Publications

Model sensitivities in LES predictions of buoyant methane fire plumes

Koo, Heeseok K.; Hewson, John C.; Domino, Stefan P.; Knaus, Robert C.

A 1-m diameter methane fire plume has been studied using a large eddy simulation (LES) methodology. Eddy dissipation concept (EDC) and steady flamelet combustion models were used to describe interactions between buoyancy-induced turbulence and gas-phase combustion. Detailed comparisons with experimental data showed that the simulation is sensitive to the combustion model and mesh resolution. In particular, any excessive mixing results in a wider and more diffusive plume. As mesh resolution increases, the current simulations demonstrate a tendency toward excessive mixing.