its elements.
During the experiments, scientists investigated the effect of an electric field of varying intensity on a methane flame. For this, two test setups were assembled with different distances between the electrodes and different voltage ranges. Temperature changes were recorded using a scientific infrared camera and then analyzed by digital methods.
The results showed that after reaching a certain voltage level, temperature fluctuations began to decrease rapidly. In one of the setup configurations, their amplitude decreased by six to eight times compared to the initial values. In the second experimental variant, the reduction was more than fivefold. At high voltage values, the flame transitioned to a stable combustion mode, and characteristic temperature jumps practically disappeared.
The study also revealed an additional effect. At voltages above 3 kV, the flame jet shifted towards the negative electrode. This is due to the so-called ionic wind – the movement of charged particles under the action of an electric field. At the same time, the geometric parameters of the jet changed: its height decreased and its width was adjusted.
The data obtained confirm that an electric field can become an effective tool for controlling the combustion process without the use of mechanical devices.
In the next stage, specialists plan to develop a mathematical model that will more accurately describe the influence of various configurations and arrangements of electrodes on flame behavior.
